Good Morning Wonders

Of course it’s Monday and before I go to physical therapy today and can’t lift my arm, I’m going to tell my story about Physical Therapy, of course.

Well you guys know I had surgery on my knee November 1st and this time the surgeon ordered physical therapy because my leg didn’t heal correctly from the last surgery and I kept telling my doctor he didn’t put my leg back on straight so he wasn’t taking any chances on letting me rehab myself this time. There is one thing you need to know about physical therapy. How to articulate your pain level.

My therapist is great. Her name is Janie and she puts me through it. I feel like I’m training for the Olympics. I started out going to training for my knee but now I also go for my shoulder. Turns out I have a frozen shoulder. When she asked me how long I hadn’t been able to lift my arm and I said, *April* , she laughed at me. Apparently I injured it on vacation (go figure) but I thought it was strained and would work itself out. The doctor said it would in about 1-2 years with no help and he offered a steroid shot or physical therapy. I opted for the therapy. Oh well, Another thing I can chalk up to being 50. I use to strain things, let it rest and be good as new in a couple weeks. Now 6 months later I’m just beginning to thaw.

Anyway, when addressing my pain level I said, ” 7 but it’s okay.”
Janie said, “Seven is okay, Denise?” She said it like getting punched in the face didn’t hurt. Like it did not make sense to her. I meant it like it hurts but I can tolerate it because I take Alleve morning and night. Enough to relieve the pain that I can get through the day but not enough that I go out and do something stupid like go roller skating on a torn meniscus. Yeah I’m guilty of that! That why I try to stay off the prescribed stuff. It either makes me sleepy or stupid. I don’t have a high threshold for pain so I have to maintain a level of integrity.

So on the right side of my body I’m having therapy on my shoulder and knee. The knee is doing great, the shoulder not so great. Janie wants to send me back to the doctor to have my shoulder manipulated. I questioned if that was when they gave you a steroid shot? She said, “No, that’s when they put you to sleep, open your arm up and break up all the scar tissue. It’s very painful!” My answer to that, ” What else you got!”

I’ve done a lot of reading on adhesive capsulitis and I think 90% range of motion will have to do for now. After all I have to preserve my painting arm. I’m just getting started.