Howdy! So its been a while since I did a general “health/recovery” update. I’m doing remarkably well all things considered. Mobility in my fingers continues to improve, but good Lord it is a long slow process. I have on going stretching and massage for my hand, TENS electro therapy and a host of items to touch, pickup and move. My shoulder is gradually getting better, but that also is excruciatingly slow. I have a regime of shoulder stretches, some actually use ropes and pulleys! Big fun and to quote not one, but all three of my crack doctors “Wow you have got to bust that shoulder loose!”.
No kidding!
A frozen shoulder is a big deal, and takes a long time to recover. And it hurts too, but nothing like the brachial plexus pain. That stuff is other worldly! I went to my pain doc this week because the nerve pain has returned, and at times, it is quite severe. He wrote another script, this time for for Cymbalta but I would prefer to not layer yet another drug on the Lyrica and extra strength Tylenol I’m taking. I made an appointment with an acupuncturist. Unfortunately, that’s not until mid June! We’ll see what happens, but in the meantime I will keep slogging along.
I’ve been trying to walk 5000 steps or more a day in addition to keeping up with my hand and shoulder exersizes. As far as work around the house, my hand issue gets really frustrating and is more mentally debilitating than physically limiting. Generally I can figure out how to get things done, its just getting over that little mental speed bump! When we had the last big snows, my snow thrower and my tractor had some issues and I was able to get them resolved regardless of single digit temps and a gimpy hand… so I can do what I need to, when I need to!
Music
I’m continuing to work on my lap slide playing. Thanks to my friend Andy Cohen, I learned this: ORthograde=how you normally hold a guitar rather than lap-o-grade. I am practicing Lap-o-grade!
I have a live stream coming up June 6th I believe with Mike Ward and Joy Zimmerman. They are both delightful people and great songwriters, so stay tune. Also, to celebrate the anniversary of my wreck, I’m having a “do” at Kosecik’s Winery. This was the place I was heading when the fateful event occurred. I’ll try attaching a link here to one of my new tunes.
Hope to see you soon!