Not Even at Square One... Yet

I had no sooner posted a few weeks ago that I was going to get on with some kind of boating training than up came the long awaited results from the various scans, x-Rays and examinations to determine the best course of treatment for my shoulder affliction. Basically there was only one option if I wanted some sort of regeneration of fitness. The scans clearly showed that the tendon that was supposed to be attached to the top of my humerus was split and two thirds of the attachment area was detached. So, ultimately the one third remaining was bound to fail at some point in time if I had continued to use it as I'd intended.

It's now some six weeks after the op and at last my arm is out of a sling. The only action that the shoulder has been permitted in that time has been various stretching exercises to regain mobility, which in themselves have been quite painful, but at least have returned the joint to about 70% of normal articulation. There's been no loading of the muscles allowed. All movement has been without applying any load or flexing of the arm or shoulder muscles. No picking up weights, no jogging (oops) and no swimming. All that's banned until after three months post op, which is another six weeks away. The consequence is that a certain amount of degeneration of the upper arm muscles has taken place leaving me with a fine 'bingo wing' on the right arm. When it comes to it I am now faced with having to paddle without any muscle on my upper arm. This, I do not actually find very amusing.

A visit to the Physio yesterday allowed dumping the sling for good and revising the exercises. The new exercises are still heavily weighted towards mobility rather than strength. So, where to now?  I had retained a slight but ever diminishing hope that something of the year may be recoverable. Last year I had entertained the ambition of taking part in this year's Waterside and Thameside events and even, who knows, the Big One. But it wasn't to be and now with it being mid September before I'll be able to get going again, this year is definitely a complete wash out. There just isn't time to get any sort of meaningful fitness back again. I had hoped at least to get sufficient miles in to get ready for the club 16 mile Trophy race in November, but at this rate I'll be lucky to get back into a boat by the end of the summer.

Luckily the injury doesn't (at this stage) preclude jogging, so it rather looks as if I'll be able to concentrate on that and Parkrun for some exercise and later take what boating I can manage as a bonus. The Big One seems even further away than ever.