My trip to the doctor

[anne_d]

By Anne, aged 52½.

I got there early. They were running late.

The nurse had to try four times and change the cuff before she could get the bp machine to read. On the other hand, when she finally got it, my bp was well within normal parameters. So there.

I was poked (oww!) in a place decorum and good manners prevent my specifying.

I talked to my doctor. She ordered a battery of blood tests (blood sugar, thyroid, anemia, etc etc etc), some of which require a 12-hour fast. So I have to go back tomorrow, with no breakfast, and worse, no morning tea.

Then I'll have to wait and see if anything shows up.

She could not suggest any hand/arm strengthening exercises. I guess I'll have to ask around.

Anne, waiting for Kitty to get home so I can take a wee nap

Comments

[yorick28.livejournal.com]

What aspects of your hand and arm are you trying to strengthen?

[anne_d]

All of them?

Seriously, it started a few months back when I was working on that green obsidian necklace - I really got into it, forgot to take a break, and when I got done, my right hand hurt, from the repetitive twisting and bending.

It's been a mite sore ever since, but I can't not use it, so I thought I'd try to strengthen the muscles. So I need to work on the hands and wrists, and my arms, and probably my shoulders. It all gets tense and sore.

I have no idea where to look for exercises - I tried googling and got ads for exercise machines.

How're you doing, Sara?

[yorick28.livejournal.com]

Well, when I hurt my ankle my chiropractor suggested I practice drawing the alphabet (in capital letters) with my foot; that way you go through the entire range of motions in every direction. I bet if you kept your fingers together and tried the same thing with your hand you'd give it a pretty good workout.

Another thing to try would be to pick up a small round object or bar with a bit of heft to it, lay your arm on a table/desk so that the edge is in line with top of your wrist and your hand dangles off the surface, and then do some reps where you lift the item until the back of your hand it in line with your arm and then drop it back down.

And there's a stretch I've found that's great for loosening up tight and sore arms. You get down on the floor on your hands and knees and rotate your forearms 180 degrees so the inside is facing out and your fingers are pointed toward your knees. Make adjustments until you can comfortably keep your hands flat on the floor. Then, just lean back on your knees, keeping your hands on the floor. It'll likely be a less-than pleasant experience the first few times, but it'll make a difference.

If I think of any others, I'll be sure to pass 'em along.

And I'm hanging in there, thanks. :)