No this isn’t a spinoff of Diagnosis: Murder, and it doesn’t star Dick Van Dyke or Scott Baio (sadly). Oh, Scott Baio, where have you gone?

This is the official diagnosis for my shoulder handed down by my orthopedic. I still have not succeeded in properly saying that word, but I guess that doesn’t really matter so long as my insurance company can figure it out.

In English this means I have a rupture or tear in my left rotator cuff. Specifically the tear is in the Supraspinatus muscle (see picture).  And that will end our science lesson for today.

My orthopedic recommended surgery and we’ve scheduled it for this coming Friday. I will be admitted to the hospital Thursday afternoon, surgery will be Friday morning and I should be discharged sometime on Saturday.

In the US this would almost definitely be outpatient surgery, but I’m not sure outpatient surgery exists in Austria. I guess that’s just one of the perks of the medical system here.

I would appreciate it if you would keep me in your prayers this week.

…and it’s a rupture. Or maybe bursitis. But it looks like a small rupture in my outer shoulder muscle says my doctor. He gave me the name of the muscle in German…or maybe it was Latin with an Austrian accent. In any case  it was about 20 syllables long and I’ve already forgotten it.

I injured my shoulder in an ultimate frisbee game over Easter Break, and was hoping that time would heal it. A month later that doesn’t seem to be happening. My doctor is hoping a cortizone shot will solve the problem, and I’m hoping so as well.

I have a follow-up appointment on Friday. Please pray that my shoulder is feeling better by then and that I can avoid surgery.