The Last Two Weeks -- what I've been doing

[paragraphs]

The eventual diagnosis we came up with (chiro and massage therapist and myself) was a pinched neck nerve combined with a severe case of carpal tunnel.

The cause?

This:



Notice that he is being all sweet and innocent in the hole he dug in the backyard. Yes a hole--that is snow, not dirt, don't you know?

In any case, walking the pupster is apparently what totally whacked me out of line. Unfortunately, this isn't uncommon for husky owners. I now count myself lucky that I did not suffer worse, as I've heard tales of total shoulder wrenches, dislocations, surgeries. So yes, I am lucky. The sad thing is--no more walking Mr. Maddox, at least not until I get him more under control. He does settle into walking after awhile, but he is a puppy (1 year on Saturday) and he is enthusiastic so it takes a bit (during which I'm holding onto with dear life lol). Eventually, he gets down to business and is a great little walker. But that is not good enough. So, we are in obedience training, learning to heel, etc., and he's off to a great start.

So, the last two weeks and four days have been the pits. I've barely tolerated work--without heat, Aleve, hot showers, Bio Freeze, massage therapy and chiropractor, I would not have survived, I swear. I have NEVER had such a bad case of carpal tunnel. I am doing exercises and have a hand brace--I only started to be able to type again last Friday.

I've been watching LOTS of tv, let me tell you what. Primarily my X-Files (am on Season Four) and Doctor Who. Now...I never would've believed how much I would enjoy Doctor Who, but I adore this show. It is fun, imaginative, I just love the characters (am angry Rose is now gone, grrr), great special effects, and sometimes pretty darn scary. Are you my mommy? And Mr. Tennant? Oh man--adorable!!! And a little whacked. My favorite episode was a two-parter, The Impossible Planet and the second part. It totally appealed to the space opera girl in me. LOL.

The X-Files--am I late watching this or what? Yes, very late. But it is fun, and the two episodes I just watched, about Scully's kid, were really good and made me sniffle. Now my favorite killer they've had on there is on in another episode. Kewl.

I've watched so much tv--and laid around so much this last two weeks!!! More than I ever do, would normally. I finally, I realized tonight, have reached the point of being totally sick of doing both. So tomorrow, back on track. I'm still a little sore in the shoulder, and my left index and middle finger are still somewhat numb, but I can deal with writing again. Obviously.

In other frustrations--every quote I get to redo my fence is ridiculous. Over $5,000 even for stupid white pine. I love my big backyard--but right now, financially, I hate it.

Not much else going on. Still exercising extreme patience as we wait for the processing of N's papers for the fall, and I am still waiting on my treadmill to get here. I plan to teach the Sibes how to use it too. :)

This is getting too long. It is really weird typing so much, with numb fingers. I keep hoping it will go away but so far, no. I may just have to deal with it. Sigh.

Comments

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Do you have one of those awful spiked choke chains. It really worked on my dog, who is 70 pounds.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

actually, I do now as that is what my obedience trainer put him in. It was amazing how it worked, but she wants it for training purposes only for now until he is heeling and obeying better. I agree. He is so big around his neck--fluffywise--that he doesn't seem to feel a thing, but it keeps his attention. His first class went soo much better once we put him in that collar. Maddox is only 50 pounds, but he no doubt would be really good in harness with those powerful shoulders he has. :)

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Well, my dog is a lab and they have all those folds of fat around their necks to protect them from brambles, etc., when they are hunting. We NEVER go out of the house without it on. Our trainer told us that it was the only way we could control her and to use it constantly. She's very powerful, she's got a lot of chest muscles. The thing about the harness though, you have to PULL on it. Not good for C's shoulder. So the choke spiky thing you only have to tug sharply once. They get the message pretty damn quick.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I had him in a Halti and she suggested I just try the evil collar--and you bet I bought one for his own right after class. :) We are going to practice tomorrow (should've today but oh well).

Labs and Huskies make good partners in crime. Maddox is always fond of the labs at the dog park. Nick would like a black lab someday, which would go well with my crew. I am very glad I finally have him in obedience. Shelby is next!!!

[klgrem.livejournal.com]

It's what the dog whisperer would sort of recommend. Because it acts like the teeth of the pack leader.
Maybe you should get him one of those saddle bag things too, so he can carry your water and stuff when you do start walking again.

They're used to pulling heavy sleds, after all. :)

*hugs*
Hope everything gets better soon. ♥

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

YES! Those are very popular, the little back packs. He is supposed to be 2 though before adding weight to his back, so we'll see how it goes. I'm on a great list with an Iditirod musher who runs a 100% Siberian Husky team (rare now) and she gives great advice in that regard.

She doesn't like the dog whisperer dude much though LOL.

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Ouchie! Feel better soonest!

I'm getting ready, when I get some time home, to start my own re-watching of Babylon 5 and its associated movies, mini series and spin offs. Man, I loved that show.

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

Poor dear! *hugs*

Get better soon!

[ur-xgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

I know you are already getting training now, but the Gentle Leader did wonders for my husky! I never would have been able to walk her without it. The great part is that now that she's been trained with it, I can walk her without it. I don't require a strict heel, but I love loose leash walking. She hated that stupid thing, though.

[la-localfreak.livejournal.com]

Have you tried a 'gentle leader'? It's like a collar which has a component that looks a bit like a muzzle but it's made in such a way that the dog literally can't pull without getting the head collar part off (which takes some doing). It worked on some of our pups. Amusingly the Irish Wolfhound doesn't do exhuberant pulling to warrant it but my Nanny has back problems and couldn't handle some of the working-breeds' pulling when they were pups. The gentle leader is rather successful.

Another one, although we tend to use it more for recall issues it works for general misbehaviour is a kind of collar which has a box thing which hangs around the dog's neck and when a remote is pressed emits a short blast of air- it doesn't hurt, but is very startling and combined with the 'no' command even stopped our MENTAL beagle in her tracks when she was trying to run off. (and once they know what it does most of the time you don't even have to put batteries in to USE the collar- just putting it on and they behave like angels)

Both methods are entirely humane and cause no pain whatsoever to the dogs so there's no need to worry on that account. If you can't find the collar from my description I can email my aunties and ask what the proper name is.