(no subject)

[auntiemeesh]

I had my first experience with physical therapy this morning. It went well. The P.T. was very gentle in assessing how much movement/pain I have and at this point doesn't want me trying to push through pain for anything. As soon as I reach the point where it hurts, stop. I can get behind that.

He gave me a bunch of exercises to do, all of which are passive (using props to make the arm move, rather than the unhappy muscles themselves). I also have to remember to keep my shoulder 'soft' since I've fallen into a bad habit of hunching up and placing additional strain on the muscles of my neck, especially when I need to reach my hand up for anything. All of this is supposed to soothe the angry muscles while gradually restoring range of motion. I'll go back in two weeks for a reassessment and at that time the P.T. thinks I'll be ready to do some strength exercises.

I liked the place and felt very comfortable with both the environment and the people. I am pleased, despite the fact that my arm is now protesting all that attention rather loudly.

Comments

[antbee362.livejournal.com]

I am glad to hear you had a good PT. Hope it heals quickly.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

It's gotten a lot better already, so I'm sure I'll see a lot of improvement over the next couple of weeks. :)

[whtmtnwmn.livejournal.com]

So are you doing the pt at home for the next two weeks? Light duty at work?

Hope it keeps getting better every day!
=D

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exercises to do daily at home. I was relieved that even without the issue of insurance, the P.T. didn't think I needed much more than that.

In theory, I'm on light duty at work. But the P.T. acknowledged that it's sort of impossible at times to do that in my job. I really shouldn't pick the kids up or anything like that, but I'm pretty good at doing that one-armed, so I should be able to get away with it. The other thing he said was that if I do have to push things a little at work, then be sure to rest and use ice when I get home.

[lyda-pearl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you went in and it seemed like a good place. good luck with the PT

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The hardest part will be making myself do the exercises every day. I suppose it would probably be best to get up a little early and do them in the morning, since chances are good by the end of the day I will want nothing to do with anything that involves moving my arm.

[ani-no-mouse.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the exercises! I hope the PT remains gentle - rather than the variant of torture that it is sometimes purported to be!

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I think I'm pretty lucky to have a mild injury with (so far at least) no strength loss, just range of motion troubles. I bet Monica won't be so lucky. :(

[arthurfrdent.livejournal.com]

good luck with it... they will also show you how you`ve been changing your posture to accommodate the pain...

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, at least one of the exercises the P.T. gave me was as much to help with posture as with anything else.

[shirebound]

Glad you started with P.T! And if they offer you anything -- wraps, balls, supports, anything -- take them, even if you don't think you need them. Over the past five years I've used every single thing I got in P.T., even if I didn't need them at the very beginning.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

I'll keep that in mind. So far all they've offered me was a free t-shirt, but hey, free clothing does not get turned down. :)