It’s A Start, and I Really Need Those Endorphins

After months of suffering pain and lack of motion in my shoulder, I decided to have an MRI done on the offending joint.  The MRI showed I had a rotator cuff tear, and that it would need surgery to be repaired.  I had the surgery on April 20^th, and began rehab four days later.  Thursday was the first day I began strength work during rehab.  Believe me, strength is a relative term, because I had done similar exercises before my injury, and with much greater weight.

 

The rotator cuff tear wasn’t my only reason for not working out the past few months.  If you read my Ron Speaks Out blog, you know my Dad had a brain tumor removed in 23 hours of surgery over two days in mid-May.  He was in the Creighton Medical Center for nearly a month, and was sent to Merrick Manor in Fremont for hospice care.  He died on Father’s Day. 

 

For 37 straight days I made the 45 minute one way trip to the hospital in Omaha, and I was there during his brief stay at Merrick Manor.  I tried to work, and I did manage to get the most pressing items done in what is normally a very busy time for me.  However, between leaving work early and working in what seemed like ultra-slow motion, I got behind at work.  Two weeks after my Dad’s death I am just starting to get caught up.

 

And am feeling like I can and like I need to be working out again.  I need those endorphins badly.  I hoped to have worked out with my personal trainer last Tuesday, but work issues prohibited that.  I hope to work out with him on Tuesday, and there should be no problems this time.

 

Today I went to the Wellness Center at the Fremont YMCA and did 35 minutes on the treadmill and followed that up with six minutes more cardio on the hand petal bike-that helps my shoulder too.  I followed that up with several dumbbell routines, using 2 ½, 5, and 7 ½ pound dumbbells.  When I hurt my shoulder seven months ago I was using 15-20-25 pound dumbbells for the same routines, but I am just glad to be doing these routines again.  And, for the first time since April I lifted over 1,000 pounds with my arms. 

 

Just a start, but you will be hearing much more on this blog in the coming weeks.

~ by Ron Meyer on July 6, 2009.