New shoulder replacement procedure got the sheriff’s No. 2 man back in action

By Patrick Flanary At his peak, Henry Gray could bench-press 600 pounds without breaking a sweat. For decades, competitive lifting gave him purpose and strength. But by last year, Gray’s left shoulder was hurting so much it kept him up at night. For a while he pushed through the discomfort, but the potential consequences gnawed at him. As chief deputy of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Gray realized that putting off medical attention not only put himself and his team at risk, but also jeopardized his 30-year career in law enforcement, which included overseeing drug and SWAT team operations. “One morning, there was numbness, and I couldn’t move my arm up to a certain level; it actually scared me,” said Gray, 60. “I would hate to go up on a scene with my guys and not be able to give them 100%. I felt that would be hindering or hurting a situation, so I knew it was time for me to get my shoulder fixed.” That was March 2023, when Gray met with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Schweppe of Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine – Winston-Salem. He diagnosed Gray with advanced shoulder arthritis, a condition that usually affects joints...