I had another physical therapy appointment yesterday, to work on my bad back and bad shoulder. I figured out how to get my physical therapist's attention when something hurts and she ignores me saying "ouch" -- I say, "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch-ouch-ouch-OUCH!" and I look her in the eye. That seems to get her attention, and she (rather reluctantly) releases my arm -- only to pick it up again and use it to manipulate my shoulder in yet another manner, making me say "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch-ouch-ouch-OUCH!" all over again, etc., etc. I'm hoping she soon will grow tired of this and leave my bad shoulder alone.
She said the pain I had doing the new exercises from last time is normal, and I should do them as well as I can without causing pain. She gave me some pointers on how to do them a little better, which may help pain-wise, but I think I'm out of luck when it comes to the frustration part.
Then I got some new exercises for my shoulder, using a theraband. These were good to do -- I didn't feel any pain, and they were just hard enough for me to have to put some effort into them without getting frustrated, so that's good. See? I really don't mind a little effort and hard work! It's pain and stiffness that get worse and worse that I mind.
To be fair, when something doesn't hurt I tell the physical therpist that also, so she doesn't think I'm just a whiney complainer who is never satisfied with anything and wants to wiggle out of having to do physical therapy (even though I actually am). But fair is fair, so I've been honest about the exercises that don't hurt when I do them, just like I've been honest about the ones that do hurt. Hopefully she will understand that I really mean it when I say "Ouch."
All in all, I think I will probably benefit some in the long run from going to these sessions, but nevertheless I'm counting the days till my final appointment (July 31).
