I Am Exhausted

I am amazed about what I have written about physical therapy before. My posts tell me it was an overall positive experience the first time, although it mostly yielded strengthening and range of motion. And, that it wore me out.

I returned to physical therapy after the second pain management treatment (epidural) that did not seem to help much, and in the first few days after the treatment, exacerbated my pain.

When the doctor said I needed to return to physical therapy, I asked to return to Spectra, http://spectraphysicaltherapy.com/services.html for physical therapy, because I knew that the therapist was an excellent, well respected therapist.  In addition to reviewing the exercises I had done during my first stint in physical therapy, he added water therapy.  The first day I did water therapy, I spent an hour walking in the pool. An hour walking would have meant pain in my back, leg/calf cramping, and tingling/cramping toes.  None of that occurred.

And, as I engaged in my regular activities, I had less and less discomfort and problems. To the extent I could stand for an hour without back pain, or leg or toe discomfort or numbing.  I continued to do water therapy.  It has been great!

I over did it over the 4th of July holiday weekend.  I walked too much and too quickly, and did not rest enough when I did house work and yard work. I  powered myself through housework and yard work. But, the discomfort that resulted was muscle discomfort, and responded to analgesic patches.

Today, I went to PT before I went to work. After spending time in PT in the pool, and doing some paperwork, I went home, cleaned up and dressed for work, and went into work.  I had planned to stay late at work, because I knew what tasks I wanted to do.  I completed those tasks in about 8 hours.  This did not surprise me. The tasks were what I would have planned for eight hours starting at 8 AM  instead of 1020 AM.

However, I am exhausted. I was able to do the foot strengthening exercises I need to do, but I am too tired to do much else.

I am hoping the insurance will authorize many more visits for physical therapy.  I like the water therapy.

Oh, but the point of this is that the water therapy wears me out.  I was able to complete the tasks I needed to do at work.  I stopped at the grocery store on my way home from work, and among other things, bought something off the deli counter because I was too exhausted to do something else to fix dinner.

I will be ready to sleep soon, after my brain winds down.