Doctor Visit

It's hard to let myself stay down too long when I reflect on what's happening in Japan. I think the one thing I have in common with that situation is dealing with the unknown. I learned yesterday that I have a frozen shoulder. Mine is not typical. I have range of motion for lifting my arm above my head and to the side, but not for tying up my hair, pulling off a T-shirt or scratching an itch in the middle of my back.
This being said, swimming is no longer something I can do. There is concern by both physical therapists (the other therapist is Sandy Bertrand, who travels to Colorado from Virginia once a month until she moves back this summer) that the activity could be setting me back. This news was not too hard to hear. I love swimming too much to be impatient.
It was the news yesterday that had more of an impact. For what I thought would be my final "post-opt" visit, I saw the only doctor I really like out of the five doctors that have been involved. Dr. Rowland is a short man, fit and has blue eyes that sparkle. I like him because he listens and understands what is important to me. Matt told me he's the only one that made an impression on him.
Dr. Rowland was the surgeon that put plates in my distal fibula and clavicle. His partner put my humerus back together. It turns out the other bones have healed, but the humerus has not. Fortunately, the screws are tight in the plate, so there is no concern that something is wrong. What this means is I cannot ride a bike outside yet. We also discussed removing the hardware and what that will entail. The hardware in my left arm will stay in. My heart sank when I started to think about what is ahead of me and still not being able to take off in motion into unknown territory with the wind in my face and adventure at my fingertips. I have not been able to find the silver lining yet with all this. I know I will in time.
I sat in my yard today for a few hours to enjoy the warm weather, fresh air, the sunshine and the hints of Spring. I made a donation to the American Red Cross for its operation in Japan. And, now I am writing in my blog. Writing can help me get my head and heart back on track. The one gem that keeps coming to me from various people is the value in right living, a sitting practice and time. Those seem to be key ingredients for healing and should not be underestimated-that's what I am telling myself today.