Health, Weaving & House Updates

[helwen]

Saw the orthopedic surgeon this morning. Because the last shot improved things for a while, but now things are starting to return to their previous state, this means apparently that there is a tear of the labrum, a lip of connective tissue where the shoulder ligaments connect to the edge of the socket that holds the ball of the upper arm bone into the socket of the shoulder blade (definition compliments of Univ. Sport Medicine page in Buffalo, NY).

Sigh.

So, they're going to see about getting insurance approval for an MRI, and then we'll schedule an MRI. It's quite likely they won't be able to the damage or much of it, because the connective tissue will be right up against the ligaments, etc., but they have to try. I'll be getting a shot of stuff to help light things up, as it were, before the MRI. Yay.

Then a consultative meeting in later October to see what the MRI says, and arrange for surgery, etc. Yes, I know, I know. Surgery is no fun, and recuperation to even semi-usefulness will take months. Full recovery will take a year. Yes, it will be extremely inconvenient -- there's never a good time for this sort of procedure, not if you're a busy/crafty/hands-on kind of person like me.

But what's the other choice? Not having the surgery means I'll have to take anti-inflammatories every time I weave for more then an hour, or want to garden or move things or paint or biking up hills..... and some things would be off-limits forever, like archery, fighting, or doing medium-to-deep-tissue massage for more than 20 minutes, or regular relation massage for more than a couple of hours. Depending on who you are and what you do on a regular basis, this type of injury, and even the acromion hook, can be lived with indefinitely. I'm just not one of those people.

[EDIT: That should be "relaxation massage", not "relation massage". I'm NOT that kind of massage therapist, thank you.]

***

Ah well, on to something more fun -- Weaving! The table loom is warped up once again, and I've started working on another scarf as of last night. It's a finer gauge of yarn than the Shetland, and a touch softer too, but I'm getting the feel for it. I should be able to turn out at least a couple more scarves by next weekend, hopefully up to five of them. We'll see, since I'm supposed to be finishing a painting as well :D

***

Termites taken care of as of yesterday. Electricians are here today to replace some wiring in the back basement's exit area. Yay!

Comments

[oakmouse]

Oosh. Good luck with it. I think you're right that surgery is the better choice.

[embermwe.livejournal.com]

Agreed, the surgery is a more realistic
ongoing solution. My sister had the acromion
hook fix, and it was all arthroscopic, and she
said she felt better the day after the surgery
than she had felt in years.
Chronic pain sucketh.

[harpnfiddle.livejournal.com]

My rotator cuff surgery where there was a large tear kept me out of work for 9 weeks, and by 6 months only had about 75% function. Now at10 years out from the surgery on the right and 5 years from surgery on the left I have most function but reduced strength because I have stopped doing strength exercises.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's not good :( I'm hoping whatever tear there is, isn't too bad...