Steve'os Last Run Update #5... The Good the Bad, the Ugly

Gratitude. It’s an important thing to have. I was reading this morning about a family that was incredibly upset because the Canadian health care system in ON wouldn’t pay for an operation that would save their son’s eyesight. They had to pay 3000$. I thought that was a pretty low price to pay for an operation that would save their son’s vision. On the other hand, in the waiting room before finally getting to see my nuerologist this morning, I talked with an RCMP officer that was in a motorcycle accident in MT. He had a head injury and some other issues. His 12 day hospital bill came to 249,000$, of which AB health promised to pay 1000$ (thanks a lot). Fortunately, he had Blue Cross that I’m guessing came through for him.

I’m grateful for our health care system. I’m grateful for my friend Dr Andy Reed that is not only skilled, but very committed to helping me with my injuries. I’m grateful for my friend Dr.  Denise Hill that took over my nuerology issues. She connected me with a gifted specialist in my injury that is closely connected with the clinic that now may have to operate. Finally,  I’m grateful for what may have been a miracle in my healing.

Andy’s original ultrasound indicated what he believed to be a couple significant tears in my rotator cuff (very common in shoulder dis-location, especially in us older fellas)  with surgery imminent. A few weeks later at the ultrasound clinic in Calgary with a better machine, they  could only locate the one small tear I already had. Andy’s good...I’m sure he would not have read the situation wrong. Did God heal me (a lot of people, myself included, have been praying) I’m not for sure-sure; but I am very grateful and glad I don’t have to endure a painful r. cuff surgery with 4-6 weeks in a sling followed by a slow ~2 months of rehab.

My attention has been so focused on my hand’s improvement that I really didn’t notice that my numb deltoid and tricep muscles really weren’t working properly. I tried some light jogging last week, but my arm just wouldn’t move properly. I figured it was due to the shoulder damage. However, now I know after getting my nerves shocked and jumped and poked with incredibly sophisticated medical equipment, that the nerve running to the deltoid muscle is totally fried and I basically have no working deltoid muscle. This major muscle is key to moving the shoulder and arm.

The plan is to wait 2 months and see if by some chance the nerves will regrow. If not, then a quick surgery. With nerves you’ve only got a small window. Operate too soon and you don’t give the slow healing nerves a chance to heal. Wait too long and the muscle permanently loses the ability to communicate with the nerves. So for my next appointment I’ll meet with the entire clinic team... dr, surgeon, therapist and decide if any healing has taken place and if not, or enough, then a quick surgery plan.

Back to gratitude...the hand is really starting to thaw. Still lots of numbness, but enough progress that it’s full restoration will come, and it seems soon. Good chance my hand will be able to play my guitar for Easter, if only my deltoid has the strength to hold it up.