Monday, September 24, 2007

The verdict is in . . .

Apparently I have a torn rotator cuff. I'm still on pain meds and in a sling. I can't return to work until October 8th at the earliest. In the meantime I have exercises to do 5-6 times a day and I'm to ice my shoulder 5-6 times a day also. I'm to have physical therapy as soon as I can get an appointment, which is about a month out right now. I can tell them to give me a cancellation which might get me in about 2 weeks sooner - I'll just have to figure out how to get myself there if they call. Luckily I have a wonderful neighbor and my great Tangled Threads friends that I can call on if need be. I want to do everything they tell me I need to do in order to heal - I need to avoid shoulder surgery if I can possibly help it.

So - I guess I won't be doing any quilting and not much in the way of sewing for another couple weeks. Now that I'm all caught up on my blog reading I can start reading quilt magazines. I have a big stack that I need to go through - many only glanced at till now. This is my chance to read what I haven't and tear out everything I want to save. I have a big stack of things already that need to be filed away; now I'll be adding to it. I figure I should be able to file with just my left hand, don't you think?

In every cloud there is a silver lining - I have more time to catch up on quilty things I put off when I'm focusing on sewing. I also have another 41 days of paid sick leave accumulated so I'm in good shape. I have several things I can blog about even though I'm not sewing, so I shouldn't be bored.

************
Gratitudes:
1. Changing leaves against a deep blue sky
2. A delicious dinner of soup and salad
3. A marvelous Saturday spent with kids and granddaughter
4. Understanding customers
5. A special package from Britain

24 comments:

May Britt said...

Please take care!!!!!! Do not overdo anything. I'm starting to feel better in my rotato cuff (sounds like a part of a car LOL) Just small movements. You have to avoid a inflammation!!

Hugs

Kim West said...

I have a dislocated shoulder, so i hear your pain!!

Tanya said...

Oh dear. It is so sweet of you to try and see the silver lining on things. I hope you can comfort yourself with lots of quilt book and blog reading. Prayers to you for a recovery as soon as possible!

Gail said...

I'm glad they are working with you to avoid surgery if possible. That rotator takes a long while to heal. Follow the doctors orders and figure out all that you will do when you can sew again.

Carolyn said...

Ouch! I hope your shoulder feels better soon and that you can get into PT right away! Take care of yourself...

Darlene said...

I was thinking about you last night and wondering if you'd received a final verdict yet. Listen to your body and don't over do - the healing will take time!

Lily Mulholland said...

Crikey Patti!! If you're going to do something do it properly - you took that saying to heart. Rest up, take it easy and enjoy your mag surfing!

Cher said...

yikes, the worse fear, but, sounds like with pt and effort-surgery can be avoided-a good thing! thank goodness for the internet and dear friends that can help you get where you need to go. what a great time to rest and recharge your batteries too!

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

I hope you can avoid surgery. My husband and I both have had rotator cuff surgery.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh sorry to hear the verdict. Yuck. But it does sound like you will kind of have fun doing other quilty things for awhile anyway!

Susan said...

So sad to hear that you are not feeling great..........

I am sure your reading will bring you many new ideas.

The Chicken Lady said...

Oh, ouch! Please take care. I guess it's a good excuse to let people take care of you! It will be nice to be able to go through your magazines and filing. :)

Anonymous said...

I love your great spirits Patti! Hope you mend fast and gets lots of pampering!

Floss said...

Best of luck with the shoulder, physical therapy should help lots.
Have fun going thought all the magazines.

Sweet P said...

Please take care of yourself so you don't have to have surgery. I had shoulder surgery 3 years ago and it took a long time to get back to normal.

Unknown said...

So sorry to hear about your shoulder! I hope it heals well. Your ability to see the silver lining is wonderful. May all go well for you during your recovery/physical therepy time.

Tazzie said...

Gosh Patti, do take it easy, much better to avoid surgery if you can. I hope you're feeling much better soon
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Unknown said...

Take great care of that shoulder - and spoil yourself - you'll soon be back on the road to recovery

Pam said...

Oh no! I hope it heals well - that is what my husband had surgery on last year and his shoulder is now much better but is right arm is much weaker than his left. Too bad it is going to take so long to get into physio.

atet said...

Rest that shoulder as much as possible -- my dh's grandmother had rotator cuff surgery last year. On the plus side -- she's doing fantastic since the surgery adn says it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be!

McIrish Annie said...

Patti, just catching up with you! What a bummer about your shoulder especially after getting back to hand quilting! Hope you are feeling better soon!

CONNIE W said...

Sorry for the rotator cuff...hope your time off to get better is as pleasant as possible. Ouch!

Clare said...

Take great care of yourself. Really hope you manage to get a physio appointment soon.

Anonymous said...

Don't you feel blessed to have a job with accumulated sick leave! My son strained his rotary cuff a year ago. He is in high school. It was so difficult for him to get around his high school with his arm in a sling. We had to put his book bag on a luggage cart - not cool.

I just got back from cleaning out my Dad's house. He has two buildings with 50 years of his "obsessions." It is motivating me to clean and discard the things I no longer use or need. I don't want my children to throw things away like we had to. I'm trying to find folks who will enjoy them now. Congrats on giving your things away!