Shoulder....Venting

[Catrin]

You've been through a lot, Catrin. I really feel for you. How's the PT going? I hope well!

My neck problems slowed things down, but I seem to have finally turned a corner! PT twice a week for 6 more weeks (until 16 weeks out from surgery), and then we will see. Got to do lat pulls today with a whopping 5 pounds, woot!

[rebeccaC]

This has been such a long and difficult journey for you Catrin. As always my prayers that the blessings of positivity can help some in the recovery moments that are difficult both physically and emotionally. I’m glad you have this forum for solace, support and for a sense of caring from us. With an open heart I also pray you can find some peace within the support and caring here and elsewhere!!!!!

[ny biker]

You're in the home stretch now... slow and steady is the best approach. Five pounds now is five more than you could do before!

[Catrin]

Hope all are doing well! I'm STILL in the snail-pace recovery stage, and the improvements are almost imperceptible at the time, but I'm certainly further along than when I posted the first week of the year. The enforced inactivity, however, deconditioned me so badly that until this week I was unable to walk for more than 5 minutes without some serious hip/hamstring/groin/IT band issues in my right leg. YIKES!!!! Went to my chiro and he was pretty sure that it was all tendon/ligament/muscle related to deconditioning. He treated me and advised me to just keep walking as much as possible - if no improvement then likely to be hip arthritis - but thankfully there has been daily improvement since he treated it. I've no idea how his treatment helped, but it did, thankfully!

So I am thankful! Trying to move as much as my body will allow. Even if I won't be allowed to do any actually overhead lifting (gym lifting), or deadlifting and shrugs (or kettlebells) ever again (assuming I want to avoid further spine or shoulder surgeries) - I am thankful at the slow and steady improvement.

I also have deactivated Facebook and other social media outlets for now. I became way too addicted to mindless scrolling - much to my chagrin. I should have warned people I was doing this - but I figured my post would disappear as soon as I deactivated the account. I've since heard that some were concerned at my deactivation - sorry about that! I never meant that, for sure.

[ny biker]

Hi Catrin, thanks for checking in. I know what you mean about social media. It's easy to waste a lot of time with it.

Glad to hear you're making progress even if it is slow. And yes, keep moving as much as you can!

[Catrin]

Yes - the problem was the surgery timing. As the shoulder was repaired in October - that meant that I really was not allowed to even walk outside for more than getting to the car or office during the winter (due to the possible consequences of falling between the spine fusion (still in process) and the recovering shoulder) - and nothing inside a gym either. I am still only allowed to walk on pavement for another solid month - but mid-April is much closer than it was & I can start hitting dirt trails! Finally I CAN at least put in 10-15 minutes on the stationary bike at the gym, and a shorter time on the Elliptical or ArcTrainer without repercussions. Even get my heart rate up a bit - woooot! Easy does it but it's a start!

For those who remember my various adventures over the last 10 years, I will note that my body has finally managed to get my attention!

So for any newcomers since my previous adventures - don't be like Catrin - listen to your body!

[Crankin]

So glad to hear from you, Catrin. Yes, listen to your body! But, I understand how frustrating recovery feels. It sounds like with the advent of the warmer weather, you will get to be outside, which I think, is the best goal for all of us. Even if it means being outside in a different way than in the past.