A New Season with New Zeal
Not all accomplishments come with fanfare that includes certificates. Today was the culmination of three years and three months of work to maintain mobility. Oh yes, I cheated the kids out of finding a nursing home that would contend with me. It started in January of 2011 when I fell and injured my left shoulder to the degree that it took two years of muscle strengthening before I could have surgery. I am right handed and I knew during those two years that my right shoulder that had arthritis damage was taking the brunt of day to day living.
It was a red letter day in April of 2013 when I finally became a candidate for successful reconstructive surgery. Again the right shoulder and arm stepped up as the period of time for zero activity of the left arm and shoulder was followed by weeks of physical therapy.
As anyone that loves to be outside and tackle projects, Dennis and I rebuilt a portion of our garage in the fall of 2013. Priming and painted were good exercise for the new shoulder to rebuild muscle mass that had become weak. As the fall wore on, the right shoulder caused the aspirin bottle to rattle more on a regular basis than was usual and customary. Just a freak event of lifting a coffee pot took the right arm to a screeching halt. Tests indicated scarring that the rotor cuff had been tearing away bit by bit for some time and the coffee pot finished it off.
Surgery of the right reverse shoulder procedure went well in January of 2014. Today, my physical therapist gave me my walking papers – not with a written certificate, but with a huge hug. After these last several years I am free of shoulder pain and I have very little restriction. It’s not advised that I run a jack hammer and there shall be no splitting of wood. I can live within those perimeters. From this time forward during this summer season the lawn raking, grass mowing and gardening will continue strengthening muscle and tissue.
Dennis has made the comment that this has got to come to a halt. Two titanium knees and two new shoulders is enough. I second that. I am very thankful for the skill of surgeons and therapists. I am also thankful that my heritage has given me a huge amount of determination aka: stubbornness. Life on Stauffer is truly sweet.