Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Shoulder Returns

So about the shoulder thing…

Many of you know that I fell last spring and broke the head of my arm bone into four pieces (see The Accident under Favorite Posts). Dr. Wonderful did an amazing piece of surgery and bolted me all back together. And he managed to look wonderful whilst doing so. Me, I looked like a short, fat fifty three year old who had been run over by about ten trucks. Still do for that matter. Except now I am fifty four. Sigh.

I went through a billion hours of really hard physical therapy, worked just as hard at home, but in the fall simply started getting worse and worse until I was in constant pain and could barely use my arm.

Because I still owed him a quadrillion dollars, I was too ashamed to go back to Dr. W. Then in the mail one day I got a letter from the pratice. I expected the letter to say where is our money you loser deadbeat thief and was cringing as I opened it. But what it said was, we are concerned about you, please come in for a follow up. In the corner was a hand written note from Dr. W. saying please come in and let me make sure you are healing well.

The letter made me cry. I swear, I had a totally crap year, but God put so many wonderful people in my path.

So in I went, but still mortified and remorseful about my financial mess, the result of being out of work for ten months. I apologized to him. Most doctors would do a dance of discomfort and avoid the whole thing. He looked me straight in the eye and said firmly “Try not to worry about it. These things have a way of working themselves out.” His kindness choked me up all over again.

That was in December. More PT, x-rays and tests later and it is determined I have adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) related to the trauma of the fall and surgery.

So tomorrow I go back to the surgery center where a few things may or may not happen. They will put me to sleep (just to sleep, not actually put me to death; hmmm…at least I hope not). Then Dr. W. will manipulate my arm to rip the muscles apart loosen up the adhesions. That could be it. Yay! But if not…

…he would move to an arthroscopic procedure and poke around in my shoulder to try to free up where things are tight. And that could be it. Yay. But if not…

…Dr. W. would re-open my scar and open the shoulder to try and fix things that way. Oh yay. Sigh.

Last year I never for a second thought I would have to have a surgical procedure to fix my broken arm. This year there is not a doubt in my mind that when I wake up tomorrow, I will have been cut somewhere. As distressing as this is, it will most likely help, give me my arm function back and gradually diminish the pain.

Fingers crossed.

And I get to see Dr. Wonderful heaps more times. Woo hoo.


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11 comments:

The Silver Age Sara said...

What a wonderful doctor you have. I'm also thrilled to read you are getting paid for your writing. How exciting!

Hank Eder said...

You can borrow some of my karma when you go to the doctor. Mine's good, so maybe having it there with you will tip the scales some.

Hugs to you.

Hank

Anonymous said...

Working in healthcare, I love to hear the good, compassionate doctor stories. I've met a lot of doctors willing to give/do ANYTHING to help their patients heal. It isn't an occupation for them, it is a calling.
~Mary

Da Old Man said...

Thinking good thoughts about you tomorrow. May the surgery go quickly and well.

Marie said...

Mountain Woman: He is a very good man. And his staff confirms it too. I am SO excited to have a paying writing job!

Hank: Oh buddy, send me some of your Superman karma. Maybe this is what I get for always insisting on being Lois Lane. I wish I could go back to when we were little before all this hard stuff happened. It is making me cry thinking about all of us running around 179th Street like a passel of puppies. Gosh, we had so much fun!! Thanks for the hugs. I will think of them when I start to feel overwhelmed.

Mary: It is so wonderful when we meet doctors like that. And even more wonderful when we actually have them caring for us. I think you are local to the shore? If you ever need the name of a good orthopedist, e-mail me. :)

Joe: Thanks so much! I hope you are recovering from your boo-boo's as well. :)

Jane Turley said...

I'm liking the sound of this Doctor Wonderful.... tell me does he do gyne exams too?? I have a free date in my diary.....

Marie said...

Jane, you are too funny! Only you.

Hope all is well with you, I was thinking about you today. Lots of transatlantic good thoughts and hugs are going your way. :)

Coupon Magnet said...

I hope you regain arm function and that you will start feeling better soon. It sounds like your doctor is great!
Christy
www.couponmagnet.blogspot.com

Marie said...

Thanks Christy! And thanks for stopping by. :)

The Mother said...

Good luck! Say hello to Dr Wonderful from the rest of us. Does he have a brother?

Bobby Allan said...

That's a great story about kindness. I hear too few of them anymore.

Hope everything went well for you, Marie!