10 November 2016
Ok let’s not beat about the bush and I’ll tell you how it is.
Two days ago I saw a consultant re my shoulder that I had an ultra sound examination on in May. I’ve been waiting to hear back for months and finally have a diagnosis and remedy. It’s not good.
I knew I had a torn tendon and anticipated minor surgery and a few weeks recovery with physio. It turns out the tendon is badly torn at the point where it is attached to the bone and is close to detaching from it’s anchorage point. I am now being scheduled for an operation, probably in February through the NHS, only a couple of weeks after the designated recovery period from the spine operation I am having on Saturday.
The operation is a small keyhole procedure but the aftermath is truly a nightmare. I will have to have my right arm completely immobilised in a sling for 4 weeks, I can’t drive for 6 weeks and then have 6 months recovery with intense physio to fully recover. It’s going to be long and painful and if I don’t strictly follow the rules the tendon will tear again and may be irreparable. At the moment I am suffering extreme pain from certain movements and have been dealing with this for a few years although not in continual intensity.Recently it’s become agonisingly intrusive.
The original injury I think came from my arm being wrenched trying to pull myself up on a dive boat in Cuba in heavy seas back in 2010 and since then it has never completely healed. It was seriously aggravated on a tour bus in 2015 and recently I have strained it to the point where the cortisone injections I was taking make no difference apart from masking the problem.With the severe recurring pain I have no other option but to undergo surgery.
What this means is that there will be no festival shows next year and I will not be able to go on the road until October 2017 without risking further damage. This is a huge blow on a number of levels. I have no other option but to cancel all touring until then as I have to give this serious injury time to fully recover.
I am trying to find the yang in all this as it means no gardening all season, no writing or typing for 4 weeks as I am right handed, no lifting or any strenuous movements for 6 months and a rigid schedule of physio that will be extremely uncomfortable. It’s going to be an incredibly frustrating time.
I can only attempt to concentrate on the remasters and writing the new album to back me up. Thankfully I have a wonderful caring woman here who can look after me as in all honesty it would be incredibly difficult for me to get through this on my own and look after myself. Together we are strong enough to get through this but I have to admit it’s a crushing blow which has derailed all thoughts of retirement in 2018.
My agents and my team are completely understanding and supportive and we just have to adjust to the realities of the situation.
It’s not the greatest of news but by no means the worst. I can deal with it. After all the best plans of mice and men aft gang aglae! 