Dear Journal, Tomorrow is my interview …
Dear Journal, Tomorrow is my interview with a different district. Ever since I called and said I was interested in …
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I went to my first day of therapy for my shoulder yesterday. I have had therapy before for heel spurs, but that was at a facility on our hospital's campus. This time, I went to a private therapy center because our insurance doesn't cover outpatient care at the hospital. Since it is BlueCross BlueShield, I would have thought they would cover all things on the hospital campus. I guess they know things that I don't. At least now I know why they like this therapy center better...they ARE better than the hospital run facility!
For the first visit, I feel that I received a pretty good evaluation and treatment. After checking my range of motion and strength, they iced my shoulder down for treatment. My range of motion and strength both tested well. Luckily, my shoulder hasn't frozen up yet. Most likely because I haven't stop working it. A little good with the bad I guess. Then they did electric shock therapy and ultrasound at the same time. You can't feel the ultrasound because it does a deep tissue thing that works on the inflammation, but you sure can feel the electric therapy. When it hit a "good" area, it mde my shoulder jump. It looked like I was having a shrugging fit of some sort. The therapist said that that was a good reaction. Of course it was way up near my neck though. When she worked the shoulder, there was no reaction at all.
Then, she showed me a couple exercises to do at home. Nothing to bad right now. Just enough to make me look funny for the kids :) I go back on Friday for the same treatment plus I get to work on the big machines. Yeah, a new torture for me 
and 3 days a week too...
It is a bit frustrating knowing that what they are doing might not actually fix my shoulder. It is just what I have to do in order to get an MRI to see the full damage. Our insurance requires four physical therapy visits prior to an MRI when there isn't an emergency type injury. Since I have full range of motion and strength in my right shoulder, this is the process I have to follow. I understand that the insurance company wants to keep unnecessary costs down...I can be somewhat patient I guess. At least I am meeting new people and getting out a bit. Even if it is to be tortured.
By the time I drove home (15 minutes), the shoulder had woken up and was starting to moan and groan. By dinner time, it was SCREAMING in protest of what I had done to it today. I had a good weekend and thought it was getting better, only to find out I was mistaken. Since I don't use it much on the weekend, it was feeling ok. Now I know better.
Thanks for listening,
Robin
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Rehab can be rough. I had to go through it many times for injuries sustained on my job. Did they use a conducting gel on you when you got your electric therapy? I broke out in a rash after one bout of electric therapy because of it. That was odd because I had had treatments before and did not have a reaction. I guess I must have become more delicate in my old age.
Yeah, it's not much fun but it's great that you have full range of motion. They don't suspect any internal damage then? If so, that's great.
Oh, I read your comment on my dicussion post. Very interesting. I didn't know about the carbon monoxide thing. That's why it's good to ask. Keeps me from being Chicken Little..running around thinking the sky is falling.
Things will get easier with your therapy. In about a month or so..so come on September. Maybe we'll both be over the hump then.
Feel better,
Tom
thp636
Hey Tom,
Yes, they used a TON of the gel. I had globs of it on my shoulder. I have sensitive skin so I guess I am lucky I didn't break out from it.
My main doc says it is definitely a rotator cuff injury. We won't know the extent until I can have an MRI. He is still saying the next step is an orthopedic and surgery. Not possibly surgery...just surgery. From what I read surgery is the main and sometimes only option. I guess that is if it is a tear. Who knows...I'm just sitting here in limbo, waiting somewhat patiently.
I like being able to post questions here (or most anywhere), because there is usually someone out there who has the answer. Sometimes we are too close to see some of the easy solutions too.
Rest, relax, and breathe easy,
Robin
rsisland