The man's side of it!

Today was my first day of physical therapy. About a month ago the doctor I had seen for the intense back and leg pain sent me to see a pain management center for an epidural steroid injection into the L-4 and L-3 vertebrae. We got to the doctors office and the guy says that he wants me to go to physical therapy first to strengthen my back and lose a few pounds so I don't break his table. I'm a big guy and need to lose the weight but that statement was kind of cruel. Anyway he told me not to take anymore percocet and ambien and to start taking fish oil to help strengthen my back. he also prescribed another type of medicine to help with sleeping and neuropathy.

The PT today was at the YMCA in Mt Laurel, NJ. It is a wonderful facility (that was the first time I visited there). Cassie came with me and we signed her up for a month for the pool. The pool is where I will be doing all my PT. The water was great and the exercises were tough but I was able to get through it. The hardest part was after I climbed out! I felt like an old man! It was only forty five minutes of exercise, in a pool for goodness sakes, but it drained me. On the way home as we were driving Cassie was worried I might experience some road rage due to the slowness of the other drivers. I told her I was too mellow after all the exercise to even think bad thoughts at them. I have needed to do this type of activity for some time now, but with all the injuries I couldn't, and even though it caused me pain the endorphins made me feel great afterward.

Now maybe tonight I can some real sleep!

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