January...must be time for Physical Therapy again! (long) [Archive]

Catrin

01-04-2013, 02:11 PM

I am frustrated...for the THIRD January in a row I have to go into PT, though it won't be for so long this time. Different reasons each time.

I've complained...errrr...mentioned here before an apparently lack of ability to strengthen my left arm. I worked with a great trainer at my last gym for 3 years, and am currently working with another fantastic (and very different) coach/trainer at my current gym. My entire body has responded well to this...outside of that left arm. It is no stronger than it was 3.5 years ago, perhaps a little better but not significantly.

I visited my doc today (an OD) to rule out a spinal misalignment being the root cause. We never got to my spine...after abut 3 minutes he became convinced that something different is the root cause. Apparently there is a HARD stop in that shoulder socket when he was manipulating it and he thinks I've a frozen shoulder. I hadn't realized it was so apparent, but he could tell a significant difference in my muscle development between the two sides, from the Traps to the Delts. I am unsure how a frozen shoulder would encourage muscles to not fire properly, but that is what he thinks. He is the bone doc, I am not.

X-ray today to rule out other things, an MRI is likely in my future. Headed for a few sessions with a PT to help him confirm the diagnosis and to decide if I need to head to an Ortho.

I've done some reading on this condition, and in some cases it does resolve automatically after a year or so...but it has been like this at least 3.5 years (probably longer) if he is correct. That arm has been broken several times over the years, so it is possible that it is related to some post-traumatic issue and I never noticed. I've always ignored pain, and if it ever did hurt it was so long ago that I've forgotten. Ok, so perhaps it does get my attention when I try to push it further than it wants to go... :o

I am trying not to panic, I can't really afford to deal with this...hopefully it will respond to conservative treatment. From my discussion with him however, all of the corrective exercises I've been doing for months to target that shoulder are exactly the same that a PT would use and they have had little to no effect.

All I've read appears to indicate that a frozen shoulder is painful - well, mine isn't (if his dx turns out to be correct). So, we will see what happens. I am following up as I need to do so and we will just see. Does anyone have any experience with a "frozen shoulder" ?

murielalex

01-04-2013, 03:21 PM

Ugh. I have nothing helpful to say other than I feel for you and hope you get the help you need to heal fast. That must be extremely frustrating.

emily_in_nc

01-04-2013, 04:26 PM

Ugh. I have nothing helpful to say other than I feel for you and hope you get the help you need to heal fast. That must be extremely frustrating.

What she said...sorry about this! Chronic injuries/physical issues are no fun. I wish you the best with it.

Catrin

01-04-2013, 04:37 PM

I've known for some time that something was going on with that arm, or at least I suspected it. It is probably better to know what it is than not to know. I guess I can't stick my head back under the sand and go back to assuming what I don't know can't hurt me :rolleyes: I want to be that strong, active and agile senior citizen if I am around that long!

girlontheroad

01-04-2013, 08:55 PM

No information to provide other than support and good thoughts. Chronic issues really suck!

OakLeaf

01-05-2013, 02:56 AM

Crankin

01-05-2013, 03:09 AM

Catrin

01-05-2013, 04:52 AM

Ugh. No personal experience here either. Hope you get it resolved soon.

I would note (and this is very much my personal current experience) that the ENTIRE shoulder girdle functions as a unit, and if one thing is out of balance, nothing else will work properly; if one thing is out of balance for a long time, EVERYTHING is going to need correction. That's everything from scalenes and SCMs through the intercostals down to the diaphragm. They'll need to be targeted with myofascial release, stretching, balanced strengthening, possibly with direct manual realignment ...

Good luck.

Good point Oak, and I need to keep that in mind. I DO know that more often than not my scapula on that side has some kind of sensation or another. It's been that way for years, long before I got off the couch. Dr. thinks there is atrophy in the muscles attached to that shoulder but my ROM isn't THAT restricted. Perhaps it doesn't take much, I really don't know. Thankfully everything on my right side appears to be developing normally - and THAT was the side most impacted by the whiplash last year.

My hospital has a device that images the shoulder complex in far more detail/depth than a normal x-ray, but he isn't ready to send me there as it exposes much more of the body to radiation than a normal x-ray.

My trainer has been focusing on balanced strengthening to try and get my left side to respond, as well as teaching me multiple approaches to myofascial release and stretching. About the only thing that hasn't been attempted is direct manual realignment, but if my dr. is right it is probably too early for that. I looked up PT exercises for frozen shoulders and I've been doing all that, and then some, for months now.

I do wonder what impact riding has on that shoulder, if any. My riding position is so upright however that I am not overly concerned about that...

withm

01-05-2013, 07:36 AM

It may be premature to embark on PT and exercises to strengthen the shoulder until you have the MRI and a diagnosis of exactly what is causing your frozen shoulder and the location of the problem.

My frozen shoulder was caused by a bone spur, which as it grew, and subsequently damaged surrounding area, literally froze my shoulder. I was unable to raise my arm much past my waist level, and it was so painful that, well I don't even want to remember how much it hurt. After several months of PT, I finally got the MRI and at that point we realized that all the PT in the world was not going to help until I got that bone spur removed. By waiting so long to do the surgery, the recovery was prolonged. I only wish now that I had done it sooner. Even still, it was about a year after the surgery before I had regained full range of motion, and that's after months of PT, and continuing to do all the exercises every other day.

Catrin

01-05-2013, 09:10 AM

Yikes Withim, you certainly went through the wringer! Once he is sure that it IS a frozen shoulder I am sure he will order the MRI - but I am not in any hurry to get it due to the expense - I wish I had checked this out LAST year when I had already spent my deductible but I wanted to give all of the work a chance to have an effect... It doesn't hurt which seems to fly in the face of everything I've read about frozen shoulders. Sure it gets my attention when I am trying to push its limit, but it still isn't what I would call real pain. There is certainly something that is impeding my range of motion - but that wouldn't have ever become truly apparent until I started working on overhead lifting such as push presses and over-head squats - and found that it is currently not possible for me to use proper form because of that arm (which means I must to other things). It was also apparent that left arm wasn't strengthening like my right arm. So we will see.

Part of the PT evaluation is to provide him more information to assist in the diagnosis, which makes sense to me. He works in pretty close cooperation with a really good PT/Sports injury outpatient center at my hospital to help him in these situations.

Catrin

01-08-2013, 08:37 AM

This is frustrating, but trying not to let it bother me. Last Friday after my Dr. visit I went to get the x-ray he prescribed for my shoulder. I was told that he would have the results before the day was over. As his office is very good at communication and I hadn't heard anything, I called the office this morning and spoke with his assistant (who actually answered his phone when I called!) For whatever reason they hadn't yet received the results and he would get back with me.

Less than an hour later there was a voice mail waiting for me. He had already gotten the report/images and my doctor (an OD) had reviewed them. "We found a several things, please make certain you make the appointment already scheduled for Friday".

This is TUESDAY, so I've three days to consider what "several things", they found. Frozen shoulders don't show up in x-rays (unless it is caused by a bone spur), nor do (usually) rotator cuff problems. I already know there is very minor arthritis there...but it is minor. I've a too blasted vivid imagination for them to tell me something like that...and they've not had problems telling me things over the phone before.

darn it, I am sure there is a good reason but I wish they would at least give me a HINT, that would be far kinder in the long run.

indysteel

01-08-2013, 08:55 AM

Catrin

01-08-2013, 09:24 AM

I don't know if he will do it, but I left a message for his assistant inquiring if it would be possible to have an idea of what was found in the x-ray - and I referenced my vivid imagination. It's fine if they don't want/aren't comfortable doing that. It is was it is, and that is only 3 days away. ughhh

Catrin

01-09-2013, 12:48 AM

The medical assistant did call and we both observed that there are times when Google is not our friend :o While the x-ray can't see soft tissues, the bones in my shoulder are in such a position that tendonitis or "frozen shoulder" are still on the table. MRI or CT scan is recommended to find out what is actually going on. While I wish I had done this in December (that scan will be a LOT more expensive now with having to meet my deductible along with the usual 20% co-pay), there is also some relief that there is evidence of something mechanical going on. After working so hard for so long with no progress in that arm I had started to wonder if it was something in my head...

Whatever it is has been there for many years (long before I started working out 3.5 years ago) and is quite entrenched, and part of me wonders the odds of improvement but I refuse to go look THAT up. Part of me is concerned that surgery will be suggested, but there isn't enough information to stress over something like that.

Catrin

01-18-2013, 06:28 AM

I had the PT eval from my miracle guy, and he figured my shoulder out in about 15 minutes – and 15 minutes later he had my left arm totally extended – bicep touching my ear – with no pain or stress (outside of some tension in the scapula)! He thinks the shoulder will be completely resolved in about a month, perhaps 5 weeks. All he did was to do some rather painful poking around on my collar bone…

The problem isn't actually in the shoulder – the problem is related to an old broken collar bone in my teen years that wasn't rehabbed properly. Something about that old injury is preventing my left shoulder from really engaging properly. He did explain it and he is sending me an email with the pertinent information to forward to my trainer. His guidance is no over-head lifting at all for now until we strengthen my rotator cuffs. No problems with pushing/pulling, or lower body work – but no over-head work for a bit. The rotator cuff is weak - not because it is injured but because the shoulder isn't working properly due to this collar bone/shoulder joint issue.

The humerus moves properly in the shoulder, but very few of the muscles fire at all and are currently incapable of strengthening because of the old injury. Bill says this is actually a minor problem that is easily solved, but it would have never solved itself. He sees no reason why I won’t be able to finally start building upper body strength when we are done :cool: :D

indysteel

01-18-2013, 06:33 AM

Wow! Given the doctor's initial dx, that's awesome news, Catrin! It sounds like you'll be right as rain in no time. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but a good PT is worth their weight in gold.

OakLeaf

01-18-2013, 06:37 AM

That's great news!

Lock your PT in a closet when you're done with him and I'll kidnap him for my own use.

indysteel

01-18-2013, 06:48 AM

That's great news!

Lock your PT in a closet when you're done with him and I'll kidnap him for my own use.

Count me in on this scheme. I'd keep a PT on retainer if I could.

Swan

01-18-2013, 07:57 AM

Woohoo Catrin!! I'm glad your PT went so well! :D I hope your 5wk routine works wonders for you!

spokewench

01-18-2013, 09:11 AM

Wonderful news!

Crankin

01-18-2013, 02:16 PM

Yay!!

Catrin

01-18-2013, 02:26 PM

Bill rocks - and Indy, he is WAY the he*l up on the north side of Fishers - there at Olio Rd and SR 234. WELL worth the drive however :) I don't quite understand everything he told me today, but he is a master at what he does. He works limited hours and is hard to schedule, but well worth it.

tealtreak

01-18-2013, 04:07 PM

I hope you can get this fixed, Catrin.
Sometimes I wonder if all of this "healthy" stuff we do is good for certain parts of our bodies. Of course, I am not suggesting that w should stay home and lie on the couch, eating chocolate, so I wear my chronic conditions and time with the PT as a badge of honor.

This is so often discussed at our house! (: Some of us 50+ (athletes) have amazing cardiac #s, fit in our high school clothes etc...BUT are plagued by orthopedic issues... the "other half of the family" are on statins, blood pressure meds, etc..... happily sedentary.... but pain free (: It makes me laugh...I love kayaking, biking and backpacking too much to give them up regardless......

Crankin

01-19-2013, 03:13 AM

Well, my DH is on statins, bp meds, and is in awesome physical shape .Definitely not sedentary. Some of us can't fight our genetics. He's pretty pain free, too, although, I think age is catching up with him a little. Me, I think I have just accepted this is the price I pay for weighing the same as I did in HS!
Funny, DH's cardiologist was a little discouraging to all the intense exercise when he first had the stents put in, but now, he accepts it. We are all outliers.

OakLeaf

01-19-2013, 04:13 AM

We-e-e-e-lll ... that whole line of reasoning always ticks me off, because it's such a false portrayal of life, that a few unfit people use to justify their choices, and ridicule people who try to take care of ourselves.

If you've seen the kind of musculoskeletal pain that people who DON'T exercise typically suffer when their muscles and tendons contract from non-use, bursitis sets in, degenerative arthritis affects multiple joints, etc., etc. you'd never for a moment choose those over either the temporary pain of acute orthopedic injuries, or the lasting pain of post-traumatic arthritis in a few joints. And that's not even talking about their greater risk of all kinds of painful and extremely debilitating diseases.

It's no different from dietary choices. If someone has never in their life felt physically good, they really have no idea how bad they feel, or that they have any control over the matter. And it's easy for them to ridicule those of us who are acutely aware of when we feel a little bit (or a lot!) bad and put some effort into trying to remedy it.

Catrin

01-19-2013, 05:48 AM

...
It's no different from dietary choices. If someone has never in their life felt physically good, they really have no idea how bad they feel, or that they have any control over the matter. And it's easy for them to ridicule those of us who are acutely aware of when we feel a little bit (or a lot!) bad and put some effort into trying to remedy it.

I am reminded of someone just recently who said that as a 53 year old woman, I should simply accept that I've weak shoulders and just focus on deadlifting and leg presses. In her mind my age was the automatic cause of my problem. I am thankful I didn't listen ;) Time will tell of course, but I am SO thankful that we found an underlying mechanical cause to my left shoulder problem.

I am unsure why the rotator cuffs in my RIGHT arm are so weak - though not as bad as the left. THAT would be difficult. My thought is while I have gained some strength in my right arm, we haven't ever really been able to challenge it because of the "evil" left arm. What we don't use, we start loosing... So adding rotator cuff exercises to my already lengthy list of correctives, mobility and flexibility exercises.

Crankin

01-19-2013, 12:03 PM

Oh, I don't doubt sedentary people have the kind of muscular-skeletal pain you described, Oak. I just hate the comments that my pain is self-induced and I should just give it all up, as an almost 60 year old woman. Yeah, well BS on that. I admit, I do have moments when I'd like to be what DH and I often call "a regular person," and maybe see a little walk as my form of exercise. And I don't even compete or do half the stuff some of you all do. I get over the moment quickly, but I have a bunch of nagging things that I've just been ignoring, which will eventually land me back in Walter's office (my MacKenzie PT).

Catrin

01-23-2013, 12:02 PM

Yippeeeee! Yayyyyy! Ok, back down to earth now :)

Went in this morning to my PT appointment, the first one since my evaluation. It featured a LOT of manual manipulation in some painful places and a back "cracking". By the time he was done my bad arm showed perfect extension AND with no pain or tension in my scapula! By Jove, Bill is on the right track! He gave me a gazillion rotator cuff strengthening and serratus muscle exercises to do three times a week, and he does think that in 4 short weeks we will likely have won this battle.

While the AC joint is the most immobile by far, there are also issues with the scapula and serratus - probably all going back to the immobility of the AC joint. Guidance has been sent to my trainer to do more "pulling" than "pushing" exercises to balance out all of the rotator cuff work.

Now we just need to persuade the assorted elements of my shoulder to STAY in place after our sessions :cool: It has been like this for years, so I hope he isn't over-optimistic about this being fixed in 4 weeks.

OakLeaf

01-23-2013, 01:39 PM

Woooohoooo!

My DOM is going deep into my shoulder on Friday. The way he was talking about the things I shouldn't plan on doing Saturday, I think he's planning on using a crowbar. :eek:

Catrin

01-23-2013, 01:59 PM

Woooohoooo!

My DOM is going deep into my shoulder on Friday. The way he was talking about the things I shouldn't plan on doing Saturday, I think he's planning on using a crowbar. :eek:

Eeeek, at least he warned you!

My shoulder and neck muscles are complaining a bit tonight, but that is ok if it gets the job done. I am THINKING about going to the gym before work tomorrow and just focus on my correctives/mobility/rotator cuff exercises. Thursday is normally a rest day, so it will depend on how I feel in the morning. My normal hard Sunday Funday workout is Saturday this weekend so I probably should take a full rest day Friday...so hopefully I will feel up to doing the correctives in the morning. No strength, no cardo - just correctives and mobility work.

Catrin

01-25-2013, 11:34 AM

Woooohoooo!

My DOM is going deep into my shoulder on Friday. The way he was talking about the things I shouldn't plan on doing Saturday, I think he's planning on using a crowbar. :eek:

How did it go? I noticed yesterday that my shoulder is bruised where he was manipulating different things, but I can see improvement in the ROM of my AC joint. Of course it isn't ready to STAY there just yet but it is progress. Did my full list of rotator cuff strengthening exercises yesterday and I am a bit sore today. This is GOOD - for in 3.5 years of doing far more intense things to that shoulder it's never been sore before. We are getting it's attention :)

OakLeaf

01-25-2013, 01:41 PM

Thanks for asking - it's a little bit sore but not like I was expecting (but tomorrow could go either way)! He went in stages - massage, acupuncture, added some needles, then took the needles out and did more massage. I can definitely feel where things are going back into alignment.

So glad yours is going well too! Yay for us! Yay for health care practitioners who know what they're doing! :D :D

Catrin

02-15-2013, 08:15 AM

Just got re-assessed by my PT. While my shoulder rehab has been extended for at least another month, we are seeing improvement in both ROM and rotator cuff strength, and a few other things :) Now my OTHER shoulder is complaining, and THAT rotator cuff is weaker than it was a month ago...sigh. Excellent signs that conservative treatment is working though and for that I am quite thankful. Just more proof that I don't need to see anyone else for PT in the area, this guy is just plain great at what he does! That being said, my doctor isn't yet convinced that shoulder surgery won't be necessary - I am rooting for my PT ;)

Oak - how is your journey going? I must admit the very idea of acupuncture makes me squeamish...but is it working?

Catrin

03-08-2013, 07:10 AM

This feels like the never-ending-shoulder-saga...

My PT feels like he is getting closer to discovering everything that is contributing to my shoulder problems. My shoulder ROM is still restricted but much better. Rotator cuff strength is increasing, at least in a couple of directions. Scalene and first rib tightness on that side is a contributor. Since the number of my symptoms are decreasing, it becomes easier for him to tell what is going on, and today I started getting numb in certain areas that indicates ulnar nerve entrapment/thoracic outlet syndrome. He gave me yet more exercises - these are to "glide the nerve" - odd term that - which will hopefully help.

Interestingly, while the "nerve gliding" that he did this morning had some odd effects in my lower scapula - once he was done all ROM restrictions in that shoulder just plain disappeared! He also no longer considers the shoulder dysfunctional - it is now acting like a shoulder though not optimally (yet) :) I know that in some cases nerve entrapment requires surgery to address, I REALLY hope and pray that won't be necessary here.

OakLeaf

03-08-2013, 09:46 AM

Care to share the nerve gliding exercises? Mine at this point (besides yoga anyway) mostly involve just taking the shoulder through its FULL range of motion with and without light resistance (stretchy bands with a door anchor for pulling motions, rolling a foam ball on the floor for pushing), rather than doing anything repetitive in a single plane the way most "exercises" work. (And I really feel the muscles at the inferior point of the scapula, too - have all along.)

Glad you're still making progress!

Catrin

03-08-2013, 12:10 PM

2 steps forward, one step back. Part of me begins to wonder if I am expecting unreasonable results given my age and how long this shoulder has probably been like this...but I think that is just a little bit of depression talking. The extraordinary results after his hands on work for 40-45 minutes is a very positive sign that conservative methods are having an effect but he isn't sure if it will be enough to fix things and keep them fixed. I asked him this directly today and he wouldn't commit either way. I've 5 more PT sessions to go. We hope the nerve will be more mobile - if that is the correct term - when I see him Tuesday afternoon.

Here is a video of the first exercise he gave me today. The forum settings only allow one video per post so I will post the second one in a new post. He told me to do both 3 times a day (2 sets each time of 10 reps, hold each rep for 5 seconds)

"Ulnar Nerve Floss -B"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7b66xryi9o

Catrin

03-08-2013, 12:11 PM

This is the second of the two, and i found this one much more challenging to do:

"Ulnar Nerve - Mask"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mddyCdfTFc

Same directions noted in the first post.

OakLeaf

03-08-2013, 12:39 PM

Oh. Wow. Those do provoke the numbness before they relieve it, don't they! Thanks, those are great to add to my arsenal and very different from anything anyone has had me do before.

Catrin

03-08-2013, 12:44 PM

I also have issues from tight scalenes and first rib that strongly impact that shoulder, and I am always looking for ways of addressing it. If you know of any exercises/stretches please let me know. I know that some recommend using a small lacrosse ball to help mobilize that first rib but Bill thinks in my case that will cause the scalenes to contract. He gave me a stretch that I do with a sheet but I am not very coordinated/effective with it. My left shoulder/neck/back is just a mess...

OakLeaf

03-08-2013, 01:48 PM

Well, basically what I've been doing is the one stretch where I put my palm on the wall just below shoulder level, fingers pointed down and elbow slightly bent, and then turn my whole body away from the arm. Then hands and knees, rolling a 7" foam ball around with gentle pressure, trading side to side occasionally. And stretchy tubes anchored to a door, but rather than doing rows in a plane, I take my shoulders through an arc at three levels, high, middle and low, trying to move my scapulae through as much of their ROM as possible in every direction. I don't know what that's even called, but if I run across a video I'll post it.

I'm getting as much benefit from tweaking my sleeping position as anything I do during the day. I'm not using a pillow at all now, except that I have a U-pillow that I put the arms on either side of my head like a chock to keep my head from rolling side to side. Before I go to sleep I lift my head with my hands to put my neck in abduction and slight flexion. That's really helping with the kyphotic upper back/excessively lordotic neck syndrome. And sleeping with my shoulders externally rotated - elbows to ribcage bent 90° and palms up - though I'm not holding that one so well yet, and I'm often waking up with my shoulders internally rotated. That, plus a pillow under my butt to fill in the hole until I get a new mattress. :rolleyes: Which ticks me off because the mattress I have is not that old.

Catrin

03-08-2013, 02:02 PM

I use a memory foam cervical pillow that my PT recommended. I am a side sleeper and it has really made a difference in that I no longer wake with neck/shoulder pain. After 11 years I probably do need a new mattress but that isn't in the budget. PT and trainer both have me doing long list of stretches & exercise and they know what the other have me doing. wheww..

murielalex

03-08-2013, 06:43 PM

Like the videos!

I started physical therapy for my ankle two weeks ago, and though doc and PT agree there is not much that can be done ("end stage" arthritis, and actually zero cartilage), he's been able to manipulate the joint in a way that I feel better (not locked, if that makes sense), at least for a day or two. This is a Workman's Comp. deal due to injury in a dunk tank, so he can only technically deal with that, but after taking one look at my other foot, which is has some scary pronation, and doing a couple tests, he basically said, there's nothing wrong with my foot that a few months of hip exercises wouldn't take care of for the most part, and told me what to do at home. I've spent hundreds of dollars on podiatrists, not to mention rounds of expensive orthodics and shoes to find out I have very weak hips when it comes to external rotation. WTH???!!!! This PT is the most competent I've ever had (I've sadly had many), and it doesn't hurt that he's extremely good looking and a cyclist to boot (was recommended through friends in the cycling community). I have another appointment tomorrow, and am looking forward to joint free pain, unless I do something stupid, for another two days.

OakLeaf

03-09-2013, 02:59 AM

Catrin

03-09-2013, 03:36 AM

I did maybe 15 of those yesterday and man is my right shoulder sore this morning! :eek: Sore and feeling in better alignment. Wow.

Tell your PT to watch out because I am definitely coming to kidnap him.

I want to bring him home with me, or at least make him move next door to me :) For that first exercise, the "flossing", make certain that you are holding your shoulder down with that other hand so the nerve will glide properly.

OakLeaf

03-09-2013, 09:20 AM

make certain that you are holding your shoulder down with that other hand so the nerve will glide properly.

Thanks. It also seems to make a big difference if I'm careful to keep my whole arm and shoulder in the horizontal plane vs. rotating internally the way it wants to. Is that an important cue too?

Catrin

03-09-2013, 09:52 AM

Thanks. It also seems to make a big difference if I'm careful to keep my whole arm and shoulder in the horizontal plane vs. rotating internally the way it wants to. Is that an important cue too?

Yes, keep the shoulder down and back.

Catrin

03-13-2013, 01:00 AM

I've been a bit discouraged/frustrated on the progress of my neck/shoulder. My PT session yesterday was simply a 30 minute discussion and review of my progress. Bill showed me that I HAVE progressed, and reminded me that we can't expect a shoulder with a pathology to act like a normal shoulder. He also went into some detail about how nerve damage affects muscles, there is no doubt in his mind that my whiplash injury added even more complications to that shoulder.

In the end I am still much better off than many with shoulder issues. Even if I am, in the end, unable to gain strength in this shoulder, I need to focus on my total fitness - not just the behavior of one joint. I doubt seriously that I would consider surgery unless things deteriorate. My intense efforts at the gym are not to reach some magic "score" but to gain as much fitness as I can to take into my next stage of life.

OakLeaf

03-13-2013, 04:23 AM

(((((Catrin)))))

Peripheral nerves will heal too once you take the pressure off them - just very, very slowly.

At the risk of saying the wrong thing - do remember that you've been known to ask for too much too soon from your training - and allow for the possibility that it's the same with your PT. I'm sure he's giving you work that will yield results over the long haul - as in months to years, not weeks. I've read where it can be a year before someone even notices improvement when nerves are re-growing from a significant injury or surgery - but it's super important to keep the muscle and circulatory pathways open to let the nerves regrow, and to let the limb function properly when they do. It's sooooooo easy to get discouraged when you're not seeing immediate results ... not to mention bored with doing the same exercises day after day.

Hang in there kid.