Thursday, 22. November 2007, 18:41:50
Ha! I knew that would get your interest!
Let me explain.
Yesterday the November issue of Swimming World Magazine came. I was so excited that I finished my planning at work really quickly so I could go home and read it. Well, I found it so inspiring that I decided to go swimming last night, even though I had already gone for a run in the morning. Oh, what a great run that was along the seawall as the sun was rising. You know that people who get up that early for walking or running actually say good morning to strangers! Well, that put me in a pretty good mood. Here in Vancouver, people tend to turn away from you, don't look you in the eye, nor say "Hello" as you pass in the street. I try to as much as possible but it gets pretty discouraging when they turn away from you as you approach. Anyway. Okay, yeah it was a nice run.
Then work. Sporting a new camouflage ski jacket Mr. C. was his usual charming self, batting his eyelashes and giving his best Elvis impersonation. He still insists
you'll go bald if it rains and you have straight hair. Anyway. Where was I? Oh, I'm in love. Okay. So I went swimming and the pool was not busy at all. Had a lane all to myself. Which was especially nice because the other two lap swimmers were incredibly hairy men. Sorry you hirsute guys, but if you're going to bare all at the pool, in these modern times, I don't think it is much to ask to shave or WAX! Creeps me out that some of those hairs are floating around in the water...ewww, don't think about it don't think about it, banish thought. Well, women are expected to shave aren't we? It's not that painful.
So, I started swimming, freestyle. 50 metres. 100. 200. 250...oh it started to hurt a bit in the
shoulder. But I kept going. 400 metres of free! After that it was pretty sore, so I did some kicking, and then switched strokes...anyhoo..managed a miraculous 2000 m. in total! 1200 of which was stroke, the other 800 kick. Felt awesome but tired. Went home and ate 2 bowls of cereal I was so hungry! As well, my vitamins. I don't usually take vitamins, have a hard time remembering to take them, and besides they are hard to swallow! Gag. But since my injury I've been taking them, hoping they would help the healing process. Not really convinced they've helped yet. It's been three months now since this happened. How time flies.
OH yeah. Love.
Woke up at 5:00 am. Felt great, so stayed up. Had to get ready to go to an early physiotherapy appointment anyway. Have a new physiotherapist. The other one was great at the beginning because she couldn't do much with my shoulder anyway. But the past couple of times, she has only been giving me new exercises and stretches, which personally I think are two easy for me. I knew I needed a physio who knew more about sports and sports related injuries. I was scared to make a change, didn't want to hurt her feelings. Anyway, (anyway is a great word isn't it?) last week, she told me she couldn't do anything more with me and suggested I see this other physio. Yay. I told her I had heard about one that only worked on shoulders and specifically swimmers, maybe I should go to her? She said, well, I think you should try this guy first. He treats athletes more, and has worked on a lot of swimmers here. So, I'm thinking, oh why didn't I see him in the first place? Besides, it's getting expensive as my medical coverage for these visits has run out. It's important to me though, will find a way to pay for it. Maybe Lola and I can panhandle in front of the liquor store on the weekends. She's cute, people will give her money I'm sure.
OH, where was I?
So anyway.
He comes into the waiting room to meet me.
Athletic, young...so CUTE! He shook my hand...melt...follow me...he's wearing jeans...
Okay, aside from that, he is an excellent physiotherapist. He's worked with some of the top sports med people here, he does a lot of hands on manipulation (no machines) and also does acupuncture. Anyway, today he found that my shoulder joint,specifically the joint capsule is actually quite mobile, but it's the surrounding muscles that are impinging my movement and causing pain. So, he used his thumbs and pressed right into some of the muscle insertions, like in the deltoids (shoulder muscles) and the pectorals (chest) and scapular muscles. OWWWWWW.
The worst was the insertion for the triceps and the deltoids. I had no idea it was so sore. Like on a scale of 1-10 for bad pain, it was maybe a 9...I mean I couldn't stand it for very long at all. Tears were welling up in my eyes. But afterwards my mobility was so much better, unbelievably better. As he was doing these manipulations he was saying things like, "Oh, you really hate me now don't you?" "You want to punch me don't you?"
And we talked a lot about sports and injuries, he used to rock climb a lot but felt it was damaging his hands too much. And he talked about having dyslexia and having a teacher tell him he would never graduate from school. And now here he is with a Masters degree. Stupid teachers sometimes. So, I have to see him two times next week, another session of manipulation and then some acupuncture with electrical stimulation...supposed to release the scarred muscles tissue. I've had this before, it's not pleasant.
But I'm soooo happy. Found someone who is going to fix me! I love my new physiotherapist. It's pretty nice to have a handsome young man digging into your sore muscles with his thumbs. Yes, life is good.
He shook my hand when I left, said, "It was nice to meet you." SIGH
Think I'll go swimming with my club tomorrow....feel a need to see my Russian coach!
There's poo in my ankle!!!!!!
