"I told you so based on how your symptoms were presenting" is what I heard from Kevin, my physical therapist yesterday when I told him I went into a flare late last week and am just now pulling out of it.
Kevin is the head of the Hilliard branch of Drayer PT and I've been working with him on and off since 2009. I first met Kevin when he was at Banyan Tree and I was needing PT after I had fusion done on L4-S1. He did such a great job that I was able to do complete my second triathlon in June of the following year so when I destroyed my shoulder, I tracked him down at Banyan Tree in Dublin. When Drayer opened, I followed him down to Hilliard and have been there ever since. During my whole knee debacle, I even fought with my orthapedic at the time, refusing to see anyone but Kevin for my rehab so when I finally decided to start dealing with my neck, back to Drayer I went.
Kevin has an uncanny ability to be able to tell if I am in a flare or heading into one just based on how my joints feel. He has said it feels like he is working in cement when strecthing my joints. He has worked with my back, my right shoulder, my right knee, both ankles and now my neck while unofficially working on my left knee and hips so he can tell how I am doing even when I play it down or don't say anything at all. A very good thing but frustrating at the same time as he also knows when he can push things.
PT is usually a longer process for me than a normal person as my body tends to be slow to respond. This round with my neck has been no exception thanks to degenerative discs in C5 & C6. We knew about the issue two year ago but ignored it. When it got to the point that I could barely move, I had to address it. Now we are trying to undo years of bad posture due to me either being lazy or physically not being able to have good posture due to pain in my joints and muscles. The days I have PT usually wipe me out as well.
What has frustrated me today is when I helped out in Charissa's first grade class for an hour at the start of the day, I made sure I stood up straight and had as correct posture as I could manage in order to prevent neck pain. Yet my neck has been really bothering me the last several hours despite my efforts. Damned if I do, damned if I don't or at least I feel taht way. Tomorrow I have another round of PT but am working with Megan, a tech and the only other person I will work with at Drayer due to Kevin being out to spend time with his wife and newborn son. Should be interesting to see her take on things.
Now to get through the next few weeks of this chemo type creme I am having to ut on my nose twice a day on top of PT. More on that experience in another post.
Until tomorrow.
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