Physical Therapy
I had to drive back to Glendale today. This time for the Physical Therapist.
She is a lymphedema specialist.
Even she said that the selling in my hand and fingers is very mild.
First, she measured my left fingers, hand and arm. And the measured the same places on my right side.
She said there really wasn't any swelling in the arm. The only swelling was in the hand and fingers.
First she told me about how to take care of my left arm and hand.
And the exercise I need to do ... raise my left arm up, and open and close my fist slowly.
Do this only 10 times. But every hour.
Next she bandaged up my hand. The bandages were on my hand, very lightly. Not tight at all.
I can still open and close the hand.
So its not as bad as it looks.
I get to remove the bandages in 24 hours. And report back to the Physical Therapist if it helped or not.
Then, I get on the elevator.
With a little old ethnic woman.
"Oh, no ! Did you burn your hand ?" She says.
"No...um, physical therapy" I reply.
"Oh...." says the lady.
I hate it when strangers ask personal questions.
Then when people at the office see the bandage, they flip out.
"Oh, no! What happened to you now ?"
So I kept a long sleeved sweater on most of the day. And pulled the sleeve down so only my finger-tips were sticking out.
It eliminated the necessity of dealing with worried people.
