Perfect Timing

 

So, there I was...

 

 

 

 

Just cleared by the surgeon to begin full activity on March 9th, 2020.  I had one of the bone staples removed from my foot six weeks before, and had healed nicely.  I was ready to go and the first week of jogging was going well. 

 

Except that the gyms were closed due to the 'Wuhan Red Death' or the COVID-19.  On Friday the 13th of March, I was called up to work in the Pentagon as part of the Army's COVID-19 Response.  I was to be the Army Reserve's Medical Planner.  However, I was not anticipating being a victim of various Army/Defense Health Agency directives that I assisted in writing!  For I did not know how painful Monday, March 16th would be!

 

 

For on Saturday, 14 March 2020 a simple tumble while finishing my run would cause so much pain I would have to go to the Belvoir Urgent Care Center.  My foot was never in so much pain as my shoulder.  I tried to roll as my foot (yes, the one that is finally healed) got tripped up and I ended up right on my right shoulder.  The pain was so intense I had to keep from standing up for fearing of passing out.  I was close to home, and I knew something was very wrong.

 

 

It was/is a classic Acromion-Clavicular Separation (shoulder separation).  In the end, it is a Grade 5- the worst one can have without breaking any bones. Unfortunately, it was the first days of the COVID-19 response for healthcare facilities...so actual contact with a patient was minimal.  

Here is a illustration of a normal shoulder joint. 

Unfortunately for me, I was given a sling and given some drugs for the pain and told to make an appointment with my primary care provider.  At least there was no broken bones, just my collar bone sticking up. 

So, I showed up at the Pentagon that Monday in a sling and in a lot of pain!  But I managed throughout the days of a lot of walking (always a lot of walking at the Pentagon!).

As we have witnessed, the early days of the COVID response, all elective surgeries were cancelled/postponed and all visits were 'Virtual'.  And with my timing, it has been a very painful eight weeks.  I finally was able to get in a physically meet with my orthopedic doctor who said it was a lot worse than initially diagnosed in the ER- but figured that since there was no 'hands on' evaluation.  Again, bad timing!  He discussed in brief how he would recommend fixing it- since it is my dominant arm and still have to pass the Army's physical fitness test!  Basically I tore the Acromiclavicular Ligament and the Corcoclavicular Ligaments.  That's right.  All of them.  These are the ligaments that attach the clavicle to the shoulderblade- which explains why I have so much pain when moving my arm in any directions.  And only a surgical solution was the answer.  But...

Here is a picture of my Type 5 AC Joint Separation. 

 

There is always a but...Unfortunately, it was considered 'elective' and would have to wait.  So he gave me an steroid injection into the joint and told to take it easy and use the sling as needed.  I will have a follow-up at the end of May to discuss what is next and how to work in another 'surgery' with our busy schedules!