Published: July 22, 2026
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
When recurrent shoulder and wrist discomfort placed Madison, Indiana, resident Rob Smitha at both a life and musical crossroads, he kept moving forward.
Thanks to his perseverance — and the expertise of Nathan W. Polley, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with Norton Orthopedic Institute — Rob and his latest musical ensemble, Glory Bound, continue to grace regional audiences with a variety of classic country gospel songs.
“I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Polley and his staff,” said Rob, 64. “I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to him. I would return to Dr. Polley every time.”
Prior to shoulder surgery at Norton King’s Daughters’ Health in February 2025, Rob had been dealing with shoulder pain for nearly a decade. At first, injections worked well, often providing relief for up to two years at a time. Eventually, those injections failed to help, and an MRI ordered by Dr. Polley confirmed Rob’s need for surgery.
“Honestly, Dr. Polley told me I really needed surgery on both shoulders, but my right shoulder was causing me the most pain and discomfort,” Rob said. “It affected my ability to sleep, which created very long days, especially while working. It also impacted my ability to play the guitar.”
Following surgery and rehabilitation, Rob returned to playing his beloved guitar, an instrument he taught himself to play in the early 1980s after his uncle, Gary Smitha, gave him his first guitar in the late 1970s.
“I was raised on country music,” Rob said. “My favorite artist is Conway Twitty. He inspired me to pick up the guitar.”
Smitha formed his first band, Country Thunder, in 1991— playing a variety of venues on Friday and Saturday nights between Indianapolis, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky. That group took a break in the early 2010s but got back together in 2017 as a bit of a reprise. Ultimately, the group decided to scale back and transition to a simpler schedule. For a group that already mingled country gospel into their repertoire, the transition to Glory Bound was an easy process.
“I love it when someone comes up to us and tells us we touched them with our music,” Rob said.
Beyond his shoulder issues, Rob also endured ongoing bouts with carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition affecting the wrist and hand. When his numbness and pain intensified in late 2025, Rob again found himself reaching out to Dr. Polley to discuss solutions.
“It had progressed to the point where Dr. Polley suggested that we do surgery right away — if not, the surgery might not be successful,” Rob said. “My left hand would sometimes fall asleep while I was playing. Other times, it felt like I was being poked with needles. I would have to take breaks between songs to let my hand wake up again.”
In December 2025, 11 months after his shoulder surgery, Rob underwent successful surgery to repair his carpal tunnel issues.
“Dr. Polley’s team prepped me very well. They told me exactly what to expect,” Rob said. “They told me everything I would need. I felt like a bit of a celebrity.
“I remember cracking a joke when Dr. Polley came in that morning. Dr. Polley also cracked a joke and made everyone laugh. It really put me at ease.”
Today, Rob, a six-year Army veteran, enjoys a slightly slower pace with his wife, Judy, and the serenity of their covered back porch overlooking a koi pond and backyard pool.
He also still loves playing music with Glory Bound, a group that includes several other Madison-area residents and friends. Together, as a musical family, they have a purpose that extends beyond the stage and personal challenges.
“If we can bring one person closer to the good Lord, then we feel like we’ve done our job,” Rob said.