Skinny Cautionary Tale?

Ready for my close-up?

 

At this time three weeks ago today, I was waking up in the recovery room at the Hospital for Special Surgery.  I had a very large tear in my right shoulder rotator cuff.  You have four tendons attached to your rotator cuff.  Pictures from the surgery showed that three of mine had torn completely away from the bone with just one hanging by a thread.  Dr. Lawrence Gulotta anchored the tendons back in place.  I also had a torn bicep tendon which he couldn't repair.  He told me that he's operated on Yankee team members who also had torn bicep tendons that couldn't be repaired and they're still playing.  So, hopefully I'll be back on the Yankee roster next year!  It's frustrating not being able to use my right arm.  I've even grown my hair back in (what's left of it) because I don't have the dexterity to shave my head.

 

I've had quite a summer.  I had my varicose veins fixed in May - three sessions of very painful shots.  At least they're healing nicely and I should have great gams soon!  In early June I was diagnosed with a herniated disc (L5 S1).  I had a series of steroid injections, accupuncture and physical therapy.  I am slowly getting better.  And the pain associated with the herniated disc far surpassed the pain in the shoulder.  However, I have been getting injections in my shoulder since 2010.  The shots worked like magic.  I instantly felt better (not so with the shots for the back).  But I think the combination of steroids and pain killer in the injections just masked the problem as it got worse.

 

Was too much exercise the culprit?

 

Besides reminding me that I'm getting old, a lot of people say my exercise regime may be to blame.  (And if one more person says I'm old they will pay the consequences!)  I'm torn (pun intended).  I have never felt better, and had a sense of accomplishment, when I finished taking boot camp, Pilates, yoga and spin. When I leave the West Side Y after a workout, I feel like a million bucks.

 

I have a long road of physical therapy ahead and I'll work with the therapist on setting up an exercise plan where I can stay in shape without enduring another health crisis.  Fortunately, my Skinny Gourmet Guy diet is keeping me trim.  I've actually lost 10 pounds since June (as I've posted before).  Admittedly, I don't have much of an appetite, but it's returning slowly but surely.  I'll post about my progess in the coming months.

 

Happier times - with my friend Hank Swank

on Fire Island last summer