In June last year my left shoulder started to ache. By July it was really beginning to play up and there were things I couldn’t do anymore. Like sleep. I like to curl up on my left side or lie on my back with my arms above my head but since it hurt like hell to lie on my left side and I could no longer raise my left arm above my head those options weren’t possible. In August I gave up and saw my GP who confirmed, as I suspected, that I had a frozen shoulder and prescribed hefty painkillers and a course of physio.
Since I’m quite good at taking care of myself I was pretty miffed to be struck down by something completely out the blue (yes, there are much worse things out there, I know) and it was especially frustrating that even after lots of hard work with Margot the Marvellous Physio that some movements weren’t coming back. Without an operation, Margot told me, I’d be looking at all kinds of problems one of which was muscle wastage. Looking at my nice new bingo wing I agreed to get myself referred to an orthopaedic consultant asap.
After six months of waiting I finally got an appointment this week so, leaving Hotel H’s latest guests to amuse themselves, (it’s been a busy time at Hotel H) Tom and I made the long trek to hospital. After more x-rays I was ushered in to see a rather serious Asian doctor. At least, I hope he was a doctor because he didn’t introduce himself but he did have a nurse with him. Anyway, my new friend twiddled my right arm and then, less successfully, my left, before he finally smiled.
‘Very restricted!’ he announced.
I didn’t roll my eyes and say, ‘Ooh, gosh – you don’t say!’ which is just as well because the next bit sounded very painful and I didn’t particularly want it performed without an anaesthetic.
‘This, I will do for you!’ he proclaimed, with a flourish.
I mentioned that I was training for a half-marathon in October and didn’t particularly want to miss it and was met with frank stares of disbelief… what I’m trying to work out is whether it’s the thought of me running a half-marathon or my innocent belief that I might actually rise to the top of a waiting list before then which caused them.
And finally…Auntie Joanie is holding on but poor Ma has heard that her eldest brother, Uncle Bill, is also very sick. Uncle Bill is my Australian uncle who went walkabout in Sydney and turned up, unannounced at my door in Wales. What a sad time it is.
Image is No.VI from Tom Tomos's series of sea prints
Comments
Sending you hugs.
Love the painting too. Dx
How is life at Hotel H? This time of year is busy here, as everyone wants to see the island, but I'd give anything for a guest who wanted to see the island AND drink wine and laugh, stay up too late and leave me with great memories - your Ace gang sounds amazing.
I had steroid injections in my frozen shoulder too. And latterly shiatzu massage which is just astonishing.
Glad to see A joanie is still there bless her and its funny that your Uncle is now so ill after doing that round trip of the rellies, its as though he knew he had to do it ...
Anyway, best of luck with your shoulder - fingers crossed they can do something about it quickly, it sounds very uncomfortable. And so sorry to hear about Uncle Bill - I remember reading about him, he sounded such a character.
First of all, let me say how much I do like Tom's print!
Now ... on to your shoulder. Is there not another doctor that might see you, with whom communication might be better. You are a master of communication ... you should not have to feel that someone is not communicating with you, particularly when your shoulder is the topic.
Sorry if I sound a bit fractious, but this just makes me angry.
Maybe I will calm down enough to be able to offer more measured words re Hotel H next time.
xo
Hope things improve soon,
BT
Good luck anyway!