Recovery.. it’s not smooth sailing on Winnipesaukee

Although it was super fun and inspiring to watch Americans absolutely crush in Beaver Creek, it was painful to know I couldn’t ski as I watched them put on their boots every morning.   It’s much easier to just focus on yourself and not see exactly what the competition is doing.

My average day:

Physical Therapy for two hours with Mike at Howard Head

1. Biking
2. Traction for ½ hour a day – it seems to be the most immediate positive response.
3. Tons of core using my inner stomach muscles around the spine.
4. Lots of stretching
5. Nerve Glides

When you pump up the traction unit there is about 85 lbs of pressure pulling my L4/L5 apart.  It feels great!

Scott Wacker at Movement Physical Therapy is kickass.

1. He’s doing dry needling with me every couple days, which can  be quite painful.
2. Then heat
3. Nerve Glides

The Dry Needling is definitely loosening up my back and great to have it part of my day.

Acoustic Massage from a family friend Sarah

1. This is actually really cool as her table has speakers in it to help release all the tension.  She’s a great masseuse.

And other than that, I’m doing more exercises back here at Ian’s, occasionally swimming,  and taking his sweet dog Roger for a walk a couple times a day.

Progress:

Today: I finally woke up with a sore left leg.  For the first time we actually made it work hard enough to be sore, which is a great feeling.  With all the work we’ve done,  today I reached 85 degrees of flexion in a left leg squat.   And I no longer have any pain in my back ever since the epidural injection.

We’re going in the right direction.  It’s no highway that’s for sure.

Hope you’re all well, w