One (More) of Those Things That Just Happen
Good News. Somewhat inexplicably, a few weeks after the X-rays confirmed bone growth in the middle of my quad (myositis ossificans), I started regaining range of motion and the pain subsided. Managed a full season of coaching Special Olympics ski racing and was able to keep a planned appointment to ski with some high school friends in Utah in early March. One of them was a teammate on my 1974 State Championship team, and he can still turn them both ways. Between my empty sleeve flapping around and the two of us ripping pretty impressive carves on the steeps, it was a bit of a throwback moment to our annual western swings 45 years ago. At 65, I must admit, it felt pretty good to to have people stop just to watch and approach us in the lift lines to say wow, the same as it was 4 decades ago.
Bad News. The unexpected healing of my thigh apparently was a bit of a Karmic setup. Either that, or the pridefullness displayed above was destined to come back and bite me in the behind. Skiing powder on the last day, I sunk a pole plant in a steep section of trees. My arm ripped back, and I felt a pop. Didn't fall, but hung it up five runs later with some serious pain and lack of movement. Although it took a bit to pin down the diagnosis, largely because my one arm has recruited muscles all over the place and functionally it is still working for the most part, when my bicep rode up toward my shoulder and then tumbled off to the side and took on all of the attributes of belly fat, we ordered an MRI. Reattachment surgery for my severed distal bicep tendon next week.
Welcome to the rehab rodeo, again.