But, then again.........................

At your age!  Once again, we were reminded yesterday of the many challenges we face as we age.  Seems it just gets worse with each passing year!

For the past two years, Lee has been bothered from time to time with a recurring pain in his right shoulder.  A visit to his orthopedic surgeon at that time revealed that his shoulder prosthesis that was done in 2006 was doing alright.  It was decided that he probably had some arthritis or a possible rotator cuff problem.  He was given a special cocktail injection containing a mixture of a steroid, numbing, and anti-inflammatory medicine that was inserted directly into the shoulder area for pain.  Fortunately, his pain subsided for several months during the Winter.  As soon as Spring arrived, and Lee began to become more active, the shoulder pain came back with a vengeance. 

Over the next year, Lee was able to receive those powerful injections every three or four months until the last one in January, which did not relieve his pain. Yesterday, we traveled to Charlotte once again to learn whether or not the prosthesis had changed or at least get a confirmation regarding his shoulder.  On the ride to Charlotte, I mentioned to Lee that since he had only been having this problem following his major lung illness and transplant surgery, it could be that having lost so many of his muscles that maybe those shoulder or rotator cuff muscles had not returned.  He seemed a little skeptical of that analysis as we journeyed on.

The appointment moved quickly as he was first interviewed by the nurse, then the orthopedic resident, and then the x-ray person.  After waiting another fifteen minutes or so, the main doctor (the one who did the surgery in 2006) came in.  Following greetings and salutations by all, Lee was put through many ranges of motion.  The doctor concluded that because Lee had very good range of motion, and since there were no changes on the x-ray that perhaps there were some other factors.  That is when we heard, BUT, THEN AGAIN AT YOUR AGE!  Followed by the dismal report that as we age our bodies literally began to disintegrate without a lot of work!

At this point, I interjected, and pointed out that Lee had only had this problem since he was so ill in 2009, and 2010.  Could it be possible, I asked, that since he lost 57 pounds in as many days at that time that he could have lost those shoulder muscles.  With that, he looked at me and then at the other doctor and said that he thought I could be right!  BINGO!  He decided against further injections at that time and wrote a prescription for the rotator cuff exercises that Lee would have to do to strengthen those muscles again.  We left, thankful for the good report and encouraged with a solution.

It seems that each time the two of us have any type of health issue, there is always the underlying cause that follows a physical exam and any number of high-tech procedures.  We usually depart from those powers-to-be medical persons, who, by the way, are young enough to be our grandchildren, with .............But then again, at your age.....................................................

More Later............................................................Brenda