Under a cut since it deals with physical therapy. And severe lack of handling mass amounts of change/stress.
I'll tag these posts with Neck PT if you want to block them.
TL;DR: All went well, I didn't freak out like I was worried I would last night, and I can work again with some light restrictions.
I was only there an hour today. The guy I was working with was really helpful. The place was kind of busy with three other people there but it didn't feel cramped.
My doctor chose a good guy for me to work with. He was pretty insistent I see this particular physician and for good reason.
Even though if you've met me outside of Tumblr, I'm still pretty up front and chill 90% of the time if it's a place I know of. (Prime example: downtown Seattle, or most places in Spokane Valley. Pretty much about 80% of Washington State I'm comfortable with.) But if it's something new or something is severely altered, I get really introverted, quiet and most of all, shy.
The physician noticed this and took me to one of the corner rooms, made up a cup of tea (with lemon even) and talked about what he was going to do for my tests and then the potential paths that would be taken for my neck. It kept me from panicing.
We did some range of movement tests as well as strength tests. He caught that my hand was sprained a few years ago and therefore wasn't as strong as it should be, but was able to figure out the problem was just that my neck spasmed last week and wasn't able to relax due to me working so much.
He then put me on a bed and got my head in a sling that helped stretch my neck muscles. It was kind of uncomfortable at first but actually felt really nice after a couple minutes. He then did some sound therapy (it really felt tingly and warm on my neck and shoulder muscles) and then a light massage.
That was all. Seriously. I have to go back for two more weeks but it seems the problem generally was rectified on its own, but I don't have full range of movement. I also got the all-clear to go back to work tomorrow morning, as long as I don't lift anything beyond 20lbs. So the notice was faxed to the two stores I work at this week and all is good.
I feel awesome now at least. But let's hope I still get the health insurance or else I won't feel as awesome as I should.
