As most of you know, I had an x-ray and an ultrasound on my shoulder last week to try to figure out what’s going on. It was an incredibly painful experience, maneuvering my arm into all sorts of crazy positions. I saw the doctor on Friday to get the results and he recommended I see an orthopedic surgeon. Luckily the surgeon had a cancellation yesterday so I could get in much sooner than expected.
He told me it’s not looking great. I have a complete tear in my supraspinatus tendon, which is part of the rotator cuff. It’s the tendon that attaches the muscle that allows you to move your arm up and away from the body (like flapping imaginary wings). Since it’s a complete tear, the two parts can’t reach each other and so it can’t mend itself.
On top of that, I also have bursitis and tendonitis – fluid filling up the shoulder joint and very inflamed.
Surgery is the only option to repair the damage – they attach the tendon with little prosthetic screw things apparently. It’s all done via keyhole surgery, only spending one night in hospital. Two weeks off work (since I have a desk job, he thinks two weeks will be enough), six weeks in a sling, three months (!) of rehabilitation and not fully back to normal for about 12-18 months.
He made sure to inform me that the pain post-surgery is much much worse than the pain I’m currently in and that even the drugs won’t kill that pain. Can you imagine how excited I am?
So, now I’m working out the logistics and timelines but need to get this done soon, probably next month. My mum has said she will come down for a couple of weeks to help me in the recovery phase. Bless her. What would I do without my mum?
Thank you again for all your messages of support, I sincerely appreciate it.
Love you guys.
x desleyjane
Musings of a Frequent Flying Scientist 
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