Working on the recovery.

Never in a million years did my family, friends, or I ever imagine that I would need rotator cuff repair.  I had a spectacular slip on sneaky black ice.  I flew high into the air.  Off balanced falling backward fearful of smashing my head on the frozen asphalt I reached my left hand down to protect my head.  The heel of my hand hit the asphalt the force drove up through my wrist, elbow, and shoulder.  My shoulder dislocated ripping the supraspinatus muscle tendon and the infraspinatus muscle tendons completely free and retracted from the humeral head.  The subscapularis muscle tendon partially tore.  The humeral head was off center "riding high" because the muscles that stabilize the joint were ripped.  

The pain was excruciating.  The surgeon used screws to reattach the two tendons completely ripped off.  The pain is intense.  For 13 days after the surgery, I wept nearly 24/7.  Tears slinking down my cheeks to full blown sobbing complete with moaning and groaning.  I used 60 Rx pain pills in 10 days with little success.  I have broken bones and I have been cut off east to west yet this pain and recovery is the most challenging ever!  

I started PT last week.  <deep sign> The recovery is going to be a long and winding path.  The progress is going to be slow.  Healing is at its own pace.  The physical therapist told me that regaining range of motion and former usage will take one year.  He said that I will eventually be able to swim again (I am a former collegiate All-American swimmer).  I will one day be able to reach and grab my bicycle's handlebars, load and paddle my kayak.  I used to play first base and bat fourth in the lineup.  I can't throw a ball or lift a bat at the moment.  

Thankfully the dog is well trained but cleaning the cat's litter box is a challenge as is changing the pets' water crocks. It's depressing but it will improve.  I will need to regain enough ROM and strength to reach the sink faucet, brush my teeth, wash my hair, shower, and dress in a timely manner before I rule out success. 

<deep sigh> I am on FMLA from work.  I wonder how I will return to work in a couple of weeks.  I find myself sleeping a lot.  Doing simple things is exhausting.  I have tried to walk a half mile and find myself pooped.  I used to jog 5-9 miles 4-5 times a week.  Who'd thought a shoulder injury would impact short walks?  

My friends remind me that rest and sleep is important despite the discomfort and pain.  it is a long process but I will make it through and so will you, my shoulder injury cohorts.    

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