Today I consulted w/ Linda, owner of PT practice, reviewing the ortho DR report. I am proceeding w/ door number 3. I am attempting to fax this DR’s report to Kody back in Spokane for his review to learn if I tore out his fix and if what is now damaged is the same as his fix. And what else he might advise. I have range of motion but pain. I do not need a brace or support to constrain the shoulder as it will prevent range of motion. Concern is chunky riding and the strain it exerts on my shoulder. A reverse shoulder will eliminate the rotator cuff and my pain. PT says I should not carry a pack.

Friday I charged out on a hike testing the footbed. My foot pain was almost gone as was my knee pain. I bit off a hard hike which brought on muscle condition issues. I should have scaled back. It is so nice to have less pain.

Sunday I rode out verde valley school road like I have been doing. I added more dirt to my ride. I wore the wrist brace which eliminated my fore arm pain and was still able to control the left handle bar. My trap barks during the ride.

I finished Steinbeck’s East of Eden then jumped into an old Grisham novel, The Testament. I read most of Saturday sitting in the sun. I finished it last night.

Gonzaga is a number 2 seed.

Sunny, dry and in the 70’s during the day. At night I sleep under doubled up down blanket but only turn the furnace on before getting up. Inside temp is in low 50s. Sun comes up earlier which warms me up.

Physical activity rewards me by the activity itself and it consumes time. No activity frees up time that has to be consumed another way. reading works. Hanging and socializing works.

Van noise appears to be coming from the transmission. Next step is to replace it.

I bought a ticket for the banff festival tonight.

I am waiting a call from the ortho as I write this.

Today I visited an orthotics office to learn if an orthotic could be cast to relieve the pain of the missing cartilage in my left big toe. The guy showed me a carbon fiber foot bed which stiffens up the shoe. Presto: toe pain gone as  well as some knee pain. No orthotic required. Back backing is now a pleasant option.

My teeth are in accord. The dentist was impressed with the quality of the gold crowns cast up in Spokane. I get my teeth cleaned and checked 2X a year, once here in Sedona and the fall check up back in Spokane.

PT is strengthening my shoulders and lessening the pain in my left forearm caused by stressed tendons from the same fall that tweaked my shoulder. I am wearing a wrist brace to prevent tendon activity in my wrist. I will wear it when I ride tomorrow.

The transmission flush and additive did not make all the noise go away. Today I coasted on smooth pavement and still noticed vibration. Tomorrow I will drive back to Cottonwood to Discount tire, where I bought the tires, for them to balance and check out the tires for defects.

Monday is a one day Banff film festival showing that I will attend.

Call came. Bad tear: 50% of supra spinatus torn and 4cm retracted. Minor tear in infra spinatus. DR said he would have to go in orthoscopically(sp) to determine if he can tie things back together.

I have these options:

1) do nothing

2) no surgery but PT to strengthen other muscles. Con: Muscles taking over the load were not evolved for that purpose and over time they can tear which affects option 4. A fall could tear healthy  muscle / tendon. Certainly strengthening supports the next 2 options

3) surgery and fix if possible. If not, it  would require another surgery for option 4.

4) complete shoulder replacement which will eliminate repairing tears and fixed for good. Con: shoulder not as strong, there are physical effort limitations, finite number of uses, don’t know recovery time, not sure about biking or backpacking.

I’m inclined to enter door number 3 w/ continual strengthening and gather info on a replacement shoulder.

I did what I did, I am faced with paying for the did. I will abide.

Camped at dry overlook after another golf club smorgasbord 2X thru dinner. $14 for plenty of good food.

Monday i drove up to Flag for an MRI of my shoulder. I knew there would be an injection of contrast solution into my shoulder which I did not look forward to. I was held so I wouldn’t walk away from the pain. I survived. The MRI was just time spent on my back while the machine clanked and banged while listening to a commercial FM station. The DR will call me Thurs. afternoon w/ the results and what repair he suggests. I have accepted there is damage and fear that it is to the previous repair which was a once in a life time repair. Don’t bid the devil good day until you meet him.

last weekend was the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival which drew scads of out of area riders. I hiked up the Hi Line roll in then up to the pedestal. The roll in is a scary double black Diamond, much of it I have walked.

I encountered less than 15 riders to watch. A problem exists w/ hikers climbing up the trail against the riders going down. Trail is identified by FS as bikers and hikers are equal negating the IMBA triangle of bikers yielding to everyone.

4 years ago I fell in the wash after all the tech stuff on Hi Line and shattered my right collar bone which might be the cause of my shoulder issues.

Monday was a PT session on my left arm for the tendon inflammation. I have been wearing a wrist brace for over a week to quiet wrist tendons and allow them to calm down, I have lesser pain. I am still doing the shoulder strengthening and stretching shoulder exercises.

Tuesday Red Rock Precision changed the transmission fluid hoping to eliminate the rumble strip noise. The noise is lessened. I was told that the root might be the transmission itself, a $4,000 price. 165,000 miles.

Today I sought medical knowledge for my tingly feet and upset stomach. I will try a dose of Nexium in case it is heart burn. Tomorrow is blood draw for lab work to learn what my body is dealing with. I have not been feeling well.

I’m just saying that my body is wearing like my van. Diagnosis the problem and take corrective action.

Turner Bikes created a web story about me per the below link which is pretty cool.

http://www.turnerbikes.com/turner-culture/item/51-craig-bierly-r-u-nuts

I watched the Gonzaga WCC conference championship games on TV at PJs. Zags are tough. Next is selection Sunday for the big dance and where and whom they will play. GO ZAGS.

Ian camped at my spot for 3 nights. I joined him in conversation under full moon light. He checked out roads in the area for future camp spots. He found roads that are not on the map and no roads that were on the map.

Tomorrow is a busy day w/ a blood draw, PT, teeth care, laundry, and a consultation for foot orthotics. And the DR call.