One day you might be feeling well and the next you could be struck down by unbearable shoulder pain, the kind that takes your breath away. Then comes the first of many sleepless nights.
That’s the mysterious and miserable world of frozen shoulder, as explained by orthopedic surgeon, Michael Khazzam.
That’s been jockey Shaun O’Donnell’s life for the past nine months.
O’Donnell has been hit by injuries before, they go hand-in-hand with being a jockey, it’s the nature of the job, but his latest setback has been a severe test of his mental and physical resilience.
O’Donnell’s torment goes back to Kalgoorlie on Hannans Handicap day last October when he dislocated his right shoulder in a pre-race barrier accident.
O’Donnell avoided surgery, but developed frozen shoulder, a condition that can literally develop overnight and the recovery can be long and gruelling.
However, after a mountain of work and rehabilitation, O’Donnell believes his fortunes have turned and he can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.
The four-time Group 1 winning jockey hopes to settle into the lifestyle of a jockey once more and is looking at the months ahead with optimism.
“It’s been a long journey, but I feel lucky I get another chance to get back,” O’Donnell said to The Races WA.
“I started track work Thursday week ago, I’ve been eight times and up to about 23 horses that I’ve ridden.
“I’ve been doing gym therapy for about 16 or 17 weeks and am doing everything I can to get back as fast as I can.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to do a couple of trials, the next Belmont trials, just a couple, then maybe do another set and then races, just quietly.
“Do this whole month of riding and trials, just building up and hopefully by August and September and by the carnival be at my peak again.
“I’ve been through this scenario that many times and if you rush it you always go backwards.
“You have to be careful, but I’m very excited.”
The road to recovery has been arduous with many bumps along the way and combined with a broken foot and broken leg previously, O’Donnell has been robbed of competing in three out of the past four Ascot summer carnivals.
He’s now recovered and ready to get back in the saddle, his competitive juices flowing again, but O’Donnell confessed there were times during his rehabilitation that he doubted he would get back to doing what he loved best.
O’Donnell had grave concerns he would not ride again.
“It’s been a big process to get me back again, but I was a bit worried,” O’Donnell said.
“I’m not shy to say I was a bit worried for a while that it might be a bit of an end for me.
“I developed frozen shoulder and couldn’t move my arm higher than my shoulder.
“It was that painful and horrendous and my specialist said it was one of the worst that he’d ever seen.
“But he was confident without any surgery he would get me back; just follow procedures and it has.
“I’m getting stronger and stronger and I just want to ride in another carnival, I’ve missed the last three.”
O’Donnell has been away from racing, but not absent in the minds of friends and supporters.
He feared being out of sight, out of mind, people had forgotten about him.
But, he’s been overwhelmed and blown away by the support.
His imminent return to the races has been met with great enthusiasm.
“All my trainers have been behind me,” O’Donnell said.
“Trevor Andrews, Julie Clements, Justine Erkelens, Gino Poletti, Ashley Maley, they’re waiting for me to come back.
“It makes you more determined and makes you feel good. I feel loved, put it that way.”
