Steve doesn't have to have surgery

After more than three months of left shoulder pain, Steve went to the orthopedic surgeon this morning. They did some 'range of motion' with his shoulder, took x-rays and neck, and the diagnosis is: frozen shoulder. Some of the causes might be the arthritis that is minimal in his neck and shoulder, or the cause might be a swollen bursitis. He does not have bone spurs (okay, maybe a tiny start of one or two), or socket issues. He does not need surgery.

The treatment for today was a shot of cortisone into the bursitis from the back side of the shoulder. He has a six day pack of sample Celebrex (NSAID) and a prescription to take for the next 30 days to bring the swelling down, and next Friday he goes for his first physical therapy session (three days a week for four weeks) and a follow up visit with Dr. Barber. If Steve responds to this treatment and the pain goes away, we will not have to do anything else. If the pain does not go away, then they will order an MRI. Dr. Barber said that the arthritis in the neck might be the cause of the shoulder pain, but only time will tell.

Steve has set a goal to lose 30 pounds between January and November 2009. Between the two treatments (losing weight and getting his shoulder to thaw (teehee), he will feel like a new man.

Which he already is doing, now that he no longer works in Sherman but is his own boss. He even has time to do workouts in the morning before he gets ready for work. He is writing programs, setting up a business to manage shared aircraft, selling aircraft, and working on commission getting work into the shops in Sherman.

We are renting the Pottsboro house currently. If anyone needs a house in Pottsboro at an incredible price, let us know. The bottom line and closing sentence is this: Steve is on the road to recovery. We are grateful he doesn't have to have surgery.