Careful training to ease pain

I am still uncertain what caused the shoulder pain from the nether regions of whatever hell there might be. But by switching to using the left hand almost exclusively, taking care to avoid putting stress on it, I managed to make it less hurty. That Wednesday I had to carry a lot, but I set my mind on iaido practice, and it worked fine enough. I had trouble with several movements - oo-chiburi was nigh on impossible, for example, and at times noto as well. I used only a bokuto, therefore, but, since I led the beginners' practice, it was quite all right and possibly better. I could focus on helping them instead of showing them. The shoulder felt less stiff and sore afterwards, though the pain was a bit worse. Thursday's kali practice went surprisingly well, and I had moments during the day when there was no pain at all, in fact. I kept my mind on relaxing and not unconsciously hunch up, during the day. We used the escrima sticks, single or double, which was a bit tricky until the shoulder seemed to limber up - once again, there was pain afterwards, and it didn't like carrying things, but it felt far less sore and stiff. I worked hard during practice, which was an absolute pleasure, and I had the chance both of going in-depth in how I did my stickwork (...what a word!) and going all-out with a padded stick together with another beginner. She and I are quite different in skill level and what we are good at, but she is always good fun to have as a partner! I like that about the kali, there is always so much variation. And the next day, I felt my shoulders had really worked the day before, which I take as a very good sign. It is a personal quest for me to strengthen them both! I must say it seems to me I have begun figuring out how to focus to learn new things. It's something like having a switch or gauge in my head/mind, that I have to carefully fine-tune, and focus on at all times (my mind is rather fond of wandering). It seems as if this is slowly helping me to become better to "learn by seeing" in a new way in iaido, too, and possibly "by doing" too, but I shall have to wait until I am able to try to learn a new kata before I can test that theory. It is good to feel that mind and body are coming to be more and more in harmony with eachother. Not that the mind necessarily feels all spiffy and good, or the body, but, they are far less separated. I have not experienced the "steering myself from above-behind myself" feeling for quite some time! I wish I had the time for a run today, the weather is gorgeous, but I shall have to content myself with a walk, and iaido practice tonight! The shoulder is still painful, but I keep being careful. I think I know where the pain is, but, there isn't much to do. Except try to convince medical authorities to give me a cortisone shot, I guess. Have you been injured or ill lately, and what did you do, or what do you most often do, when that happened/happens?