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Signal Mountain resident Dr. Tom Blockley, DDS, can once again lift light weights thanks to orthopedic surgeon and fellow Signal Mountain resident Dr. William Donaldson Photo by Katy Mena
Red Bank dentist and Signal Mountain resident Dr. Tom Blockley said he clearly heard the painful tear that would threaten his career and determine his fate. He would have to have surgery whether he liked it or not.
An avid athlete and dedicated weightlifter, Blockley said he was no stranger to medical intervention. He had often relied on cortisone injections administered by orthopedic surgeon and Signal Mountain neighbor Dr. William Donaldson to ease any shoulder pain that resulted from his frequent workouts.
“This time that wasn’t going to work,” said Blockley, who said he put his full faith in Donaldson as he endeavored to heal his injured rotator cuff.
To repair the dentist’s most valuable tool, his body, Donaldson performed a type III rotator cuff repair at Memorial North Park. According to Blockley, the surgery required Donaldson to make a 6-inch incision in Blockley’s upper arm.
“(An injury) that big — he felt like he needed to open me up,” said Blockley, who was in and out of the hospital on the day of the surgery and back at work five days later.
Though Blockley said it took some time for him to build up the strength to do strenuous procedures such as pulling teeth, he said it was a blessing that he could perform light procedures so soon after the surgery.
“Just getting back to work was important,” said Blockley.
Blockley said his wife, Karen, who works with him as a dental assistant, and son and fellow dentist Dr. Heath Blockley, with whom he shares his practice, helped him ease back into the professional swing of things.
“I’ve got good assistance, so that helped,” said Blockley.
Blockley added that his dedication to his physical therapy, when combined with a handful of other factors, helped expedite his recovery.
“The key to success for me was I picked an excellent doctor; I had excellent physical therapy, and I followed the doctor’s instructions,” said Blockley.
Blockley said he is pleased to have his health again so that he can pursue his latest project — providing dental care to those in need at the Lone Oak Free Clinic, where he now has three chairs as opposed to the single one he has had for the last two years.
Blockley, a native of Red Bank, resides on Signal Mountain with his wife and serves as an elder at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.
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