on to the PT

I've now reached the physical therapy stage. I've been twice now and put through the different stretches, exercises, machines, electric shocks (yep), and back massage table-machines....and I'm doing better. My neck range of motion has already increased quite a bit since my first PT session 1 week ago. I'll be there again next Wednesday. In other news, my mother will be visiting in September. It will be nice to have her down here in a much better state than I was when she visited after surgery. If you're reading this mom, leave the expensive shoes behind...Chili hasn't matured THAT much in a couple months. In one month Cheree and I will be flying to Portland to visit family and then we'll be off to Seattle via train to see the city and go to a Mariners game. Should be fun! PS...just because I can, I added a video to this entry. New blog feature!

Update: A some of you have noticed, the video doesn't work. Well, all I can tell you is it works on my computer when I preview it before uploading it. So I'm pointing the finger at the blogspot.com developer. Feel free to stop by my place to see the video. The 15 second of Chili goodness is well worth your trip...no matter how far away you are.

the trifecta

Today Chili and I went to Balboa Park to see Cheree finish the "America's Finest City" 1/2 marathon and thus complete the 2007 trifecta of 1/2 marathons in San Diego (Carlsbad, La Jolla and this one). Her time wasn't what she was hoping it would be, but that's understandable because it was HOT out there. Chili and I were sweating just standing on the sidelines. Cheree's sister met her at mile 10 and helped cool her down with fluids, Cheree's friend Morgan met her a little after that to help her run to the finish and Chili and I gave her cold water after the race was over.
Cheree ran the first part of the marathon with friend (and fellow San Diego Red) Dave Bradfield (pictured above).

In me news...I got the call for physical therapy for my neck and will start my sessions a week from this Wednesday. At the end of the month I'll be taking new x-rays to see if that pesky screw has moved more.

saw the doc again...

Today was the 2 month checkup since the last surgery. I brought with me the x-ray that was taken last night. On the way out the door I looked at it and told Cheree it looked like a screw was coming out (insert your own "he's got a screw loose" joke here).
Well, come to find out there is a screw coming loose. What is unknown is if it still coming out or if it just came out a little and stopped there. I will be taking another x-ray in a month so he can compare it to this one. If it continues to get worse, he'll have to go in and fix it. Ugh.
I will also be starting physical therapy soon. I'll have 2 sessions a week for 3 weeks.

As for as sports are concerned...he wants me to wait at least 4 more months before playing baseball. And I can forget about skiing this year, unless the snow lasts until May of '08. I can start to increase the weight I lift at the gym, but I'll talk more about that to my physical therapist.

I also asked him about the "weird sensations" I get on my right hand and forearm. It's not numbness, it's just like heightened sensitivity sometimes. He told me there are medications (that were made for seizures) that claim nerve regeneration, but they come with a list of potential side affects, and he doesn't believe that much in them anyway for my condition. He recommended getting mega-vitamins. Cheree has taken on the assignment of setting up my vitamin schedule. He believes that over time it will continue to get better (as it slowly has been).

I've noticed that my hand seems to prefer warmth. When I wash my hands in warm water it feels better for a while. One day I was holding some ice for Chili for a while. After I gave the ice to him, my hand felt cold for longer than expected.

So...I'll continue to post as events warrant. good day to you