Yes, I do have a tennis ball in my purse. I have frozen shoulder syndrome, also known as adhesive capsulitis. What is that, you ask? Let's just say that I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. My shoulder decided it didn't want to cooperate with the rest of my body. Can't reach up, out, or back. And it is very painful for every muscle group attached to my shoulder.
I think it started when I fell off a ladder in May. Klutz...ummm...yeah...that is me. Anyway, I have been doing physical therapy for 2 weeks. I am making some progress. On Monday, my PT decided "P" stands for "pain" and "T" stands for "torture". Usually, therapy starts with a warm compress and some warm-up exercises, progresses to a pulley contraption, and then goes to more exercises.
That is how Monday started, however, we flew through the normal and went on to passive motions where the PT stretches my arm in many directions. When I grimace in pain, she stops and moves to another position. She has been sympathetic up until now. Monday, she showed me no mercy. I grimaced...she kept applying pressure. Thirty long, torturous minutes of it.
When I started PT, Jimmy told me I would cry like a baby. He has had therapy on his shoulder. He has a high pain tolerance. I do not. I have fared pretty well but I still have two more weeks until a re-evaluation. I am wondering what other types of Pain and Torture she will do to me before then.
Oh...the tennis ball... The PT gave me the ball to massage the muscles in my arm and back. You just rub it around applying pressure to the muscles. I do not go ANYWHERE without it! If you have never tried it, it works really well.
My Bible verse during this trial: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
