Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Even More Limitations

My collarbone was throbbing and woke me up this morning an hour before my alarm was set to ring. What's more disconcerting is that I was asleep flat on my back, not twisted into some odd pretzel shape to alleviate sciatic lower back discomfort and calf pain. Actually, my sciatica hasn't been horrible the past few days. It's definitely present, just not horrible. The right shoulder, on the other hand, has been sporadically terrible, taking great offense at turning my steering wheel while backing into the driveway, or twisting to slather cream on my backside, or untangling myself from dog leashes as we walk along the road. 

I've had issues with this shoulder for decades but "frozen shoulder" or "mouse shoulder" was never really treated by an actual orthopedic doctor. It's had limited mobility but never actual pain until lately. I already know there's too many stray blood vessels snaking throughout the neck and shoulder on that side and yes, I am physiologically very asymmetrical. There might've been an untreated labrum tear or maybe this is bursitis? The symptoms fit except for having pain while laying flat, but I'm an anomalous person... 

I went to the gym but decided to baby the shoulder. Unfortunately, there's not a lot things you can do without utilizing your shoulders. After cardio (slightly better than last time but still pretty awful), I skipped pull-ups cuz that was much, much too painful to try again and decided on a super lightweight cable row. It was literally just two bricks on the stack, totaling a measly 30 lbs. The close grip handle was heavy (there's a lighter pair floating around but I didn't want to waste time searching for it) but slowly rowing the cable back was easy. At least for the first ten reps. Then it got harder, but only because that pesky right shoulder started to complain. 

I took breaks and hoped that the shoulder would relax after warm up reps. Mostly, that worked, with the joint complaining near the 20 rep mark for the remaining sets. It wasn't anything of a challenge for the rest of me: back, biceps, well maybe forearms but only because I have a problem with gripping for too long: my fingers spasm and yeah, I guess Raynaud's takes over at that point. 

I don't do a lot in the Aerobics Room because what can you do that doesn't involved a whole shoulder, or a whole lower quadrant? Not a lot. Crunches, hamstring stretches, cat/camel, fire hydrants, air squats... that's pretty much it. I guess I'll have to look at another orthopedic doc for my shoulder. I'd really like to see someone local instead of driving an hour to another town in another state. 


The weather has been dry and sunny and a bit cold in the evenings. I finally had to call a new fuel oil company and fill my oil tank cuz winter's coming, and no one expects prices to drop. Meanwhile, the fall foliage has been stunning, and the milkweed pods are starting to burst open and let float away those downy seed carriers.  


Meanwhile, I saw a very intense movie yesterday with a friend from the dog park. We were the only two people watching the matinee show of The Heart of the Beast. But first, I had to check the reviews to make sure the dog doesn't die cuz I hate those. It's such a well-known preference among dog people that the movie itself starts with the dog standing in the road and then flashes back a week, removing all doubt that the dog, Odin, does indeed survive. Because the human, Brad Pitt, does not, we are gripping our seats wondering when that event happens. And there's a lot of catastrophic events. It feels almost mythical, like a hero's travel through the underworld to reach the Elysian Fields... 

It's beautifully shot with New Zealand standing in for Alaska. Those of us familiar with survival skills whether through Scouting or other adventures will recognize a lot of the techniques and equipment used throughout. (My friend had to ask me about the fire starter kit and those fluffy white things. Yeah, those are cotton balls and you squirt some vaseline on it and it helps start your damp kindling.) This is a movie that sticks with you long after you've watched it. I can't recommend it enough, but fair warning, it's really not for little kids even if some say it's a "family film". It's not Mary Poppins. But it's well worth seeing, especially on the big screen.  


20 October 2026 1:44-3:10
Sunny Tuesday Shoulder

Precor elliptical #1 (2:21)
Program 3
Time: 30 + 5 (5150)
Distance: 2.71
Cal: 293
Precor HR: 136, 205-68 (?)
Google Health: 50-148
(Foot numb)

Wonky Right Shoulder (2:42)
Seated Cable Row light close grip
Right shoulder definitely not happy
30 lbs x 12, 12, 20, 25, 25 slow reps

Moderately Balmy Aerobics Room
(2:46-3:10)
20 Piriformis/Hip flex
20 Hamstring / 20 nerve flossing
50 crunches x 2
12 Piriformis stretches
Child’s Pose
Cat/Cow stretch 12
Child’s Pose
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Skip Arm rotations 20 / right shoulder!
Air Squats 25
Neck Stretch / eye yoga


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Even More Limitations

My collarbone was throbbing and woke me up this morning an hour before my alarm was set to ring. What's more disconcerting is that I was...