The Pain That Wouldn’t Go Away, Even After Changing Painkillers — Looking Back on the Two Months from My Fracture to Rehabilitation Hospitalization Sunday, November 1, 2026 Reiwa 8 — Day 7 Since Discharge from Dogo Onsen Hospital

On June 18, I fell and fractured my left upper arm.

That day marked the beginning of my long struggle with pain.

From the Fracture to Surgery, and the Battle with Pain

Immediately after the fracture, I was prescribed celecoxib 100 mg, a medication to reduce inflammation and pain.

For about a week until surgery, I kept my arm immobilized in a sling.

On June 25, I underwent surgery at the Japanese Red Cross Hospital. A plate and seven screws were used to fix the fracture in my left upper arm.

I felt no pain immediately after the anesthesia wore off, but severe pain struck in the middle of the night. I remember that no medication relieved it, and I had to use a suppository.

After discharge, I was prescribed Calonal 500 mg. I was instructed to take it at intervals of four to six hours, but it hardly worked for me.

Around July 2, I was prescribed Tralasset, a combination of tramadol and acetaminophen. The doctor warned me that it might cause significant side effects. In fact, I suffered from nausea and constipation.

After that, I was prescribed loxoprofen along with rebamipide, a medication that protects the stomach lining.

I also used ketoprofen 20 mg patches on my left shoulder.

At Bethel Hospital’s orthopedic department, I was prescribed loxoprofen sodium 60 mg tablets and rebamipide again, around August 17.

But the pain continued.

Changing medications and using patches did not provide sufficient relief. I was in pain even when I did nothing, and nights were difficult as well.

I Wanted Rehabilitation, but I Couldn’t Get It

The doctor at the Red Cross Hospital seemed to believe that rehabilitation should be done independently, and no referral was provided to a specialized rehabilitation facility.

After moving to Eden, I found myself struggling and consulted a care staff member.

Dr. S at Bethel Hospital determined that he could not manage rehabilitation following such a shoulder fracture himself, and kindly referred me to Dr. A at Dogo Onsen Hospital.

It took time to prepare the referral letter and medical documents and to arrange an appointment. Eventually, I was able to receive rehabilitation at Dogo Onsen Hospital.

At first, I attended outpatient rehabilitation once a week.

However, my pain did not improve much. I asked to be hospitalized so that I could receive intensive rehabilitation.

My admission was approved, but the hospital was full, and I had to wait another week to ten days for a bed.

Finally, on August 28, I was admitted to Dogo Onsen Hospital.

More than two months had passed since my fracture.

During that time, I continued taking painkillers, but I had not been able to receive specialized rehabilitation.

Discovering How Stiff My Shoulder Had Become

Soon after I was admitted, two occupational therapists pointed out that the muscles around my shoulder and the fracture site had become extremely stiff.

“Why was this left until it became so stiff?”

Their words came as a shock to me.

I had not neglected it.

I had repeatedly consulted hospitals because the pain would not go away, and I had asked for rehabilitation. Yet it had taken so long to reach a place where I could receive specialized care.

After admission, the occupational therapists worked on loosening my shoulder, and I gradually continued exercises to improve its movement.

Then, the pain that had been with me 24 hours a day began to settle to the point where I no longer needed painkillers.

It was a significant experience for me to discover that rehabilitation could change pain that medication alone had failed to relieve.

My Shoulder Today, After Discharge

I was discharged on October 26. Now, when I am not doing anything, I have almost no dull pain.

However, my shoulder movement is still severely restricted.

When I place my left hand against my side and try to rotate my arm outward, pain begins at about 30 degrees, and I cannot move it any farther.

When I rotate my arm inward, my left hand stops beside my navel. Moving it farther causes pain.

When I try to reach behind my back and move my hand toward my armpit, I cannot do it with my left shoulder alone. I have to compensate by raising both shoulders.

There is no pain when I am still. But when I try to move, pain and limitations remain.

That is the condition of my shoulder today.

The Outlook for Recovery

During a medical consultation, I received an explanation about the likelihood of recovery.

Those words were deeply upsetting.

Personally, I feel that I may never return to the way I was before.

However, if I were asked whether the chance of a full recovery is less than 50 percent, I cannot say that it is. I imagine it is a difficult judgment for the doctor as well.

I am not writing this account to criticize anyone.

Still, I continue to feel that the care I received from the doctor at the Red Cross Hospital was inadequate. I cannot help wondering whether my shoulder might be in a different condition today if I had been connected with specialized rehabilitation earlier.

At the same time, medical professionals have different approaches, and there are also practical issues involving referrals, appointments, and hospital beds.

I do not know who was responsible for what, or to what extent.

But there is one thing I know for certain.

I did not refuse rehabilitation. I did not neglect my pain.

I spoke up about the pain, took medication, searched for a hospital, requested admission, and finally reached rehabilitation.

I will continue outpatient rehabilitation, hoping that I can regain even a little more movement in my shoulder.

Will I ever be able to swim again as I did before, or live my daily life without difficulty?

I do not know yet.

Even so, I want to keep a record of my shoulder’s current condition and everything I have gone through, so that I will not forget this journey.

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#OccupationalTherapy
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