| Being an older dad with young kids I do try fairly | | | | cuff. What I had done was tear one of these |
| hard to try to stay fit, active and in shape so | | | | muscles which caused inflammation. Because all |
| that I canstill play with my kids as they get older. | | | | the muscles fit snuggly together any inflammation |
| I also enjoy a game of golf, a good walk ruined | | | | can cause pressure and pain. |
| as they say. I'm not a great player as I never get | | | | The muscle that I had torn is called the |
| to play as often as I would like but I do enjoy it, | | | | supraspinatus. I had manged to tear a tendon that |
| so was really hacked off when I developed a | | | | runs under my collar bone or clavicle and the end |
| shoulder injury that made me stop playing. | | | | of my shoulder blade or scapula. Because it |
| It was more complicated than that. My shoulder | | | | became inflammed, every time that I moved in a |
| problem turned out to be a torn rotator cuff | | | | certain wayit got pinched or impingedpinched and |
| which stopped me doing any form of activity. It | | | | was aggravated. Surgery was recommended to |
| was painful when I ran or walked, even though I | | | | shave off part of my collar bone to release the |
| am right handed, any movement could cause | | | | trapped tendon and let it to heal without any |
| serious pain in my left shoulder. If I forgot for a | | | | more damage. It all sounded very easy but I was |
| moment and made a sudden movement I could | | | | still a bit nervous. |
| end up crying with pain. I can remember exactly | | | | Being in the UK we often have to wait for |
| how I did it. I was being my usual impatient self | | | | surgery so I took the time to do some research |
| and trying to lift some furniture on my own | | | | on the subject while I waited for my surgery |
| rather than waiting for someone to come and | | | | date. Having studied my injury extensively I finally |
| help, felt a pop in my shoulder and that was that. | | | | discovered that most rotator cuff problems are |
| Shoulder messed up| The next day I woke up | | | | treated with simple physical therapy .Even a torn |
| with a painful shoulder and it just got worse as | | | | rotator cuff can be cured in this way, as long as |
| each day went by. | | | | it is only a partial tear. You need to rest the joint |
| Reaching above my shoulder, reaching out for | | | | at first to let the inflammation to calm down, |
| anything was impossible. I couldn't reach behind | | | | treating it with anti-inflammatory drugs like |
| me. I couldn't sleep because I couldn't get | | | | Ibuprofen and using ice packs. Once things have |
| comfortable and I couldn't do a thing with the kids. | | | | reduced you can start gentle exercises aimed at |
| Golf was just not going to happen for the | | | | building up and strengthening the rotator cuff |
| forseeable future. So I took myself off to the | | | | muscles |
| doctors who sent me to a shoulder specialist. He | | | | In just six weeks my shoulder was pain free and |
| diagnosed my torn rotator cuffand confirmed it | | | | the movement had returned to near normal. A |
| with an MRI scan. Your shoulder joint is a simple | | | | few more weeks saw me return to full fitness. I |
| ball and socket joint. Unlike the hip, the socket is | | | | have postponed the surgery and may well be |
| made up of cartilage rather than bone and doesn't | | | | cancelling it altogether if I remain pain free. |
| grip the bone of the arm. Instead, a group of four | | | | In the meantime I am back playing golf, still losing |
| muscles help to hold the arm in place and stabilise | | | | but hey, I do have a bad shoulder! |
| the shoulder joint. These make up the rotator | | | | |