We finally did an x-ray and MRI of THAT shoulder. X-ray was almost perfect, somehow my arthritis has almost missed that one. Damn. I had hoped that was what was going on but it wasn't. Onto the MRI. They read that thing fast! I had the MRI at 7:15 this morning and my Chiropractor called me at 3:00 with the results. As it turns out I've a torn rotator cuff, the problem child is the supraspinatus, and it is retracted. From my reading I know that the amount of retraction greatly impacts the possible outcome of any repair.

Not that I'm considering a repair at this time. I've been living with this for a long time, and if I allow them to commit surgery it doesn't mean that I won't wind up with improved ROM. So, while it may have to eventually happen, the shoulder is pretty functional and will have to get much worse before I will consider it. So what if I can't do overhead pressing. My chiro is great at keeping it calmed down, and all of my other broken bits, with various active release techniques.

I have to laugh at this to keep from crying. I've so many things that one doctor or another have mentioned different surgical options just this year (not counting the knee surgery last summer), where would I possibly begin if I were to actually decide to do any of it ? So laugh about it, focus on stretching, doing what I can, and pray my body doesn't actually fall apart any time soon. Thankfully I can still swing kettlebells (2-handed only) and hike. I'm a lot better off than many - even if I can't walk without an odd gait these days.