didn't take care of myself and now it's a problem

[pelagia]

I went for my annual physical today.  Most of the news is good - my bloodwork is good, ekg good, etc.

But, last November I hurt my arm...  I flew to a conference and knew there was a problem after I shoved a suitcase in the overhead bin on the second leg of my trip there.  The arm bothered me all fall, but I thought it just needed time to heal. During the early winter I started doing a new yoga class and I couldn't lift my right arm straight over my head.  Then Stephen had his operations and I had other things on my mind.  I had the suspicious feeling it was getting worse every time I went to the grocery store.  Now I can't lift my arm above horizontal out to the side and I can't reach behind my back with that arm at all.  Today the doc says that he thinks it's an injured rotator cuff and that I definitely have very limited range of motion, probably due to adhesions that have formed from not using it.  He says that this probably means surgery.  Next step is an MRI. Had I dealt with it last fall it would have been much less of an issue, but I certainly had no idea it would lead to this. @#!

[monrein]

Linda, what a drag and then some.  I've known people at my gym with injured rotator cuffs and they can be painful as all get out.  I know you'll follow through with attending to it and hope things improve.

[okarol]

OOOOH That hurts! about 7 years ago I tore my rotator cuff dragging a barrel of mulch! I had a cortisone shot which gave me relief for 6 months. Then I reinjured it at the gym, and had to get another shot. Thankfully (KNOCK WOOD) it's been ok for 5 years now. I did have to do exercises to regain strength. My friend lost a lot of mobility so she had to have surgery, and so far she's had great results.
Gardening is dangerous (for me.) I also tore a tendon in my elbow a couple of years ago and it was so painful. Again, cortisone and physical therapy and it's finally better.

I hope you get some relief. I was like you, hoping it would heal. Get it taken care of!

[rose1999]

This is too spooky, I have had a pain in my arm and struggled with things like gettig a sweater off since hurting it 2 or 3 months ago(clapping etc at a Ga Ga - Queen tribute group - concert if you want the truth!!) and I've been toying with the idea of seeing the doc next week, but waiting for it to go away.  It isn't going away and it's waking me in the night if I turn in my sleep, reading what you have all said I am most definitely off to the doc on Monday. Thanks guys for the push I needed.

[pelagia]

I am remembering how much trouble I had all winter getting my arm into my jacket.  I've actually reversed how I get dressed.  I used to always put my right arm into jacket, blouse, etc. after the left arm.  Now I can't do that because the right arm won't bend that way. I have also done damage in the garden.  In fact that's part of the problem now because I hurt my left forearm trying to move a shrub last June.  That injury took 6 months to heal, so I figured I should wait at least 6 months with the one in my right arm.  This is where being logical sometimes gets me into trouble!  I have always been very slow to go to the doctor because I have that "I can tough it out" sort of attitude.

go to the doc Rose!  go to the doc!

[annabanana]

I, too, am slow to go to the doctor. Years ago I hurt my shoulder when I fell off a hammock and hit the ground wrong. (Not quite as glamorous as Rose's Ga Ga - Queen tribute concert...) Now I have constant troubles. Esp. with gardening, which is a real love of mine.

I, too, say: Go to the doctor, Rose!!!

Pelagia, I hope all goes well for you with the possible surgery.

[rose1999]

I'll go Monday, I promise.
I too hope all goes well for you Pelagia and I am praying for strength for you Anna having read your latest posting on the drinking and depression thread, I really hope Randy will take to heart what he's been told. 

[twirl]

you get to live off the coast of Virginia
wow
I live an hour off the coast of Galveston but bet Virginia is prettier
hope your health is better
and eat a few sea creatures for me

[twirl]

I have been thinking about this
you studied sea creatures and it just seems like you would know to take better care of yourself
I'm just saying you are intelligent
so take care of yourself
we care about you
and sea creatures

[pelagia]

I think I was in denial Twirl.

All winter... I couldn't think about any of it too much.
Denial that my husband's kidneys were failing, that he would go on dialysis, that our lives would be changing.
Denial that there could be anything wrong with me.
Who has time for that?

So now I might have to have surgery. Hopefully it won't be too bad.  My husband has a hard time being the nurse.  Luckily I have never really gotten sick very much.  And I am used to taking care of myself.  Stephen used to travel 150+ days a year. 

[rose1999]

I did go today as promised and the Dr says I have Suprasprinatus tendonitis (inflation of the tendon that goes across the top of the shoulder)...................that would be from all that clapping and hand waving then  I have anti-inflamatories to take for a month and exercises to do ........with the threat of steroid injections if that doesn't work.  If injections didn't work either then an op would be next but I am hopeful that it wont get that far. 

Thank you so much Pelagia for spurring me on to go, like you I tend to tough it out and think it will get better, but it looks like this wouldn't.  I hope things work out for you and you don't need an op. Let us know how the scan goes, and good luck 

[boxman55]

A lot of people can attest to denial, I would be first in line. Now is the time to deal  with it and fix it...Boxman

[annabanana]

Rose, it's so good that you took care of this!

Pelagia, I totally understand! Denial is so easy and a wonderful emotional survival mechanism. It's so hard to know when to come out of it. But don't beat yourself up for letting this go on for so long. We do what we have to do. It's hard.   

[pelagia]

Thanks all.  I go for my MRI on Thursday and I will let you know what they say.  Right now I am in crunch time at work, which is why I am not posting much.  I have a couple of deadlines later this week.

[pelagia]

I did go today as promised and the Dr says I have Suprasprinatus tendonitis (inflation of the tendon that goes across the top of the shoulder)...................that would be from all that clapping and hand waving then  I have anti-inflamatories to take for a month and exercises to do ........with the threat of steroid injections if that doesn't work.  If injections didn't work either then an op would be next but I am hopeful that it wont get that far. 

Thank you so much Pelagia for spurring me on to go, like you I tend to tough it out and think it will get better, but it looks like this wouldn't.  I hope things work out for you and you don't need an op. Let us know how the scan goes, and good luck 

Oops, I was rushing while I was still at work -- I hope the anti-inflamatories will take care of your problem Rose . You are going to have to give up the hand-waving for sure.  I guess that means you can never be Queen.   

[annabanana]

Pelagia, let us know how your MRI goes today. Good Luck! 

[rose1999]

Thinking of you and hoping it goes well 

[pelagia]

Thank you so much for thinking of me today!  It's a bright spot in my day.

It's been a tough day... Even before the MRI.  One of our cats died this morning.  She had cancer and we knew her days were numbered.  She lived a long life, but still it is very sad.  Her name was Happy, because she always was.  My son gave her that name 15 years ago. She was still purring the morning when my husband took her outside for some fresh air.  She died in the garden.

I went for my MRI at 11.  I've been a pretty tough cookie most of my life, but honestly I am becoming a wimp.  My brain tells me that in the big scheme of things this isn't a big deal.  But, I'm not handling it all that well.  I am not claustrophobic, but today I had a terrible time while I was being scanned and was even feeling a little panicky.  My arm/shoulder was hurting from the beginning.  I had to do the alphabet backwards about 20 times, and spell out the names of everyone in my family, just to keep it together.  I was in the machine for about 30 minutes and was not supposed to be moving.   The tech tried to make it comfortable -- it just wasn't working.  The doc called this afternoon and it turns out that I have one torn tendon and one that is partially torn and a bunch of adhesions (scar tissue).  Next I go to the orthopedist.  My PCP says I'll need surgery for sure. 

thanks for listening 

[monrein]

Geez Linda, sounds like a day to have missed.  I'm so sorry about poor Happy, she sounded sweet as anything and no matter how long we have our pets it's never long enough.

Wish you didn't need surgery but hopefully the pain will become history.  I'm a pretty tough cookie too but sometimes if I've been "being strong" through a particularly trying or difficult patch, something as simple as a cold can make me feel the world is ending.  The worry about Stephen and the stress of the trx and then the relief of it being successful all add up to a pretty emotional ride and that unrelenting shoulder pain has likely worn you down like a grated carrot.  So be kind to yourself, be a wimp and even whine if you have to, your tough cookie self will be waiting for you when you show up again.  Would a good hour and a half massage help?  A mini (or even maxi if I can afford it) spa retreat always worked wonders for my self-preservation.

I'm so glad you're a member of IHD and hope everything gets resolved for you soon.

[rose1999]

sending you a hug as you certainly need one.

I am so sorry to hear about Happy, but she had obviously had a long and lovely life and was much loved. 

I was watching an MRI on TV last night (John Barrowman) and I was feeling panicky just watching (I'm not particularly claustrophobic either) so I can empathise with you. I'm sorry you have to have surgery, I am hoping to avoid it but at the moment my shoulder seems to be getting worse not better, I hope it will be over quickly for you and soon you will be healed and the pain will be but a memory. 

I agree with Monrein, sometimes it's the little things that we can't cope with when they pile on top of the big things - the straw that breaks the camel's back as we say in the UK.

Sending you love and good wishes  and a bunny! 

[xtrememoosetrax]

So sorry about your kitty, pelagia. I know how hard that is. Sorry, too, about your shoulder. I know you'll get through it fine in the long run, but right now things sound tough. Hang in there, okay? 

[annabanana]

So sad about Happy, but it sounds like she died very peacefully. This is such a blessing.

I agree so much with Monrein: your tough cookie will be waiting for you after you get through this. In the meantime, allow yourself to need others!

And think about how very wonderful it will be after you heal from surgery, free from pain!   

[pelagia]

I did go today as promised and the Dr says I have Suprasprinatus tendonitis (inflation of the tendon that goes across the top of the shoulder)...................that would be from all that clapping and hand waving then  I have anti-inflamatories to take for a month and exercises to do ........with the threat of steroid injections if that doesn't work.  If injections didn't work either then an op would be next but I am hopeful that it wont get that far. 

How are those anti-inflammatories working for you Rose?  I hope the shoulder is starting to feel better.

Unfortunately, I don't have my appointment with the orthopedist until Aug 12th.  I am having a hard time sleeping now because I don't seem to be able to find a comfortable position for the arm/shoulder.  I tried ambien, but that stuff is evil!  I took it one night and then the next night without it I couldn't fall asleep at all.  I am having better luck with getting into bed a little earlier and reading a book til I fall asleep.  Next week is vacation on the Outer Banks of NC, right near the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.  I am so looking forward to the trip and hoping that it will be a chance to really, really, relax.  I won't be able to body surf or even swim with the arm this way, but at least I can stand in the water to cool off.

[monrein]

Have fun on vacation Linda, relax thoroughly and I hope the arm/shoulder gets the hint and follows suit.  Good luck at the Doc's on the 12th.

[rose1999]

Hi Linda, thanks for asking about me, my shoulder isn't too bad in the day time, as long as I don't stretch etc (there will be no mad clapping and  dancing in the aisles when I go to see Mamma Mia next week then  )

But at night I sometimes turn over and it hurts and wakes me, in fact every night that happens at some point, but I'm doing the exercises and taking the tablets as instructed and will see what another week or so brings, the Dr did say it would be at least 2 weeks before they helped.

Best of luck for 12 Aug, the Glorious 12th as it is known in the UK (start of grouse shooting so not so glorious if you're a grouse;)  It would have been our 30th wedding anniversary so is a significant day for me and I hope it will be a good day for you.  Take care