My intial injury happened in fall of 2007. My cat Willie likes to go out in front of the house on a leash. She'd become tangled up so to get her out of it, I threw her leash over an 8 foot tall oblesk for vining plants. I did it at an odd spotaneous angle and experienced what I've felt before with a torn muscle. I also do alot of heavy lifting at home in gardening or whatever. The pain got worse and worse and then one day I found I couldn't lift my arm up anymore.

I decided I'd try to treat this myself and started doing a series of exercises but to no avail. FINALLY, I broke down and went off to my doc. He got me started on PT in late April after I'd had an MRI and he diagnosed a SLAP tear. I had to look that one up. WHO KNEW?

 So, now it's June 20th and PT has moved me to the pool feeling I'd gain more by doing exercises in the water. I've worked my way up to doing stretches with a band but my gains are not consistent and they felt I'd reached a plateau.

I'm going to see a surgeon just for a consultation on July 9th. I'd been very anti-surgery but am now rethinking that position....

These are the facts. What I'm not describing is how hard I have to work at staying out of the dumps. I'm an avid gardener and after a record breaking winter here, I was more than ready to get out and expand my garden. I'd started some seeds indoors in anticipation but have been giving most of them away. I've done some digging but it's simply too hard for me. I've been having alot of problems with my back feeling tired and sore so why push the envelope? Every day life is laborious. Simple chores are difficult as PT told me not to lift anything heavier than a coffee cup with my left hand. I've been finding it harder and harder to compensate by lifting with my right hand so will be trying not to do alot of the physical things I enjoy doing....

I've taken up reading more and am developing my interest in Native American history and culture. It hurts less to drive now so perhaps I can visit some of the places I'm reading about.

It's the not being to do things that has been the hardest. I don't think others really realize what a person goes through with this but it's nice to read  that here!