I’ve been going to the Physical Therapist for several weeks now, and I can see some improvement in arm strength. I have good days and bad days as far as neck and back pain go, so I’m still using the muscle relaxer and pain meds when I can’t take it any more. I’ve also gradually worked up to using the TENS unit the better part of the day now.

Just to give you an idea of how little it takes to fatigue my muscles – I’m doing 10 pulls with bent elbows of the easiest tubing, 7 without any tubing with elbows at my side moving my fists out as far as I can to the side, 10 shoulder shrugs, and 7 head turns each way. These are all held about 2 seconds each. And that’s it. The therapist doesn’t want me doing any more than that. Some workout, eh? I do that twice a day, but on some of the worst days I just didn’t feel like it was a good idea.

We’re still getting out of the house most days, not just for PT and doctor appointments, because I need to walk to keep my leg strength up. Standing and walking mean I’m holding my head up, even though I use the soft neck brace most of the time when we’re out.

Wednesday I just did too much. It’s my own fault, because I didn’t tell hubby my neck was bothering me as much as it was, so we didn’t come home as soon as we should have. I won’t make that mistake again. He and I have talked about it, and we’ve worked out a signal, so he’ll know I need to go home (that won’t upset him thinking something’s terribly wrong).

The therapist said he could definitely tell I’d over done things and told me to take it easy for the next few days. He said it’s not unusual for someone to over do when they’re beginning to feel a little better.

I’m so thankful my hubby and family are supportive. It’s sad when I read about people in the Facebook MITO groups whose families are unsympathetic. This is an invisible disease. I don’t LOOK sick, unless I’m wearing the neck brace. And that doesn’t telegraph my digestive and elimination problems, my cold and exercise intolerance, nor my memory issues.

Compared to others I’ve met online I’m very blessed to be as unaffected by my MITO as I am. I thank God for that.