Finally, in January 2023, after countless phone calls, I am informed that the referral has gone through to the clinic! The clinic calls me that same day to schedule, and I am overjoyed! I can’t believe that I’m finally going to see the expert Surgeon who can fix my shoulder. I met with Dr. Grantham for the first time in early March 2023.
My initial impression of Dr. G was similar to that of Dr. M. Knowledgeable, experienced, compassionate. To top it off, Dr. G was trained and mentored by the world leading expert on Scapular dyskinesis, Dr. William Ben Kibler. This guy, the second Dr. K, is the shoulder surgeon who “discovered” (or named this condition) and developed the treatment for it! In other words, I am in the best, most capable hands for my situation.
At this point, I cannot believe my luck, and I am beside myself with the blessings raining down on me after these three years of pain and suffering. My hard work and persistence are finally paying off. I am already impressed by the quality of care I am receiving, and the surgery hasn’t even happened yet.
Impressing me at this point in my life (and in this journey) is not an easy feat, as I’ve learned to be skeptical and discerning in pursuit of my medical care. I’m used to having to fight for my right to quality patient care and effective treatment. I’m used to advocating for myself when more often than not, it seems I am being brushed off. It was a splendid relief to be heard, the first time.
To my pleasant surprise, Dr. G and his team made everything seamless and easy! Dr. G accompanied by Dr. K, saw me for the initial visit, where they listened (GASP!) to my story. They performed the evaluation as gently as they could have and expressed sympathy that I had had to suffer so long and go through so much to get here.
I remember Dr. K specifically complimenting me on how strong I must be, to be able to withstand such pain for so long. It’s possible he was also referring to my mental fortitude as well. I stubbornly refused to give up and held on to hope no matter how many obstacles I met. I had faith that there was someone out there who could fix my shoulder.
After the exam, I was sent upstairs to meet with a physical therapist, John Lockhart, who goes by Will. The reason for this is they don’t rush into surgery there, and they value his opinion as a physical therapist. I think that is absolutely amazing and I have never seen anything like that before. After experiencing that thorough coordination of quality care, I can’t help but feel as though that should be the standard everywhere.
Anyhow, Will also took the time to listen to my story and was as gentle as he could be during his evaluation. Pointing to my AC joint, (which has been one of the main sources of my pain) he said,
“You can see here, it’s pulling your shoulder joint forward. And that shoulder pain is never going to stop until you get the scapular muscles repaired. Only then can we rehab your shoulder. You will have to relearn how to move your shoulder correctly. But until you get that surgery, you’re not going to get anywhere. Any conservative measures including PT, will be for naught.”
He then prescribed some prehab exercises to do before my surgery. Again, something I have never heard of before and thought highly of. Together, the three of them emphatically agreed that I definitely needed the surgery.
Doctor Kibler noted that I met ALL of the parameters for needing scapular muscle reattachment surgery. Dr. Grantham and Dr. Kibler thoroughly explained their reasoning, what the surgery entailed, and what the recovery would be like. Then they simply left the choice to me. No pressure, no condescending crap, just information and patience.
After discussing everything with Dr. Grantham, Dr. Kibler, and Will, and after I felt all my questions were answered, Will escorted me upstairs to schedule the surgery. Deep down, it feels as though I’ve known that I needed surgery all along. This experience confirmed that instinct.
I went out to my car afterwards, and just sat there in shock for a few moments before driving home. It felt like my head was spinning the entire rest of the day. These sensations were all good, however. I just couldn’t believe I had finally won.
I couldn’t fathom that it was actually happening, after feeling like I was running in place (or backwards) for 3 years, maybe more. Not to mention, I am still in awe that all those pieces came together in one day! I thought it would take at least a month to get through all of those steps.
I thought a great deal about that initial visit, reflecting on what the doctors had explained to me about scapular dyskinesis. Such as what it is, what causes it, and the long road to correcting it. I kept thinking back to that car accident many years ago. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it may have been the catalyst to all of this.
I remembered that during the accident, my upper body tensed up, as if bracing for the impact. I was white-knuckling the steering wheel with both hands, but maybe slightly more-so with my left. Most of the impact was to the front driver side of the car. It seems fitting that my left arm likely absorbed most of the shock…which is the shoulder that’s severely messed up now, needing surgery. CLICK. It fits.
After that accident, I carried on with my military career. Then the osteoarthritis. The several rounds of physical therapy that didn’t help. Next, despite staying physically fit most of those 9 years, the ensuing SLAP tear and the discovery of scapular muscle detachment. Maybe that day playing with my kids was the final straw, and this was a long time coming…9 years (up to that point) to be exact. CLICK. It fits.
With my surgery scheduled with the right surgeon, and my physical therapy connection already set, I felt I could finally let go. I felt a sense of peace and relief, that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I could relax and rest now. The fight was over. Now comes the repair, the healing, and new beginnings.
Musecal Mind 