Envisioning My Next Shoulder Surgery…As a Good Thing!

“Get this damn thing out of my arm!“ I exclaim when the pain in my shoulder grabs my attention. A four inch plate and twelve screws have held my fragile bones and tendons in place so that they could heal. It feels like there’s a metal alien inside me. I suppose I could be grateful toward this alien that looks like some kind of mutant spider, instead of being so annoyed with it and letting it get the best of me.

The good news is that I will kissing my alien goodbye in a few weeks. My shoulder is well healed, except for some pain and limited mobility caused primarily by the plate and screws. So, instead of getting grouchy, impatient and annoyed, I might as well develop a good relationship with my alien for the remainder of its time with me. This will help me envision my upcoming surgery in a positive light.

Naming my alien can help me create some distance so that I’m less angry about it, and more at peace about my upcoming surgery. For some reason, the first name that came to mind is Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame. Quasimodo may have been ugly and frightening, but he had a kind and compassionate heart. So, whenever I get angry at Quasimodo, I can remember his kindness in helping me heal.

Although I am well along in my healing process, I still have a few remnants of emotional trauma associated with my fall and previous shoulder surgeries. So, I will also use this time to envision that my surgeon will be removing not only Quasimodo, but also any lingering remnants of my trauma. Thank you, Quasimodo, for serving me well. It’s getting to be time to bid you a fond adieu.