I made a big breakthrough last week by obsering that I was leaning on my ulnar nerve while using the mouse. Since discovering that, I’ve been using a pillow to protect my precious ulnar nerve and have been using the computer in moderation to give my arm some time to heal.

Over the past 8 weeks of Physical Therapy, I’ve made some remarkable improvements. I used to feel like my shoulder was being ripped out when I would play guitar or drive a car. I aslo used to get a strong burning senseation in my forearm. It was like one my nerves was on fire. With an initial rest period, then exercises and stretches for muscle development, I think I’ve pretty much put my injury in check. I’ve become very sesitive to the warning signs of an entraped nerve and have several options I can use to get out of pain. Working with 2 Neurologists & an Occupational Therapist has helped me become more educated about what’s going on between my shoulder and my arm, and also from my brain to my fingers. That’s so very important to me.

When I look back at what I was doing it seems like a silly injury. I was out of shape and I was leaning on one of my nerves while I worked. Who wouldn’t be in pain after that?

I’m very gratefull for my injury. It helped me slow down and work more efficently. It helped me understand the importance of exericise and balance. These are all good principles that I’ve known, but I couldn’t put them into action until I was in some serious pain and in a threat state for an even worse perdiciment. It’s the leverage of not being able to play again that gave me inspiration to take care of what I have. No wonder Django was so good.