15. Up To A Shoulder

Towards the end of 2015 I started getting pain at the end of my right collar bone near the shoulder. As usual I started at the GP who sent me for x-rays, which led to an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon again, which came through for 9th February 2016.

This was followed by 2 more appointments with the orthopaedic people and then they decided that my arthritis had reached my Acromioclavicular joint. This is the joint between the collar bone (clavicle) and the part of the shoulder known as the acromion.

I’m beginning to think that after all these years I know as much, if not more, than some of the junior doctors at the hospital, at least in the orthopaedic department.

They decided that the course of action was to perform a resection of the distal clavicle, i.e., cut a bit off.

Under The Knife Again

I’ve got to go to hospital

To have a little op.

It would seem that my collar bone

Needs to get a little chop.

This time arthritis has ruined

My right shoulder joint now.

I would like to say ‘Oh! Why me?’

But it would do no good anyhow.

The doctors have told me that

I need surgery again

They’ll cut a bit of my bone off

To see if that eases my pain.

I’m waiting for a letter now

To say when my op will be

I check the post every day

As I’m dying to be pain free.

Is there someone who can tell me

How long I’ll have to wait?

I’m sure that you will understand

It’s the delays that I hate.

I’m hoping that this latest op

Will give me a better life.

That’s why I’m looking forward to

Once more being under the knife.

According to the research I’ve done, during this procedure, the surgeon removes the end of the clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint in the shoulder. Removing this portion of bone should, remove the pain.

The operation was done on 11th August 2016 and had some success as my shoulder only has a flair-up now and then.