Thread: Last Inspection for a While

I just finished my morning inspection and it will be my last one for a while. I go in for rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder in two days. The length of my recovery is an unknown because I don't know how much the orthopedist will need to fix when he goes in. From what he was able to determine from my MRI results, he said it would be 8 weeks before I can carry a ladder and climb roofs again. That doesn't sound too bad but I don't know if he has a real clear sense of what a typical home inspection entails from a physical standpoint. While I wouldn't say inspecting is physically demanding, it is not a job where you just walk around and point with your arm and collect a check at the end. I got the sense the orthopedist feels this is what I do.

At this point, it's out of my hands. I just have to follow my recovery orders to a T and do my PT when that time comes. I know I'm not having this done at the best time of the year from a business and work volume standpoint but I don't think any time is going to be good. While I'm not looking forward to what lies ahead during recovery and living with the use of only one arm for a while, I am looking forward to just getting this done and moving forward with healing.

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Good luck with the surgery, and have a speedy recovery.

Dom.

Speedy recovery Nick. Stay in touch with the left hand hunt-in-peck

Best wishes for you. Make the best out of it and get some pampering.

Sorry to hear that, but on the other hand, you could easily become the most prolific poster here over the next 8 weeks.

My wife often comments on how I never seem to get sick. I tell her that it's very simple.......I can't afford to get sick.

Hope all goes well, Nick!

John, I've passed your info along to a few buyers I couldn't help. Hopefully you got some work from some of those. I have another one that will likely be coming your way too for a new construction in the city.

Heal fast Nick!

I had arthroscopic shoulder surgery performed in early 1991. The pain (prior to surgery) was so bad, I couldn't raise my arm above shoulder height. I was working full-time as a bridge inspection engineer, and like you, had concerns about being out of work for too long a time period. My inspection schedule was a bit rigorous (had to average 5 a week, every week, to keep the Feds from sending me nasty-grams). As it turns out, my worries were unfounded--I only took one week off from work, then returned to light (office) duty with my arm in a sling. Physical therapy started after 2 weeks, and continued for 3 or 4 months, tapering off in times per week. I was back inspecting bridges 3-1/2 weeks after surgery, easing into normal-movement mode gradually.

Everyone recovers at different rates. Some take longer, while I tend to heal rapidly. I remember the surgeon pulling out his calendar to check the date of my surgery at the first follow-up visit, because he had trouble believing I was healing that rapidly. Ten years later, I had a quadruple heart by-pass done, and was back inspecting bridges exactly 8 weeks after that surgery.

Nick, Work at enjoying the down time. My shoulder salutes you.. Take advantage of the pampering that you may get by your kids or wife. May be the last till you go over the hill.

good luck nick!
and remember
now you don't have to salute the general every time you come home

Nick,

Wishing you a successful surgery and a quick recovery.

Good luck, Nick. The main thing is to get the shoulder back.

Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski

I just finished my morning inspection and it will be my last one for a while. I go in for rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder in two days. The length of my recovery is an unknown because I don't know how much the orthopedist will need to fix when he goes in. From what he was able to determine from my MRI results, he said it would be 8 weeks before I can carry a ladder and climb roofs again. That doesn't sound too bad but I don't know if he has a real clear sense of what a typical home inspection entails from a physical standpoint. While I wouldn't say inspecting is physically demanding, it is not a job where you just walk around and point with your arm and collect a check at the end. I got the sense the orthopedist feels this is what I do.

At this point, it's out of my hands. I just have to follow my recovery orders to a T and do my PT when that time comes. I know I'm not having this done at the best time of the year from a business and work volume standpoint but I don't think any time is going to be good. While I'm not looking forward to what lies ahead during recovery and living with the use of only one arm for a while, I am looking forward to just getting this done and moving forward with healing.

I am 12 weeks post rotator cuff surgery and have been inspecting from two weeks after surgery. My shoulder was in rough shape-tendon pulled off bone, bone spurs, impingments, arthritis, etc. Had a good surgeon clean it up, sutured the tendon back to the bone with 6 plastic anchors drilled into the bone! Was in sling for 6 weeks, then lots of PT. My advice: keep your shoulder well iced as much as you can stand 24-7. I used the ice machine that circultes icewater through a wrap around the shoulder. Ask for one if not given. Insurance covers it. Take pain meds before the pain peaks-easier to control instead of chasing it. Take your arm out of the sling and do your pedulum exercises often. Make your elbow move by taking your arm out of the sling and maninpulate it with your other arm-the elbow gets sore from the sling otherwise. Sleeping will be your biggest issue as you cannot get comfortable. You just have to grab cat naps as much as you can. I had a helper when I went back to work but went solo about three weeks out cause I needed all the $ I could make. Was VERY careful to use my good arm for all lifting or pulling such as moving ladders or attic pull downs. Taking electric panel covers off is challenging. Work slow and smart. Remember your sutures in your tear or avulstion like I had take 6 months to heal as I have heard. Any heavy use of your shoulder will cause the need to re-do surgery. I learned I could use my camera more and write less. Be careful walking as tripping and falling on your arm will hurt and might pop the sutures. I actually did a few crawlspaces and it was an adventure with my arm in a sling!. But inspecting a couple of weeks post surgery can be done. JUST BE CAREFUL! At 12 weeks I am done with PT (doing it on my own at home now). Doc says I am doing incredible and am ahead of schedule. If only he knew how active I have been-but I have worked smart. I think the activity has helped my shoulder loosen up! Good luck. Sorry about the mis spellings, my first post -no spell check?

Good luck Nick.

At least this time of year you can watch some baseball to pass the time.

Originally Posted by Darren Miller

Good luck Nick.

At least this time of year you can watch some baseball to pass the time.

If Halladay keeps pitching like he did last night, games might be more painful than my shoulder.

I hope you have a speedy and complete recovery.

I had both of my sholders done (not at the same time). It took about a week until I was out and about (in a sling). It did not take too long until I felt like I had a new arm (each time). Perhaps you should consider not being out so long, especially if you have a helper to assist you.

Anyway, Good luck!