Anniversary Trek Codicil
On our last day in Northeast MN [THU 6/8], Lois & I bid farewell to our very nice accommodations at the Eagle Ridge Resort just outside Lutsen, MN (nickname "We are a really nice resort, even if we don't provide daily, complimentary shampoo, conditioner, soap, & newspapers.").- Temperance River Trail: This trail followed both sides of the River, passing 8 pools & 7 overlooks w/rocky ledges. The trail guide advised, "It's easy hiking, but use caution." We did. I don't remember falling. *
- Sugarloaf Interpretive Trail. This trail traveled "through woods & along rock ledges to Sugarloaf Beach." A trail guide was available at the head of the trail, which automatically boosted this trail to the top of my list. Or would have, if I wouldn't have fallen at the base of some very steep stairs toward the end of the trail. More on that later.
- Duluth harbor front: Many things to see & do, including walking along the breakwater. And the numerous sites were free. And there were historical sites to visit, also free. Would have been more fun if my left shoulder wouldn't have been throbbing. More on that later.
We returned to Grandson Calvin's in Eagan, arriving before supper on THU 6/8. His parents, Nathan & Laura, were there, too. After Calvin went to bed, they took us out to eat at a very nice restaurant. We shared a delicious dessert, which was the only downside. Because we had to share it. Get it?! We arrived back in Norfolk without incident on SUN 6/11.
PP * + 15
Yes, I really did a number on my left shoulder when I fell on it while hiking on THU 6/8. I lost my balance at the bottom of some steep stairs & landed on the back of my shoulder, striking some rocks after about a 3-4' fall. Could have been worse. A face plant probably would have resulted in a lot of blood, broken nose, skull fracture . . . Sees what I mean about a pity party?
I didn't bother going to the doctor until we were back in Norfolk on MON 6/12. In the meantime, I used a lot of ice. I was able to drive a little but had trouble steering; also couldn't put any weight on my left arm, surprisingly also my left arm. Couldn't lift anything, couldn't reach, pull, push, had trouble getting in & out of bed, getting up & down from chairs.
My p.a. sent me to x-rays, which led to his suspicion that I had cracked or broken some ribs. Later on that MON he called back to let me know that the radiologist hadn't found any fractures but had found a lesion on the left scapula. He wrote me a prescription for hydrocodone, told me that I could take ibuprofen to alternate w/the h.c., scheduled me for a bone scan, & shared his suspicion that I had suffered soft tissue damage.
After my bone scan was read by the radiologist, the determination was no soft tissue damage but some type of damage had been done to the shoulder and/or upper vertebrae and/or neck. Next step? Physical therapy.
I've had two sessions of PT w/at least 2-4 sessions scheduled in the near future. My physical therapist suspects that my injury wasn't so much to my neck as to my vertebrae with the pain radiating to the shoulder. Her therapy, combined w/the PT I can do on my own, seems to substantiate her theory. I'm regaining more range of motion in the left shoulder, also my neck. The pain has also subsided, although at times my shoulder & back & neck still throb. I'm only taking hydrocodone at night & saving ibuprofen for during the day.
Okay, that's my pity party for today.
*Pity Party
I didn't bother going to the doctor until we were back in Norfolk on MON 6/12. In the meantime, I used a lot of ice. I was able to drive a little but had trouble steering; also couldn't put any weight on my left arm, surprisingly also my left arm. Couldn't lift anything, couldn't reach, pull, push, had trouble getting in & out of bed, getting up & down from chairs.
My p.a. sent me to x-rays, which led to his suspicion that I had cracked or broken some ribs. Later on that MON he called back to let me know that the radiologist hadn't found any fractures but had found a lesion on the left scapula. He wrote me a prescription for hydrocodone, told me that I could take ibuprofen to alternate w/the h.c., scheduled me for a bone scan, & shared his suspicion that I had suffered soft tissue damage.
After my bone scan was read by the radiologist, the determination was no soft tissue damage but some type of damage had been done to the shoulder and/or upper vertebrae and/or neck. Next step? Physical therapy.
I've had two sessions of PT w/at least 2-4 sessions scheduled in the near future. My physical therapist suspects that my injury wasn't so much to my neck as to my vertebrae with the pain radiating to the shoulder. Her therapy, combined w/the PT I can do on my own, seems to substantiate her theory. I'm regaining more range of motion in the left shoulder, also my neck. The pain has also subsided, although at times my shoulder & back & neck still throb. I'm only taking hydrocodone at night & saving ibuprofen for during the day.
Okay, that's my pity party for today.
*Pity Party
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