Where does the time go...

[fenchurch]

Whoa. I just realized it's been weeks since I last updated... I hate it when I neglect to update like that, because there were often interesting things to talk about on a day to day basis, but bringing those same subjects up three weeks later? Yeah, not so much.

I guess the biggest thing I have to talk about is that my shoulder is making marked improvement... the last few days I've felt almost normal (other than not being able to lift anything over, say, a pound and having to be a little bit careful about sudden movement). There've been a lot of ups and downs, and it seems to still be following the same old pattern of rising pain levels preceding huge leaps in improvement. So I'll spend a day popping ibuprofen, Tylenol PM and (once) Vicodin, followed by a few days of massively increased mobility and massively decreased pain levels.

This week my PT started me in on some exercises that are a whole lot more about strength and endurance rather than the (mostly) range of motion stuff I've been doing up until now. However, there's nothing like getting exhausted pulling on a very thin piece of rubber tubing to make you feel really wimpy.

And one of the other big problems I've had for the past two and a half months is that it's been too painful to wear a bra... ANY bra. A few weeks ago, I started being able to wear a sports bra for an hour or two at a time (and let me tell you... that was absolute BLISS, until it started hurting). I'm now up to four or five hour blocks of "bra time" -- still only with a sports bra though, and I found out the hard way that I HAVE to take it off after about four hours and give my shoulder a rest, or it becomes a very bad thing. Let me tell you, though... I never thought I'd get to a point where I'd kill for the ability to wear a bra. :-p

Comments

[gillo]

Have you considered wearing a strapless bra, one with side boning? Support without stress on the shoulders.

*hugs you - carefully*

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I have... though I haven't been able to get to a store that would carry that sort of lingerie. I still can't drive terribly far (not really a pain issue, just that my right arm gets tired fairly quickly), so I'm stuck with just the stores in the immediate area. I did try on a tube-top style strapless bra a while back, but they really aren't made for women who are, well, larger than average.

I've also been keeping an eye out for halter-style bras, since those tie around the neck and would work well too. I may just have to try pestering a friend to drive me up to the mall, since rackham tends not to get home from work until it's too late to hit the stores there.

*hugs you - carefully*

Thanks! That's the other thing I've started being able to do again recently!

[gillo]

This is where online lingerie comes into its own? Figleaves.com, for example? You know you deserve it.

After all, getting help to give you precise measurements could be fun, even in your state. ;-)

[sdwolfpup.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're healing well!

[knitress.livejournal.com]

I once had hives so badly that I couldn't wear a bra -- that was for just a couple of days and it STILL drove me crazy. So you have my sympathy. Here's for continuing to get better!

[http://users.livejournal.com/opalescence_/]

I glad to hear that there is marked improvement. I hope that continues. I don't know what I'd do if I could not wear my bra. Heck, I don't know what *others* would do having to see me like that. LOL Take care, hon.

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

The bra thing sounds very frustrating - I know how they bother me when my neck or back is hurting. Glad to hear you're feeling better, though. :-)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I am so glad that you are feeling somewhat improved! The bra thing is a bugger - a halter neck would help - one of those multi-way bras perhaps.

Something like this maybe (http://www.figleaves.com/us/product.asp?product_id=WC-65033&mci=&size=&colour=)

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

Isn't it interesting what you miss when these things happen! I have no advice on the bra; other than that offered by others.

Glad to hear you have progressed to the strengthening stage, now!

[typographer.livejournal.com]

Shoulder pain is no fun. :(

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Nope. And it's actually a bit amazing how much it's connected to everything else...

[ayinhara.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. I had rotator cuff repair surgery three years ago and I thought that I was finished with the whole shoulder problem. But a few months ago I did something which aggravated my shoulder. I noticed that wearing a bra with stiff, tight straps definitely made the situation worse.

[missmurchison.livejournal.com]

Those rubber strips are tough customers! And when you get used to it they hand you another color, which is even tougher. It's like the progression of martial arts color belts.

Good luck with the PT and the bra-wearing.