February 10th, 2023

Did you notice it yet?  Do you see what's missing in the picture?  I mean, I am well aware that it's not a very good picture but still it should be fairly apparent.  Figure it out yet?  It's the orthotic!  It's gone!  I no longer live in Velcro Heck!  I had an Orthopedic appointment on Wednesday and they said that the healing is coming along so very well that I no longer need to use that doggone thing!  Actually she said, "keep doing whatever you are doing coz it's working".  I said, "I hear you saying 'eat more ice cream'"   And then she laughed and told me I could stop wearing that doggone thing.  I never know what to call it.  A brace?  A stablizer? An orthotic device?  A portable torture chamber?  

Whatever it's actual name is, while I know it was essential to healing, it felt like a prison. Now, I feel liberated!  Though, while I am over joyed to not have that dratted thing to deal with 24/7 anymore, (and it truly was all day and night every day except while I was in the shower)  there were some causalities.  Sadly,  several of my blouses were seriously damaged.   It turns out velcro does not only stick to itself. It also sticks to some other fabrics and then it sort of eats the fabric or something. I don't know.  All I know is that several tops that I really used to like now looks as if they went multiple rounds with the champ.   Ratz.  But on the other hand, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free!  yay!

But not 100% yet. Drat.  My arm is puny and wan and wizened and weak.  Furthermore my ability to move that arm is severely limited.  I have to use my left arm to scratch my nose for heaven's sakes!  And now there is only one way to fix that.  Physical Therapy.  And lots of it.  You see the position of my arm in this photo?  That's pretty much all I can do with it right now.  Right angle and full stop.  The goal here is to achieve a full range of motion and to get my strength back.  And I'm sure that eventually, I will.  

I am a compliant patient and a motivated one too.  I am fully aware of the meaning of the saying, "Short term pain equals long term gain".  I am mentally prepared for some discomfort.  That's the term that they use.  Discomfort.   The word pain carries some negative connotations y'see.  And I know I will have daily homework assignments.

I had my first PT appointment yesterday.  Everyone was very nice. It was interesting. I learned a lot and I have three exercises to do which I will absolutely do.  And it was kind of  a surprise to me when I asked my therapist how many times a day should I do the exercises and she said, "times a day?  Gosh if you do them at all I will be happy".  Wow there's a low bar.

To each  her own I suppose.  We all make our choices.   But my plan is to do the work.  I want my life back.  I am to be physically as close to what I used to be as possible. And this is the only way for me to get there.  To my version of normal, I mean.  There's the goal for ya!

But it's gonna be rough and I know it.  I also know I can do this.  I will not be at my absolute best in the interim though and I suppose, that is part of the price I pay.  The rest is an actual price tag and even with insurance, it ain't cheap.  Dang.  But worth it!  Still by the end of the first day, I was cranky and frazzled and I hurt in so many places that I admit, I was not my absolute best version of myself.  And I guess this is just how I will be for awhile.  I will try very hard to grin and bear it, but occasionally, there might be a little snappy - barky sneaking in there. I will attempt to keep it to a minimum.

"This funny little thing that Tim showed me recently keeps popping into my head.  Perhaps you already saw it too. But just in case you did not:

"Saw my own shadow and now I have six more weeks of being a hot mess".  LOL  That'll be me until I finish up this Physical Therapy.  Which ought to be about ten weeks from now.  Let's synchronize watches.  Ten weeks from today and Mark!

Meanwhile, have a wonderful weekend!  Hugs all 'round.  Well one armed hugs. I can't do two right now.