do my physical therapy

because my PT thought I was ready to be cut free. So I guess I’m done with this goal, although I am doing the strengthening stuff at the gym, and trying to stretch daily as well.

I just never remember. And then I get rehurt or never quite heal right. It’s no good, it only takes 1/2 hour tops. I can do it!

Ah crap, I didn’t do this properly and now I’m in a world of hurt.

Do your PT properly, kids.

it’s weird how hard it is to make time for all this. 15 minutes of heat, plus 15 minutes of stretching, twice a day each – that’s an hour a day! I don’t have an extra hour every day!

Well, yeah, actually I probably can find that time. It’s worth it – at the last session she found this horrible knot way down by my shoulder blade which I’ve had for years. she taught me how to stretch it out and said it will take a while for it to go away. I was blown away by the idea that it actually might go away at all! I’ve had it for so long and it hurts all the time. I’ve thought about it not hurting so much, but I’ve never even thought about it just not being there. That’s a huge motivator.

but it’s definitely helping. It doesn’t hurt a whole lot when I’m doing it; in fact, it often feels great. Two days ago, I got heat on my neck and shoulders, then the PT did some trigger point release, then we did some little stretches. I left there feeling incredible, but within a few hours I was sore and my shoulders were trying to go back into their usual spasms. I tried stretching through and that helped a lot.

Between sessions, I’m supposed to use a heating pad twice a day (in 90 degree weather with no A.C.!) and do my stretches 2 to 3 times. I haven’t been doing the stretches diligently, but I have been doing the heat and some stretching.

I also completely remade my desk at the office based on the PT’s recommendations – got a footrest, adjusted my chair, keyboard, monitor, etc. That’s definitely helping a lot. Even though sometimes I feel sore because I’m basically stretching the whole time I sit there, I’m already more comfortable and the mobility in my shoulders is getting better.

I get to keep going for about another month, so my goal is to be a good patient and follow the recommendations the whole time.

13

14

15

-16

-17

I haven’t done this in over a month. I need to do my PT and running because my knee is bothering me a lot again.

ETA: Plus, my PT just gave me 5 back exercises to do. So I have more to do.

I’ve been doing this but not consistently. I need to do it more, so I will keep this for August.

I’ve been doing this a little more often, since I added it to Remember the Milk. It’s satisfying to check it off my list, so I end up getting it done while watching TV or whatever.

7/10 did it