  I went to the doctor this morning for a TB test that I need for a volunteer project. There in the waiting room was my mom. We have different doctors in the same office. Shes been having problems with her shoulder for over a year now.
Theyve been giving her cortisone shots to help, but decided she needed an MRI to check it out completely. She was there to see the results. They took her back right away and I waited about 20 minutes. I went back, got my shot and got talked into a tetanus shot (my arm hurts like hell right now). As I was walking out, a nurse told me that mom was still there, so I asked where she was.
I'd only been there a few minutes when the doctor came in, so I decided to wait and learn about whats going on. Seems mom has a one-inch tear in her rotary cuff, plus a level three impediment to her range of motion. The doctor talked about referring her to a surgeon, at which point my mom says, I have an appointment with the surgeon on Friday.
Now, imagine for a moment, my face. As my brain is taking in all of this, plus the realization that my mom has an appointment with a surgeon and has failed to mention this to me. Incredulous might be the best word. So, now we have an appointment with the surgeon on Friday. Dr. Boyd believes he will recommend surgery and a trip to rehab. If mom declines surgery, the doctor will keep giving her shots as she needs them, but it will eventually become a bum arm. 
