Physical Therapy Day

 Physical Therapy and the Weight of It All

Today I went to physical therapy for the axillary cord syndrome. It was a bit of a drive, but honestly, not bad at all - mostly because I got to really enjoy my Tesla and use Full Self Driving mode! It’s so amazing. Every time I use it, I feel a mix of awe and relief. It makes trips like these so much easier. When I was done with PT, I stopped by to see my nurse navigator and we went for a drive to show her what the full self driving is like - she was squealing about it as much as I am!

At physical therapy, I really liked my therapist. She was thorough and kind, and she helped me learn some new stretches and massage techniques to manage both the axillary cord syndrome and reduce my risk of developing lymphedema. It’s honestly mind-boggling how much I’ve had to learn. It feels like I’m constantly adjusting to some new challenge.

Thankfully, all the stretching and exercises I’ve already been doing have really paid off. She said I’m in good shape with the AWS, and that what I’ve been doing has been working well. That was encouraging to hear.

I’ll probably plan to see her a few more times - maybe during radiation, and a few sessions afterward. We’ll see what insurance says. Speaking of which, I feel incredibly fortunate that my insurance has been running smoothly. All my doctor visits and surgery have been covered without a fight. I know that’s not always the case, and I don’t take it for granted.

Still, I’m so incredibly frightened about radiation. I wish this wasn’t happening. I wish I could fast-forward through this part. But for now, I’ll keep showing up, keep learning, and keep doing the next thing.