My name is Andy and up till about a year ago I was a pretty avid rock climber. I had only been climbing about a year and had yet to climb outside. I had only ever climbed at the gym. While this sounds like a fling, I was definitely in love. I had even built a bouldering wall in my apartment. Two nine foot high panels, each four foot wide, joined together to make a really nice corner climbing unit.

I was at the gym two or three times a week climbing with a buddy of mine. I think it was November in 2004. We were at the gym and had climbed some pretty hard routes that day. On my last climb of the day I pushed it a bit too far, climbing out of my league, and managed to fall. If I had just fallen, I might have been okay, but it was that last reach for the wall that did me in. My neck and shoulder were killing me. I iced it up and returned a few days later. Unfortunately my right shoulder just didn't seem to take any force. I gave up for a while.

I gave up for a lot longer than I intended and a year went by. So now in 2006, I'm finally having my shoulder fixed. This is that story.

(Update) It’s been over a year since my surgery and I consider it a complete success at this point. My range of motion has returned completely, which I credit to simply using it. At this point, I can swim, lift weights, climb, and play volleyball… All of it… I’m back…

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