Oh Brad and Larry got me on the third table and as I laid back, Brad bend my knee and started shaking it. These shakes were deliberate so I asked him what he was doing. He explained to me in such specific scientific terms that I tried my best to understand. He explained it with such ease and I was finding it difficult to comprehend.
I was reminded of when Adam told me about proprioceptors. When I looked that term up, I read a short excerpt about them and took a test about what I had just read. I failed it. So I guess I’m not cut out to be an athletic trainer or physical therapist. Heck, I AM cut out to be a teacher (have the degrees and certificates to prove it!). but I’m not even that anymore! Forgive my momentary self-pity, my apologies!
Anyway… I marveled at Brad’s knowledge and told him about it. He just laughed and continued shaking my knee a bit and then I did my PNFs of sorts. He had me kick my right leg up. I did three sets of these and then he had me push my leg out and pull it in. I was actually pleased with myself even though it’s not very impressive.
I got set up with ice and stim. and as I laid back and stared at the ceiling. I had a strange feeling come over my entire body. It was a familiar feeling but one that I haven’t felt for a long time. I stared at the ceiling and it took a minute for me to realize what it was. I was extremely mentally tired!
This is the feeling I used to have at Barwis all the time! I haven’t had that feeling in a long time because I haven’t been to Barwis in a long time! But this was my first time feeling it at physical therapy. I was exhausted but excited by my exhaustion, if that makes any sense.
Coupled with this mental exhaustion is physical exhaustion even though I didn’t do much physical activity; anytime I am trying to reconnect my brain with movement in my legs, it’s completely exhausting! I laid there and my brain felt kind of fuzzy but I smiled within myself knowing why I was so tired! It made me excited that I am trying to get my brain to make my legs move. I had some success and because of that, I felt accomplished and happy.
As soon as I got into my car, I completely zonked! I didn’t wake up until we were almost back in Dearborn and my brother was in the car and I had no idea he was. He needed a ride to the car dealership to pick up his rental because he was getting work done on his car so we were dropping him off before I got home because I live near the car dealership.
I felt groggy the rest of the night but it made me happy because it meant I was doing hard-core work even though it doesn’t look like it to other people. I felt I was working on more than just healing from surgery but also working my way back to Barwis.