For all practical purposes, my right arm is a useless appendage. It hangs lifeless at my side, either numb from shoulder to fingertips or paralyzed with pain that starts at the shoulder and radiates down to the hand.

The shot of cortisone, injected with so much hope last Thursday, failed to work. Neither do heat wraps or pain-centric bandages.

My doctor's office is closed today for the President's Day holiday so it will be Tuesday before they can take another look at what last week was diagnosed as tendinitis, arthritis and rotator cuff problems.

I type this with one hand and wonder if I can shoot photos left-handed. To the best of my knowledge, no camera maker manufactures a left-handed SLR.

This is going to be a long week.