Done yesterday (20091011)

[mdlbear]

1011 Su
  * up 9am; W=197; drugs, nose; coffee
  | little shoulder pain, but trying to get dressed took care of that.
    Can only put on a shirt if unbuttoned.  No teeth:  requires both arms.
  * backups: 2009-10-11T09:46:58-0700 - 2009-10-11T10:23:04-0700
  & now using an adjustable knee brace to hold the ice pack.  
  | not much pain, but stress level really high.  Tired.
  * Walk: Rose Garden
    | less stress.  Can swing arm a little.
  * 3:30ish taxes: final data entry & totals -- still get a refund.
    ! very relieved.  Productive.
  | Pain really wears me out, and destroys my mind as well.
  & Located what appears to be a 1GB DIMM stick for the Nano-ITX board.
  ! a few minutes of deep breathing/meditation helped the shoulder a bit.
  * Called Mom, Al.
  * now using Barnard in LR as well as bedroom.  Works pretty well with a
    mouse on the side.  Loathe the touchpad, dislike the keyboard.
  * to-do list maintenance. More is needed, but it's a start.
  -* Put affirmations and pleasures lists at top level of ->PJ or /users/steve
    PJ, for privacy.  There might be a redacted version for the web. (1009)
  * move books, manuals, etc. from ~/download to /mm/Books
  | sleepytime extra tea does seem to help with the anxiety/tightness
  * 10pm bath - relaxing; seemed to help the shoulder.  
    | shoulder not knotted but still sore; little or no secondary tightness.

I started the day with comparatively little pain in my shoulder, but trying to put my shirt on took care of that detail very quickly. Ouch!! It turns out that reaching up or behind my back is what makes it hurt the most; that must have been what I was doing when I damaged it: picking up something a little behind me.

I spent the rest of the day listless and rather foggy. It seems that pain wears me out physically and eats away at my ability to think; probably effects of adrenaline and endorphins, respectively. I could pretty easily identify the adrenaline reaction, since it's similar to anxiety; a little deep breathing helped.

At Colleen's suggestion I took a walk around the rose garden. It did help; I found that I could swing both arms naturally. It took out a lot of the stress.

After my walk I did the final data entry on the taxes. I get a little back from my withholding, which was a huge relief. (For those not familiar with the US's horrible income tax system, you can get an extension on filing, but you have to pay up front or you end up paying both penalties and interest on the difference.) I still have to do the printing, and mail in the forms.

I finally put Argo (the Thinkpad) away pending a memory upgrade, and switched over to Barnard (the Dell netbook). Much smaller and lighter, though the keyboard is pretty bad and the touchpad is absolutely loathsome. A mouse largely fixes that.

I spent the evening out in the living room doing things that didn't involve either my right arm or much of my brain: re-arranging files and culling old stuff from my to.do file.

Anyone out there reading this who has chronic pain has my heartfelt sympathy.

Comments

[shadowe_wraithe]

I am so sorry to hear the shoulder is strained! I actually get bursitis in mine occasionally, not fun. You might try a rice filled sock, microwaved and wrapped on it, alternated with some ice packs. I know that the inflammation is the main cause of pain in this sort of situation, and the ice helps with that. The rice sock helps with the tight muscles that always seem to occur with inflammation, at least with me.

Also, maybe some MSM and/or Arnica, might help with the pain and inflammation in a more natural way as well.

*Gentle hugs*

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

Dress shirts. Maybe get Colleen to help get it over the sore shoulder for a few days.

[mdlbear]

Fortunately, I have lots of dress shirts. Unfortunately I usually leave them mostly buttoned-up, because I'm lazy. Had to unbutton one yesterday. Works pretty well if I just remember to put the sleeve over the damaged arm first.

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

Good. Though Colleen might enjoy helping you for a change.

Shoulders

[jaycoyote.livejournal.com]

Yeah man, I read you 5 x 5 on the pain. Hopefully it'll get a little better over time for you. Mine hasn't but we're all different.

Re: Shoulders

[mdlbear]

Thanks. Good luck!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I hope your arm feels better very soon.

[mdlbear]

Thanks!

*one-armed hug*

[phoenixpdx.livejournal.com]

And you have MY heartfelt sympathy. Pain, however long or short-term, is No Fun. And yes, it DOES wear ya out.

Deborah
speakin' from experience...

[mdlbear]

Thanks!

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Ditto on the sympathy. I hope your shoulder feels better soon.

[mdlbear]

Thanks!

[chaoswolf]

Dell Netbook? How'd you manage that?

[mdlbear]

Won it in a drawing at trade show. It's not something I would have bought for myself, but it works. It took them almost a month to sort out the paperwork and get it to me.

[chaoswolf]

Heck, if you don't want it, I'll take it. My laptop is a bit heavy.

[mdlbear]

It's still sufficiently useful to be worth keeping. But I'll keep you in mind if I upgrade.

[chaoswolf]

Ah shucks. And here I was thinking I could get away w/ having a notebook to take on the bus. I can't justify the expense of buying one myself, and would welcome the netbook.

[mdlbear]

We'll see what turns up.