Thread: Need Shoulder Surgery...how am I supposed to shave?!?

So, I just found out that I will need shoulder surgery pretty soon. This has sort of been a long time coming, I just didnt realize it would come so soon! Anyway, I just refuse to shave with anything other than a straight, I just cannot do it, I would rather not shave. The first week when I am on serioud pain killers I am just not going to shave, but the following weeks I guess I am going to have to just shave with my left (and dominant) hand, and not stretch the skin. I am thinking of starting to shave like this now before I need to just to see if I can do it. I figure when I first started I shaved more with my left hand and I didnt know about stretching the skin, so it can be done, I suppose.

Anyway, I find out tomorrow when I have it, but they dont know if it will be two weeks or 8 weeks before I get my arm out of a sling, and they wont know until they are doing the surgery and find out if they absolutely have to relocate some tendons to other parts of the bone after they cut part of the bone off. The MRI and X rays told them everything BUT that grrr...

Sooo...I will only be able to type with one hand for at least a few weeks after the surgery (it may take up to a month since my surgeon is the department head, he is harder to schedule with). So needless to say my posting will be seriously compromised! I will post my giveaway before then and have an ending date for entries about 6 - 8 weeks later so I know I can type well when its time to figure out a winner. I will also work on the jackets more...although right now I am just waiting for a live sample so I can make sure its ok, then it should be time to actually order, finally!!! However the vendor directory is going to have to wait, as I am not typing all that or formatting with one hand!!!

Ok so anyway....what do you guys think...am I being overly stubborn, or can I at least keep shaving with a straight?

Lots of guys just shave with their dominant hand. Many (like me) don't stretch the skin.

You should be fine. You'll just be changing your customary habits for a while. You may even discover some techniques that will stay with you.

Best of luck with the operation.

Hate to hear that JL. I think I'm in the circle as well, but I'm putting it off as long as I can. Three of the guys I train with have had shoulder surgery, one of which has also had ACL reconstruction. He told me shoulder rehab is a lot worse than ACL rehab. Since I've had the latter, I'll hold out as long as possible

I don't think you're being stubborn, although it might be wise to learn to compromise. Maybe the wife can help you, or maybe even shave you.

Josh, I have 2 things to say to you:
1) Good luck bro!
2) You'll hate to hear this but it's time to apply one of X's techniques Facial yoga (moving your head and your jaw) will stretch the skin in most cases almost as much as your non-dominant hand would so you can still expect to get some decent shaves. It's a very necessary tool for me especially when doing the moustache area and the chin.

Give the left handed shave a try and if it
works out - great. If not, use the DE.

I certainly hope that everything goes well
and that you have a speedy recovery.



Terry

Josh,

Sorry to hear about the shoulder and good luck with the surgery.

Now one thing occured to me, how will you strop your razor? Shaving one handed is ok, but stropping?? Are you going to pre-strop a bunch of straights or just go without the strop?

Scott

Why not use the remaining time to find a local barber who gives a str8 shave (possibly using your razors?) that you really like? It'll give you something soothing (as opposed to the stress of PT) to look forward to... relaxing in the chair, those warm towels, that BBS feeling. Pamper yourself!

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

Hate to hear that JL. I think I'm in the circle as well, but I'm putting it off as long as I can. Three of the guys I train with have had shoulder surgery, one of which has also had ACL reconstruction. He told me shoulder rehab is a lot worse than ACL rehab. Since I've had the latter, I'll hold out as long as possible

I don't think you're being stubborn, although it might be wise to learn to compromise. Maybe the wife can help you, or maybe even shave you.

I have been putting it off for about a year (really about two years when you count the injections and whatnot), but I havent been able to workout much the last 5 months and when they saw this MRI they showed me that it has gotten so bad that the bone marrow is getting bruised and the rotator cuff is just blown all to hell. The pain is bearable, but my arm is pretty useless, so I guess it is time, although I have heard it will be incredibly painful on the recovery because they will be sawing off part of the bone and repairing a few things at the very least within the AC joint...but I'll just have to deal with it I guess.

I asked the wife about shaving me and she is so afraid she would cut me that she wont even try it. She only shaves her legs now with a DE and a boar shaving brush (I cant believe I converted her...I didnt even try lol), but she is still about as afraid of straight razors as she is by guns and she just stays clear. Maybe she will change her mind eventually...but Im not counting on it

At least she can hold the strop for you or you could lay it on a table and strop on the hard surface. If you have a junk strop, practice with it first so you don't nick your monstrosity.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

practice with it first so you don't nick your monstrosity.

Yeah, I agree. That would kinda hurt.....