What Happened?
After a tumble on a gravel path turned into unexpected shoulder surgery, I found myself on a very different kind of journey. One of patience, painkillers, and pillow towers. What began as a minor fall became a lesson in slowing down, laughing at life’s mishaps, and celebrating small victories. From learning to brush my teeth left-handed to discovering the magic of lymph drainage and a pregnancy pillow, recovery has been both humbling and hilarious. Thanks to excellent care, a supportive husband, and a good dose of humour, I’m steadily getting stronger and counting down the days until I can get back in the saddle once more.
7 weeks on
The sling is gone, thank goodness, though I have to admit it became something of a comfort blanket. Physio started straight after the operation, and I’ve spent more time with resistance bands than I ever thought possible. The progress is there, subtle but real. I can now reach the middle shelf without wincing, and washing my hair no longer feels like an Olympic event, although the top of my head is still being done with my left hand.
Physiotherapy has been a mix of gentle stretches, strengthening exercises, manual therapy, mobilisation, cautious movements, and endless reminders not to overdo it. My physio has the patience of a saint. “Slow and steady,” he says. I’ve learned that healing muscles don’t care how keen you are; they’ll let you know if you push too far, very loudly!!
Small wins
That said, there’s a real sense of satisfaction in small wins. The first night I slept through without my shoulder waking me was a major victory. Driving again felt like freedom, though I am limiting it to very local trips until I feel I can use my shoulder fully. My biggest win was being able to hang up my coat using both arms; well, that was practically a celebration. My pillow tower has remained a part of my sleeping routine as I find it really comfortable now. The pregnancy pillow is a new addition and one I will keep, highly recommended.
Mental preparation
The mental side is just as tricky as the physical. Some days are tough, as it has been a painful recovery; shoulder surgery is brutal. I will be honest and say I was not ready for the pain, which is a bit naive of me, as if I had googled it a bit more, I would have seen other people’s stories. In my mind, I would have the operation, then a bit of pain, do some physio, take some painkillers and then I would be fine. 7 weeks on and I still have pain, the strong painkillers don’t agree with me, so I can only take Ibuprofen. I can’t lift my arm above my head or extend it more than 45 degrees to the side. In short, it’s a long-haul recovery.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about getting back on the bike. The thought of another fall makes me hesitate, but I know confidence will come back with time. I’m already planning my comeback route, something gentle, flat, and scenic. No gravel in sight! Maybe a familiar path near home, just to remind myself why I love it. As my e-bike is tucked away for winter, this won’t be until March, but I am already there in my mind…
What Exercise am I doing?
For now, I’m sticking to a mix of walking, indoor cycling, careful yoga and stretching. The plan is to be back on the saddle by spring, shoulder strong, and spirit restored. We have managed a couple of road trips away, including one to Appenzell in Switzerland, where we saw beautiful dogs and thousands of cows.
Recovery is a journey
What I’ve realised through all this is that recovery is rarely smooth. Some days I feel brilliant; others, I can’t open a jar on my own. But every small improvement adds up, and I’m inching closer to that moment when I throw my leg over my e-bike, take a deep breath, and roll away again.
If you’re going through something similar, keep going. Celebrate the little victories, listen to your body, and trust that time really does heal. I’m not quite back on the bike yet, but the road to recovery has its own rewards. And I’m getting there, one careful stretch at a time.
Still healing, still laughing and counting down the days until I’m back in the saddle. 💙
Stay Connected
If you’ve missed the start of this series, you can catch up on the previous post
