Hello healing fans…

Been a bunch a days since I stopped by with an update, so let me get you up to the state-of-the-art.

I went to see Lino on Monday and it was great again. Over the weekend I felt like a lot of the lymphatic fluid draining had slowed down, so I wanted to get that charging up again. He did just that. Neck manipulation, isolated traction in the C6, elbow, wrist, and finger manhandling. My finger was actually white and the skin was loose when I left there. I still couldn’t make a fist as the joint pain of my middle and ring fingers is still very intense.

Yesterday I went to the physical therapist at the hospital, Bill Garcia. He was really blown away by how my range of movement and improved since my first session. I mentioned to him that I had gone to somebody who had done some body work on me and he was very impressed. I kind of felt like I was cheating on them… (Bill, I’m seeing another man) Most of the measured movements were up 50% from my first visit! It helps to not have those ribs out of place.

After the visit with him I went to Cynthia for acupuncture. She put needles in my opposite hand and after about 30 minutes of sitting there, my right hand again looked like an Italian modeled floor — a mosaic of red, blue, black, purple spots and trails. When I went to sleep last night I had high hopes for this morning, but alas, I had a pair of fat sausage like fingers upon waking.

Bill gave me a couple additional stretches to do utilizing a pole and those are going well. I see a few more degrees of movement every time I do it. I’m still hooked on the toweled traction — I may never stop doing that. My clavicle feels so wonderful and I have been without the sling, for the most part, for the last three days.

This Friday will be five weeks since my surgery, and I have to keep remembering that Dr. Soto said it would be 10 to 12 weeks for full recovery. I imagine he says that because it actually takes 10 to 12 weeks for full recovery. But from the sand, five weeks seems like it should be more than enough time.

Life has certainly become more active in the last three days — I even did dishes with Annie tonight. I rode scooters with the Zed a few days ago. I’ve been twirling the balls in my hand a lot. So the key to feeling good about everything is to compare it to a week ago, and not to two months ago.

I can’t wait to get back to work. I booked a lot of good shows in the last week and they are the light at the end of my tunnel. Keep moving towards the light.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention this. Sunday we all went swimming. I did 20 laps and it felt incredible. On the breast stroke my right arm was getting out to about 80% of full extension, and on the freestyle I was just using my body as a fulcrum for my right arm just slapped its way back into the water. It took me 28 strokes to across the pool! Almost twice the normal amount of strokes for 25 yards. I did a couple warm-up laps laying on my back holding a kickboard and kicking. Zed did all the laps with me — what a swimmer he is becoming. I tried to make it to Masters swim a few times this week, but I don’t think I’m ready for a full hour at 5:30 in the morning.

Stay safe everybody!

Barry