Aa
Never rains but it pours
Well, this has just been a lousy year all around. My husband's minor surgeries, plus my MS attack were enough, but our youngest has lost his children now due to divorce. Oh, he can still see them. They just live in CO now. (We live in WA.) But then add in the frozen shoulder.
I've been dealing with a stiff shoulder since earlier in the year, but didn't know what it was until I couldn't move my left arm much at all!! I started physical therapy in August I think. I've come a long way, but kind of hit the wall. My therapist is great. She seems to be quite knowledgeable about MS because she recongized spasticity in the affected arm right off. That has been a hindrance to healing, as it causes the muscles, esp. bicep to stiffen and hurt! She has taught me how to ease the spasticity with massage and pressing on pressure points. But......
In spite of my progress I hit a plateau. So, less than two weeks ago, I went under anesthesia and the orthopedic surgeon manually manipulated my shoulder, breaking loose the adhesions that had me "frozen". The pain has been awful, but is easing somewhat. I am nothing less than OCD about doing my exercises at home.
So, after less than two weeks after the procedure, I am ready to go down to one time a week with PT. Progress!!
The ortho was concerned that the anesthesia might make my MS flare up, but so far so good.
Frozen shoulder is actually adhesive capsulitis. Origin unknown. Comes on slowly and has its own time table. Usually within a year or two it will resolve on its own without any treatment. But who wants to go around that long without mobility and range of motion? Not me! There is evidently a thawing stage coming where I will have less pain and will be able to move more freely. I am ready!
Well, that is my rant for today. I've been drugged up on pain pills for so long that it has been hard to function! I went back to work the first of Sept. and that plus therapy a few days a week just wiped me out. I still don't have gobs of energy and wonder if I ever will! I have decided to retire at 62, which isn't that far away. My body needs less stress and more rest. I can do this!
OK, maybe I've gone on long enough. No pain pill this morning! Now I'd better get going and take advantage of it!
Granny Jo
I've been dealing with a stiff shoulder since earlier in the year, but didn't know what it was until I couldn't move my left arm much at all!! I started physical therapy in August I think. I've come a long way, but kind of hit the wall. My therapist is great. She seems to be quite knowledgeable about MS because she recongized spasticity in the affected arm right off. That has been a hindrance to healing, as it causes the muscles, esp. bicep to stiffen and hurt! She has taught me how to ease the spasticity with massage and pressing on pressure points. But......
In spite of my progress I hit a plateau. So, less than two weeks ago, I went under anesthesia and the orthopedic surgeon manually manipulated my shoulder, breaking loose the adhesions that had me "frozen". The pain has been awful, but is easing somewhat. I am nothing less than OCD about doing my exercises at home.
So, after less than two weeks after the procedure, I am ready to go down to one time a week with PT. Progress!!
The ortho was concerned that the anesthesia might make my MS flare up, but so far so good.
Frozen shoulder is actually adhesive capsulitis. Origin unknown. Comes on slowly and has its own time table. Usually within a year or two it will resolve on its own without any treatment. But who wants to go around that long without mobility and range of motion? Not me! There is evidently a thawing stage coming where I will have less pain and will be able to move more freely. I am ready!
Well, that is my rant for today. I've been drugged up on pain pills for so long that it has been hard to function! I went back to work the first of Sept. and that plus therapy a few days a week just wiped me out. I still don't have gobs of energy and wonder if I ever will! I have decided to retire at 62, which isn't that far away. My body needs less stress and more rest. I can do this!
OK, maybe I've gone on long enough. No pain pill this morning! Now I'd better get going and take advantage of it!
Granny Jo
Granny Jo,
I am sorry to hear of your busy, medical filled adventures this past year! You have been through such an ordeal this year!!!
You called this a rant but I see your strength and determination behind all of these setbacks and it is really quite inspiring!! I wish I had half of the good spirited attitude that you possess! You set such a good example for us all.
I do hope and wish that 2011 is kinder to you and your husband!!! Retirement sounds like a great solution and you are right about less stress and more rest.
Six weeks (roughly) to your new stress free life in 2011! I know you can do this!
Thoroughly impressed!
Ren
I am sorry to hear of your busy, medical filled adventures this past year! You have been through such an ordeal this year!!!
You called this a rant but I see your strength and determination behind all of these setbacks and it is really quite inspiring!! I wish I had half of the good spirited attitude that you possess! You set such a good example for us all.
I do hope and wish that 2011 is kinder to you and your husband!!! Retirement sounds like a great solution and you are right about less stress and more rest.
Six weeks (roughly) to your new stress free life in 2011! I know you can do this!
Thoroughly impressed!
Ren
Oh, and did I mention the cat bite? Yeah, I was making friendly with the neighbor cat when it turned on me, biting my right arm at the wrist. I completely blew off the fact that it was two puncture wounds and cleaned and bandaged it as well as I could. Ha! Rhe next morning it was red and swollen with a red streak climbing up toward my elbow!
On to Urgent Care where they gave me amoxicillin and outlined the red area. Next morning it had spread way out of the outlined area and was not creeping up toward my armpit and I was feeling rather yucky. ER that afternoon and then 3.5 days in the hospital!! Yes! I had heavy duty antibiotics every 6 hours and eventually my fever returned to normal and I was improving enought to go home with another week or so of oral antibiotics. My advice to anyone who gets bit by a cat? Go immediately to ER! Do not pass go! Just one more fun event of 2010!! Someday we will look back and laugh, right?
On to Urgent Care where they gave me amoxicillin and outlined the red area. Next morning it had spread way out of the outlined area and was not creeping up toward my armpit and I was feeling rather yucky. ER that afternoon and then 3.5 days in the hospital!! Yes! I had heavy duty antibiotics every 6 hours and eventually my fever returned to normal and I was improving enought to go home with another week or so of oral antibiotics. My advice to anyone who gets bit by a cat? Go immediately to ER! Do not pass go! Just one more fun event of 2010!! Someday we will look back and laugh, right?
Granny Jo, it's always good to hear from you. Hang in there - it does get better. I'm sure you will be glad to see 2010 gone - sometimes there are just years like this that can't be over soon enough.
be well, Lulu
be well, Lulu
Hi there, boy you have gone through a busy year!! Sorry to hear about your frozen shoulder, I had one a couple of years ago and it's not nice at all and take time and therapy to work it out.
to have the surgery done must of been hard, I didn't need it thank goodness. My pain and frozen shoulder lasted awhile.. the not moving it was longer then the pain.
sorry, I'm going on and on.. rest up and take care
wobbly
to have the surgery done must of been hard, I didn't need it thank goodness. My pain and frozen shoulder lasted awhile.. the not moving it was longer then the pain.
sorry, I'm going on and on.. rest up and take care
wobbly
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