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| Waiting for meds to kick in ... I was in massive pain |
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Over the years I've put our wedding vows to the test. Most recently I focused on "in sickness and in health." In mid-June I broke my humerus, but I wasn't laughing.
When I found myself writhing on the floor in pain, it became apparent my husband John and I wouldn't be spending nearly two weeks in Moab tearing up the trails aboard our ATV. This wasn't at all part of our summer plans. I say "ours" because it definitely impacted my husband.
While I convalesced with a broken shoulder, John sprang to action providing such services as nurse, chauffeur, cook, waiter, hair stylist and cabana boy. And I gotta say, he makes some killer pecan pancakes.
During the six weeks I was off work, I suffered from severe bouts of cabin fever, wore a trail from our bed to my daybed and watched more dumb movies than I can count.
However, the worst was yet to come. Physical therapy. Those two words have been known to make grown men cry.
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| If you look closely in the center film, you can see the bone wedge. |
The thing is, physical therapy isn't all about big fancy therapeutic equipment. I mean, who knew a broomstick, belt and pillowcase could cause so much pain?
Seriously, the first day at Eastern Oregon Physical Therapy they had me work on external rotation when they handed me a "wand" and directed me on how to do the stretches. I looked at the "wand" and asked, is this really specialized physical therapy equipment because it looks like broomstick? Also propped in the "wand" corner is a piece of pipe and a wooden closet dowel - evidently they come in different sizes and weights depending on how far along in treatment you are.
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| Gravity ... the bruising dropped down my arm, even though the break was in my shoulder. |
For internal rotation, they presented me with a "strap." It actually looks like an ordinary tie-down for a motorcycle or bike. Because I don't have a large wingspan, while doing exercises at home I can actually use one of the flexible cloth belts that came free with a pair of shorts. I have deemed this the "handcuff exercise."
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| EOPT sent a pulley home with me. Oh goody. |
You know, when the cop tells you to put your hands behind your back (not that I have personal experience with that - I've seen it on TV).
And then there's the table slide. Honestly, I'm not sure what the purpose behind this exercise is, other than cleaning off the therapy tables. I slip my hand into a folded pillow case and move back and forth on the surface. Periodically they have me move down the table and use a disinfectant wipe (okay, I made that last part up).
Although I never made vows with Eastern Oregon Physical Therapy, I'm evidently in for the long haul ... for better or for worse.
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Tammy Malgesini is the EO community editor. Her column, Inside my shoes, includes general musings about life. You can reach her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.
