Pain Management Group Follow-up

It felt like six weeks passed pretty quickly. The commute was easy and uncomplicated. Checking in and sitting in the waiting room felt very familiar although a bit strange since there was only one person I saw from our original group of ten. After we had assembled in our group meeting room, there were just six of us from our original group, plus one other person from another group.

Dr. Whitehead began the session with meditation, which I expected, and that was very nice. It was a familiar guided imagery of the beach! Then we went right into "group therapy" with each of us telling what we are still doing that is helpful (with pain management) and what things we are still struggling with. Several said their struggle is with "trying to do too much." Mine was a variation of that: sitting too long at the computer without a break. Some said it was hard for them to ask other people for help. Well, that would have been me six months ago! In the past six weeks, I've had to ask Linda for technical assistance with web clients. We both struggle with brain fog, but apparently mine is worse when it comes to technology! Finally, we were asked to write down (on cards she passed out) two helpful tips. Then she collected the cards and typed them into a document which she printed out (on bright pink card stock!) and distributed for a take-home.

Francis ended the session with Tai Chi taken from a new YouTube video called "Adapted Tai Chi Part 1," which I looked up at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbGvYXB08uk

After class, I spoke privately to Francis to confirm that the Tuesday drop-in group on the 4th Tuesday of April (the 24th) would be focused on acupressure, which I will try very hard to be able to attend. It will mean getting to Alameda for the Farmers' Market and Trader Joe's two hours earlier than our "usual" in order to be able to get home to unload groceries and then to Union City for the 3-5 p.m. group.

Follow up with Francis

Today was a follow-up appointment with Francis, the physical therapist from the Pain Clinic. Once again, he spent a full hour with me. The first thing he said was to confirm his approval of the inflatable neck traction device I had sent him a link to and which is available to buy on Amazon. So, good, okay, I will order one when I get home this afternoon.

He started the examination, of course, with checking the range of motion of my neck, particularly on the right side. Since I had been in pain most of the past 24 hrs., turning my head to the right was very difficult and painful at first. He did various manual manipulations with my head and neck, then he checked me on the three exercises that he had given me at my first appointment (and confirmed that I was performing them correctly). He modified the "windmill" exercise to make my arm go further behind my back. He then gave me a new exercise to do with towel around the back of my neck, then pulling my head, first up, and then to the right and to the left, synced with "mindful breathing," of course. I can do that.

We talked about a lot of things related to my neck pain, including acupressure. I asked him to show me the correct pressure points on the back of my head and on my shoulders that are specifically for neck pain. Which he did. He also told me that the pressure with thumbs or fingers did not have to be hard pressure. Even just touching the pressure points would be effective. So now I have been affirmed with that tool.

I did ask him point-blank about the validity of "tapping," and his response was positive. I told him the hardest thing for me to do was to admit that emotions and highly emotional experiences affect my pain level. He asked, "Why is that?" I told him I guess because, at my age, I can't accept change as easily as I did when I was younger." Then I said, "Maybe I need to see Julie [the Pain Psychologist] again." That made him chuckle.

I told him I have an appointment in April with one of the acupuncturists and he thought that was very good. I told him I wanted to have regular sessions with him (Francis), perhaps every six weeks? He did not hesitate to open his calendar and make an appointment for me on another Friday, five weeks from today.