Master Manipulator

Well, I finally had my procedure to fix my ‘frozen shoulder’ (adhesive capsulitis) Basically, my shoulder froze due to the build-up of scar tissue in my shoulder joint. I am sure it was caused by heavy lifting on two home improvement projects about a year and a half ago.

So my shoulder complained bitterly when I moved my arm beyond certain points and sleeping was very uncomfortable.
Two cortisone injections in my shoulder joint last winter made things manageable, but not better.

So last Thursday, WG and my neighbor CG (Chemical-Girl) went with me for the surgery to fix it. CG came along so we could drop her off at the car repair shop and pick up her car. It ended up that she was also good for moral support for WG and comic relief for the two of us.

It was a long wait. You check in and they give you one of these ICUB (I see ur Butt) gowns to wear, have you lie down on the gurney and you wait (for hours).
It was nice to have the girls with me, to chat and laugh while we waited.
The prep nurse was fun and immediately caught on to our banter. At one point, she asked if I had shaved my armpit. I hadn’t and CG asked if she could pluck them out.
I told her that she could go ‘pluck’ herself.

So for about two hours we teased each other while the Nurse asked questions, then the Anesthesiologist came and asked questions. The doc visited and checked on me. He even wrote his initials on the arm to be fixed. He found it amusing that I had written ‘NO’ on my good arm. (Yes, I am glad his initials were not N. O.!)

Then a nice sedative is put into the IV and I am feeling much better. Wait a little longer and they roll me into the block room. A nice little injection at a shoulder nerve to block it and soon my whole left arm is numb. Imagine a limp dead fish, yes, that numb.

So, the procedure was to manipulate my arm to break loose the scar tissue (imagine putting a big wrench on a rusty bolt and forcing it to move!)
If the manipulation was not successful, then two little incisions in my shoulder would let the surgeon go in with a scope and cut loose any scar tissue that didn’t rip loose.

It was funny, listening to him describe what he was doing, how he could hear and feel the scar tissue tear loose. I couldn’t hear, or more importantly feel, a thing.

After fifteen minutes, or so, of him arm wrestling my limp arm, he said he was done. And, since it went so well, no need to cut into me! And no overnight stay.

The next day I tried my shoulder exercises and could move my arm through almost the full range of motion! And better still, very little pain!
Nice to have a surgeon who is a master manipulator.