In our busy 21st century life the one commodity that seems to be going extinct is time and we forget that healing takes time. ~Dr. Frank Lipman, Functional Medicine leader
Over the weekend, I went to our local urgent care center to have someone examine my still-hurting arm.
I’d heard dire warnings from other musicians about letting these aches and pains slide untended, and I figured I needed a referral to physical therapy, sports medicine, or orthopedics.
The nurse checked my vitals and sent in a woman doctor, who introduced herself, apologized for wearing a mask, and whispered that she’d “lost her voice.”
Say what??
“This isn’t happening,” I told her, with an emphatic head shake. “I can’t take any medicines, and I can’t afford to get what you’ve got.”
“Well, I don’t think I’m contagious,” she said. “But I’m not sure.”
“Nor am I,” I said. “And I won’t take any chances.”
So she ducked her head and scurried out of the room, leaving me to wonder why she’d even bothered to come to work if she didn’t feel well.
When I told my sis this story, she was amazed I’d had the guts to send the doctor away.
But I don’t do pain-relievers well (even aspirin and Tylenol), and I visit my mom in the rehab center regularly. I really can’t afford to get sick, or to bring her an illness.
Shortly afterward, a gentle-mannered male Indian doctor showed up.
One who could speak above a whisper.
After examining my arm and listening to the story of how I thought it might have happened, how long it had been going on, and what measures my chiropractor had suggested I try, he agreed.
“It’s tendonitis,” he told me. “Probably started in your thumb and traveled up to your elbow.”
He recommended I wear an elbow brace, keep icing the area, apply Voltaren to ease the pain. And rest.
“Rest is key,” he noted.
“But I can’t do that,” I fretted. “Music — and exercise — are my sanity. Besides, I’ve got two more weeks of summer band….”
“When can you rest?” he asked.
“I won’t start symphonic band until after Labor Day. Will that be enough time?”
He nodded. “Oh, yes! That’s good. And if you don’t play the flute during that ‘off’ season, you should be just fine.”
Thank Heaven.
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Yes, rest is the key! And Monk thinks an extra stroll wouldn’t be so bad either. 😉
I’ve taken to walking Monk with my left arm so as to “rest” my right one, Eliza. He can’t go without his morning walk, and neither can I! Best of all, the incidences of “zoomies on the leash” are lessening (thankfully!!)
Rest means rest … but I understand your need to meet your current musical obligation … and that’s OK … afterward, rest!
“Rest” for some of us is a dirty four-letter word, Frank! Still, I understand my arm needs time to heal – and after the next two weeks, it will have that time. Argh, but it’s still hard!
You can do it …. think about how much longer it will hurt if you don’t rest
That’s so true. And I do want to heal so I can continue playing. Thanks for the pep talk!
Yes, afterwards rest. Hope the arm feels better soon.
Thanks for the encouragement, Laurie. I’ve never been much of a “rester.” Even as a little kid, I hated taking naps. But I realize the body is a machine, and all machines need time to turn off once in a while. So I’ll do the resting … but I’m not gonna like it!
GREAT news, Debbie! And I bet you were so happy when he told you that it would be enough time. Thank Heaven is right!
“Well, I don’t think I’m contagious,” she said. “But I’m not sure.”
OMG, that just kills me. She’s a DOCTOR and she doesn’t know if she’s contagious?!?! I mean, really, what kind of doctor is she if she can’t tell!?!
And I applaud you for speaking up. I would have too. And knowing myself, I would have probably made a formal complaint as well.
Anyway, I’m glad to know you finally discovered what was up with your arm.
Sending you TONS of positive healing energy for a speedy recovery!
Have a terrific Monday, my friend! X
Ron, I’m glad you, too, found this doctor’s behavior reprehensible! Can you imagine, showing up for work sick, then breathing your nasty germs in “sick” people’s faces?? What was she thinking?
You know, it’s actually quite a relief having a diagnosis. I didn’t really know whether I had a pinched nerve, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, or what — nor how the muscles are all interconnected — so his explanation made a lot of sense to me. Just giving it a name is a relief.
Thanks for the positive energy thoughts — enjoy your workweek, my friend. xx
You did the right thing on the doctor. She should have stayed home. I hope you can rest between seasons, Debbie. Looks like it may be very important.
Thank you for confirming that, John. I felt a little bad for her after I sent her away, but gee, she really should’ve known better.
Yes, I’ll do the resting between seasons, regardless of how hard it might be for me. I’ve put my flute lessons on temporary hold as well. No sense aggravating my tendons more!
No. They need a break and maybe they’ll reward you with no pain. 😁
No more pain is definitely the goal!
Yes indeed.
I’d only quibble with one thing you said. We aren’t machines, and as much as we might wish that a nice reboot would do the trick, it won’t. Bodies have an amazing ability to heal and regenerate, but we need to allow the natural processes to work. That’s why sleep is so important. Even without injury, we need those daily hours of rest to maintain health.
I am glad you finally got a diagnosis, and a reasonable treatment plan. It sounds like the best of all possible worlds — you get to keep playing for now, and then can do what’s needed to ensure you keep right on playing in the future! The doc’s right, though. Tendonitis will heal, but it needs a little time. I’m glad you’ll have it!
Good points, Linda. No, we’re not machines, but that’s the only thing I can compare it to. Lazy, I suppose! But yes, I’m trying to look on the bright side. A few weeks without playing isn’t the end of the world, hard as it might be for someone like me. And who knows? Perhaps a good rest will give me an even deeper appreciation of the joy of playing!
And there’s this: I have a friend who’s a musician. She takes a month off every year in summer, before the concert season starts again — not for any reason but to have a break. She says her playing always is better when she comes back, despite not practicing. It will be interesting to see if you have the same sort of experience.
That is interesting. I’ve never been instructed to take a break from playing, whether it was piano or a band instrument. I think there’s a certain logic to it though, and I’ll be eager to see if it works. (And if so, maybe I’ll convince myself to take a page from your friend’s playbook!!)
Crazy for a medical professional to be risking spreading infection! Good for you for refusing to be treated by her. Hope the rest works and you’re back to full fitness soon!
HaHa, can you imagine?? I wonder if anybody else that day refused to see her. With as many germs as are floating around all the time, I can’t see anybody wanting to chance getting sick from being enclosed in a small exam room with a sick doctor!
I hope your arm gets better after rest! I have a friend playing clarinet with me in our band, she’s got her wrist all bound up and is still trying to play. Luckily our season ended 2 weeks ago so she can rest until after Labor Day too.
We don’t have these physical aches and pains when we play musical instruments as kids. Sad that we develop them as adults. I hope your friend mends well soon — she’s got a longer rest than I’ll have!
I think you were indeed wise to send the first woman away! And I do hope rest heals your arm completely.
Thanks, Ann. I didn’t want to offend her, but her behavior was offensive, ha! She had no business reporting to work with something that could potentially infect lots of sick people (some of whom, like me, have to be around frail old people like my mom).
Exactly! You’d think she’d know better….
Sorry I missed this post during all the chaos here, Debbie. I hope you’ve had a chance to rest your arm and that it’s doing better now. Tendonitis can be so painful! Good thing you sent the first doctor away. I still see quite a few people wearing masks in the grocery store and I don’t blame them even though I’ve given up wearing them there. Still wear them for medical appointments however.
Always happy to have you along, Barbara! I don’t know why this thing is taking so long to mend (must be age-related!). Anyway, I’m doing what they advised, so maybe it won’t be too much longer before I’m back to health.