So with 2003 ending I took Z to his first show toward the end of the year. I was not expecting much, I just wanted to get him out and about. There was a fun show that we went to as a barn group and he did very well considering the lack of work he had and the time to get ready for it. I don't think we placed in anything but it was a good experience. The youngblood Thoroughbred did not kill me (or anyone else).
Towards the end of the year Z is starting to slow down!
Going back to the shoulder, I was at a loss. My arm was still weak, my PT was losing hope and the Army was grumbling. The brace you see in the above picture gave me enough stability that I could ride and I could work. My life revolved around that horse but I loved the military just as much and more importantly it was my paycheck! So I petitioned the military clinic for a second orthopedic opinion and in the beginning of 2004 I got it. I was headed to West Point to see some of the most talented cutting edge surgeons in the Army.
I remember going down to New York and I think my mom was with me for the visit. I didn't know what to think but after a clean MRI, trigger point injections, nearly a year of intense physical therapy and even a visit to a psychologist, I wanted answers. I got them when the head ortho surgeon flipped the MRI up on the screen and he looked at me and said "I thought you said the MRI was clean". I gave him the report to go with it and he left for a few minutes and then came back in with an associate of his. He pointed to a blurry spot on the MRI and said "This is not clean. Your subscap tendon is up here flapping in the breeze and the other half is mixed in with scar tissue and adhesions. We would like to do surgery immediately." So I was booked in for yet another surgery. Emotions were running high and confused. I was glad I had finally had answers but I was pissed that this went missed for nearly a year while it just got worse and worse. I think I might have had a week to get everything signed at work and then I was back at West Point, back under the knife.
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