I'll make this the Cliff Notes version, 'cause it's a long story. I see an orthopedic surgeon Monday morning about my left shoulder. It started hurting me a full month ago, made a trip to the ER, had an X-ray and finally an MRI. I've already had surgery for a full-thickness rotator cuff tear on my RIGHT shoulder. The MRI on my left one shows a partial-thickness tear of the rotator cuff, a significant loss of cartilage, some bone spurs, and quite a bit of fluid build-up. I don't know what they do for partial-thickness tears or the cartilage loss, but I'm hoping it's not a repeat of what I went through with the right shoulder. That was no fun whatsoever! SO, please wish me luck and, if you're the praying kind, I would certainly appreciate your prayers as well! The pain level at times gets up there to about an 8 or 9. I have opioids I can take (due to back issues), but I really don't like to take them. I've been suffering through with quantities of acetaminophen and the occasional opioid (limiting myself to no more than one a day), but I can't keep this up forever. Something's gotta' give!