"Yes, you need to rest it, but you might also need surgery."
Daniel's face blanched. "No, I can't go through surgery."
Riley propped her hands on her hips. "Well, you may not have a choice." She softened her tone. "Why are you so averse to getting medical attention?" When he didn't respond, she knelt beside his chair. "Is this about your alcohol addiction?"
"A couple of strong drinks could dull the pain in no time." He looked away, not meeting her gaze. He shook his head. "If I have to have surgery, they'll prescribe narcotics to help with the pain. I don’t want to become dependent on them."
"Not all rotator cuff tears require surgery." She put a hand on his good arm. "Let me take you to see Uncle James so we can find out what we're dealing with at least."
"Okay." He grimaced again as he stood, and Riley prayed she hadn't given him false hope about not needing surgery.
Impatient as she was to get him to the hospital before he changed his mind, she let him eat his breakfast and get dressed before hurryinghim out the door. When he asked for her help to button his shirt, warmth spread through her body as she admired the magnificent eagle spread across his broad chest.
A twinge of disappointment hit her with each button that she closed, and the eagle slowly disappeared. She was still trying to figure out how to get Daniel to give them a chance. She understood his hesitation to get involved in a relationship when he felt he was too damaged and would end up letting her down some day. But he was stronger than he thought.
Clearing her throat, she stepped back. "I'll go grab my Jeep and be back in a jiffy."
"Let's take my truck."
"No, you shouldn't be driving."
He picked up the keys off the counter and tossed them in her direction. "So you drive."
Three hours later, after waiting for a full hour in the waiting room, then another thirty minutes for Uncle James to see Daniel, followed by a forty-five-minute wait to be taken to radiology for the MRI, Riley was tired, grumpy, and impatient. She was about to push to her feet to go in search of answers when the curtain opened again.
"I have good and bad news." Uncle James moved the rolling stool directly in front of them and took a seat. "The bad news is you do indeed have a small tear in the rotator cuff." He raised a finger as Daniel let out a soft groan. "But since it's such a small tear, it won't require surgery."
Daniel heaved a sigh of relief beside her.
"Here's the catch though..." Uncle James gave Daniel a stern look. "If you don't rest it, it won't heal." He picked up the sling that hung over Daniel's knee. "That means this is your most important accessory for the next four to six weeks. More so than even your hat, belt, and boots combined. Got it?"
Daniel nodded, a small smile lifting his lips.
Uncle James rolled the stool back and stood but Riley stopped him. "I think Daniel could use something for the pain. Something a little stronger than over the counter pain relievers."
She hated even suggesting it because there really weren't any great alternatives to opioid pain relievers, but she feared as long as Daniel was in pain, he'd crave the alcohol.
"No," Daniel said. "I'll make do."
"You don't have to make do." She turned to her uncle again. "Perhaps an NSAID like Diclofenac or maybe even a Cortisone shot?"
"Both are great options." Uncle James nodded. "If we go with the cortisone shot, I fear he'll feel better right away and use that arm too much. Then that tear will never heal." He turned to Daniel. "It's your choice, however."
"I don't want anything that could be addictive."
"Neither are addictive. As far as side effects go, it's a wash." He shrugged then looked at Daniel with raised eyebrows.
Daniel looked at Riley. "What do you think I should do?"
"The shot will give you faster relief, once the pain of the injection subsides."
"Okay, let’s go with the shot."
"Sounds good. I'll be back in a few minutes with an ultrasound machine and a Cortisone shot."
Judging by the noise out in the hall, the ER was still busy, so Riley anticipated having to wait at least another thirty minutes, but Uncle James returned only a few minutes later, rolling a cart with an ultrasound machine.
"This is a little unorthodox, but we're short-staffed today, so Riley, if you could assist me, we can finally get the two of you out of here."
