http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jigokudani_hotspring_in_Nagano_Japan_001.jpg
Celebrex is not a wonder drug. There, I said it. In yesterday’s post I had hoped that Celebrex would help me to sleep better with less pain, but it has failed me. I now have a continuous cold/heat machine-thing to try tonight and beyond, courtesy of my office-mates. Ice will be my constant companion for the next few weeks.
The required time-off following this surgery will be the longest period of time that I have not worked since I began my physical therapy career in 1985…and I am really not looking forward to this time off. I have a To-Do list that grows on a daily basis, full of lofty goals and long neglected tasks. I have a course syllabus or two to update and a good deal of writing to start for an exciting new project for this Fall. I have files to organize, update, and weed through. I have classes to plan for next year and reams of information to add to the website. My time off will be spent healing, rehabbing, and building empathy for my patients, who suffer pain much worse than I. But mostly I envision my time off spent sitting with a block of ice.
For now,
Walt Fritz, PT
Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars
Pain Relief Center in Rochester, NY
Hi Walt, Just wanted to say good luck on your surgery, which I take is today. Get well soon! And on a related note … I can’t recall if I posted this somewhere you may have seen it before, but one of the big proponents of the RICE protocol, Dr. Gabe Mirkin, has withdrawn the “ice” component due to lack of evidence that it’s helpful, along with mounting evidence that it may lengthen healing time or even cause more inflammation. I’d be curious if you’ve heard anything about this? My blog (hope it’s okay to link here): http://frederickmassagetherapy.com/the-ice-in-rice-treatment-no-longer-recommended/
Thank you, Marlene. At this point, three hours after the surgery, ice feels very calming. I do know that while some questions exist, it is still standard post-op protocol.