"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat." M. Forbes
When I was 41, I suffered from a frozen shoulder for a year. An ultrasound showed a tear in my rotator cuff. While waiting for the MRI, I visited an osteopath who told me that if I can't help you in 5 sessions, then this is not the treatment you need. Miraculously, he cured me in just three sessions. I was able to move my arm.
Shortly after, I had an MRI. I met with the orthopedic surgeon who was surprised to see changes from my ultrasound that indicated healing. He asked me how I was doing and was glad he didn't have to do the surgery.
My only adjustment in the future was to stick to activities that didn't require full arm rotation. This meant that swimming was out if I wanted to do freestyle or backcrawl. I adapted and settled on kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and doing yoga on the board.
While in Antigua I went snorkelling. To my surprise, I swam freestyle for over thirty minutes without feeling any pain. I was shocked and delighted at the thought of being able to swim again. For those who don’t know me, I grew up as a competitive swimmer for over 15 years. This is a great win!
I swim in the ocean every day celebrating this win. Quite possibly the meds to build up my bones have also strengthened my rotator cuff. I don't know what the future holds. My scans are scheduled for May and I hold hope that all will be well. But for now, I am living in a moment where my body is working with me.
What small or big wins are you experiencing in your life right now? Take them in, celebrate them, and hold on to the feeling of success. We never know what may be around the corner. For now, I will swim!
Comments