I don't have a really good reason/excuse why I had not tried physical therapy before now -- other than I simply did not want to put one more thing on my already over-crowded schedule. But between the lyphedema (swelling) and the very limited range of motion with my left arm, I simply could not avoid the issue any longer. Not if I was trying to actually function well in this world. Since I do so many things alone -- purely a preference -- it was time for me to accept that I wasn't in the best of shape to be jetting around the country with one arm that was practically useless.
So... I dug around in that pit I call a bedroom... and found the sheet of recommended hospitals/lyphedema specialists that I was given at my breast care center and I made a choice. In actuality, my choice was pretty much random and not based on any research at all. I just trusted my gut and went on a limb. I chose Georgetown Hospital to be evaluated and treated for my lyphedema. (Honestly, I chose Georgetown because it was the closest to my job.) But, now that I've been there twice, I am very pleased with my choice.
First of all... my therapist is super nice. I don't know why this surprises me but it does. Her name is Jennifer and she's very knowledgeable about lyphedema and its treatment. A lot of her patients are breast cancer survivors. That bit of knowledge alone put me at ease. In the two visits that we've had, I've learned that my issue isn't severe (thank God) and that exercise and massage really do help.
One the one hand, I feel very silly walking my fingers up and down the wall -- that's one of my exercises -- but seeing how much it has actually helped keeps me from feeling like I'm wasting my time. The massage that she does to help move the lymphatic fluid back into my muscles as well as the work she does trying to relax my muscles that have tightened/shortened since my surgery is great. Its amazing what a little assistance can do to make your life better.
Once again, I am thoroughly grateful for great health insurance.
Jennifer mentioned to me that some of the muscles in my shoulder area are so tight, they feel like stone. How crazy is that? I've been walking around for a year, hitched up on one side -- trying to make things better/easier on myself and actually making things worse I think. But, like the saying goes... when you know better, you do better.
I still haven't totally gotten the hang of all my exercises yet. And truthfully, while they look so very simple and easy... my arm and shoulder do hurt a bit afterwards. But they work.
I'm travelling again. And this time, I lifted my computer bag into the overhead storage all by myself. It was still a little bit of a struggle but I definitely felt much better about my effort. So... I don't know how much Georgetown and Jennifer are charging my health insurance company for this work but I can honestly say its worth every penny.
Physical therapy is a beautiful thing.
