Dec 9 to Dec 30

Hmmmmm…for some reason I’m finding it hard to start writing. I have always been a bit of a procrastinator but it has really shown up recently. I need an organizer like Sensei Linda to give me a kick in the butt. I didn’t keep a log for the last 3 weeks so I’ve been looking at a blank page which could be part of the problem. I had great intentions of sending out Christmas cards and thank you’s to all of the people that have been so kind and helpful over the past year. But you know what happens to good intentions and it was December 23^rd before I got going and by then it was way too late. If this helps a belated Merry Christmas to every one and a Happy New Year, here’s wishing 2013 is a great year for you and yours.

Rehab has been going well. As I have mentioned, Laura my Physio at Parkwood is very creative and figured out that I am a touch competitive. She designed a triathlon for me. The bike is of course on the bike for half an hour. Also, as mentioned when I pedal everything tightens up, I get Laura points if I can relax my neck and think about keeping my arms loose. No matter how hard I think, I can’t relax my trunk.  The run portion of the tri is 10 sit to stands. Each stand must be up tall with bum in, gluts tight, shoulders back head up and chin in. Once up straight, a weight shift for left to right leg lifting my foot to put weight on the other leg. Get Laura points for checking my posture and adjusting accordingly. I can use a performance enhancer, which is a dirty word nowadays but in this case I’m allowed to use a mirror to check my posture with no penalty. The swim portion is lying in bed, and while doing bridging (knees bent, feet flat on the bed, raise butt as high off the bed as possible), move arms in a backstroke motion or out to the side. This is to get the brain to try and differentiate the moving of the arms while the legs are engaged.

I can move my arms quite easily while in a bridge position, but what is very difficult is when lying flat on my back and lifting my left leg off the bed. It tightens up my left arm and hand. I mean so tight you can’t straighten out the arm or open my fingers and the ol’ brain doesn’t get the message to let it relax. Or I just haven’t found the correct route to tell it what to do. The right arm is OK when I lift the right leg. 

I now have a written work out from Laura and the leg workout takes over an hour to do. Jody in OT gave me some homework to do over the holidays since I don’t see her ‘til Jan 12^th. Do sit to partial stands. Sitting on edge of the bed, lean forward with nose over toes to get the butt off the bed then up almost to a stand, hold and sit down slowly. Do sets of 10. I can do them but my back tightens up...go figure. I cheat a bit as I need to pull on a chair to get started…gotta get those quads stronger.

Interesting in the pool on Thursday, I was standing but my left leg seemed to flop around as if it doesn’t have any weight on it. Yonna told me to tighten up the quad and she checked it out. Seems the lower portion of the quad is tight but the upper portion is flaccid. Don’t know what to do to get the upper part working. This explains at least partially why the leg flops.

I’ve been getting in the pool at Parkwood, once a week and in the Tillsonburg pool at least once a week. Getting better at standing in the pool and my left side and left leg seem to be getting stronger. With the assist of the buoyancy in the pool I can now stand on the left leg and lift the right one off the bottom and hold it up. Must really get my balance first and stand very upright on the left leg and consciously think about keeping the muscles tight in my leg but also in my hips and tummy. The brain doesn’t know it should be doing it all automatically. Normally the brain would be turning muscles on and off as needed for balance. Since I don’t seem to have the sensors to turn the muscles on and off, I turn them all on. Therefore, can’t stand long as the muscles tier quickly. Don’t knows if the muscles are weak because they have atrophied or if there isn’t enough nerve impulse getting there to keep them turned on.

Going to miss Yonna and the Tillsonburg pool for a couple of weeks. She is taking her husband Steve to Hawaii for his retirement gift and they won’t be back until Jan 14^th . When they get back, Steve will be coming into the pool with us on Thursday’s. With all the programs Jody and Laura have given me, I should be able to fill my time for a couple of weeks.

The tight back is causing some problems as mentioned many times and I can’t make it relax…hmmm…is more meds the answer? Pedaling the bike, standing, or doing anything with my legs, the ol’ back and trunk tighten up. Well now it’s at the point of interfering with other stuff. For example, I had a couple good bike rides and then just before Christmas on Dec 23^rd I got an intestinal bug and a bout of diarrhea that made me miss the family Christmas Eve get together at my brother-in-laws. For most people, a tummy bug only causes some intestinal 'symptoms' and generally feeling crappy. Spinal cord injured people get all the normal symptoms but also get muscle tone/muscle tightness and mine happens to be in my trunk and I also get  spasms in my arms and legs as well. In fact, they are such a bother, I’m taking extra pain pills to put up with it…hydromorphone and Tylenol together….grrrrr. At the time of writing the intestinal bug is back. I had to get Darcy up at 3:30 to get me in the commode and to the John. Even wore Depends to coffee with the guys this morning (Sunday, Dec. 30) just in case.

Christmas was great with Meghan and Andrew. We had fun opening presents and had a nice turkey dinner at about 3:30 on Christmas day. The gifts arrived on time from Kelly in Australia and I got to talk to her on her Christmas day. The tummy bug left long enough to allow me to enjoy Christmas dinner. Meghan brought Ashlu, a Border Collie who is big but very friendly even to Myah our Shih Tzu, but Myah was very happy to see the Collie leave. 

  

Had a massage on Thursday, Dec 27^th and I usually get into prone and get my back done which feels real good, but got into prone and the lower back went into spasm. Had to get onto my back right away. Even when I sit at the computer now the back is a ‘pain’. Don’t usually complain about the pain but it is interfering with other stuff now. The only thing that seems to relieve it is sitting in bed with the head of the bed up at a 30 degree angle. I also found that if I sleep flat on my back I have big problems in the morning. Most of that is from lying in one position without moving for 10 to 12 hours. 

Just being in bed is getting to be a problem. The PSW’s come in the morning to give me a shower, I can do most of it but need help to get all the parts and drying off. They then get me dressed and they do all of that before I go back into the washroom and shave and brush my teeth. Then it’s breakfast time and medication time…17 freakin’ pills so I need to take them with food. Some workers come a 6:45 which is great some come at 8 or 8:30 which is not so good as I don’t get my meds ‘til around 9:30. It also means that I am in bed for 12 hours which is way too long. We are trying to get it worked out that the PSW’S come in at 7 or earlier, it’s hard to change scheduling once it is in place. There are a couple of reasons why I need the meds early as possible. The anti-spasmodics wear off at night so I need them earlier in the morning to keep the blood levels up, and if no meds ‘til 9:30 that’s only 2.5 hours ‘til lunch time pills. Too short of a gap.

Had some good outings over the past 3 weeks. Went to the Martial Arts Canada Christmas Banquet. It was great seeing all the kids and OMG how the kids have grown. Nice to see them get excited about winning trophies. Then a house party on the weekend and saw a lot of good friends. On the 21^st went to Brantford for the old rugby guys Christmas get together at the Polish Hall. Good to see that gang again doing the ‘I remember when!’. I know my claustrophobia is gone after riding in the Polish Hall elevator. It was just wide enough for the chair and just long enough for the chair and Darcy to stand behind it….made it with no problem, mind you it was only a one floor trip.

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time on the internet looking for a bicycle well actually looking for a trike. I was looking for a trike with 1 wheel in the back and 2 wheels up front that are used for steering. Found a recumbent tadpole tike which has the drive wheel in the back and steers with two handle bars connected to the front wheels. Brake levers and shifters are on each handle bar, right side has the right brake and rear wheel shifter and the left has the left front wheel brake and the front derailleur shifter. There are a couple of issues that need to be looked at. The higher the seat the easier it will be for me to get in and out of. I’ll have to slide in and out from the wheelchair or if I’m walking I may be able to able to get in and out of it easily. Searched many companies and found Terra Trike in Grand Rapids, Michigan has a tadpole trike with the highest seat at 14.5 inches (36.8 cm) from the ground…it’ll take a little work getting down there and more work getting up….hmmmm…now there some incentive to do Jody’s sit to stands. Must set the goal of getting up from a chair that is 14 inches from the floor…yikes. A little quad, opps a lot of quad strengthening is in order. Other considerations were that the brake lever on the right handle bar could run both brakes and also install the front derailleur shifter to the right handle bar. Sent an email to Terra Trikes and it’s all doable. If ya wanna see the bike opps trike it’s at: http://www.terratrike.com/sportster.php  It’s the SL version. They are presently 9 speeds but they will upgrade to a 10 speed and that would be 30 gears. It was a lot of fun researching all the bikes and components and reading reviews on the different bikes. Nothing beats consumer reviews. It appears that the tadpole bikes will keep up with upright bikes. Another change would be to put a 700 cm wheel as the drive wheel on the back which is up from the 400 cm that is standard. This not only provides better gearing but will also raise the seat a little and every silly millimeter helps. I think I’m excited…Can’t ye tell?

The trike provides more goals, 1. As mentioned to get on and off a 14.5”/36.8 cm seat, 2. To get the left arm straight enough to hang onto the left handle bar and 3. Not only to reach the handlebar but to get the left arm and hand to relax enough while pedaling to allow the arm the help steer. I’ll take that for now and work on the hand to shift and work the brakes later.   

How am I Feeling?

Now this is a tough one. I think this back pain is getting me down a bit. I missed my night meds a couple of times and I take the anti-depressant at night. That may account for some weird dreams and thoughts. I start thinking about what is going to happen 10 years down the road. Darcy won’t be able to keep up at her present level and a retirement home certainly is not an alternative…just gets me down a bit thinking about that stuff in the wee hours of the morning. Keep trying to think positive and that I WILL be up and walking in a few months. It just nags on me a bit. Perhaps I need to see the psychiatrist again in the New Year.

Other than the nagging thoughts at night that I may not get much better, I keep doing all the rehab stuff. Just don’t know if I should stop riding the bike until the tummy bug is gone or just put up with the spasms. I need the bike for some cardio fitness and to strengthen the legs….hmmmm…think I’ll keep riding, perhaps at a lower tension.

Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thanks for listening…

Nov 26 to Dec 9

Mon Nov 26: PT in the pool at Parkwood. Laura mentioned that I was doing something special on Wednesday but couldn’t remember what it was. We did some stretching and exercises that loosen the trunk and work the arms. The difference between Parkwood Pool and the Tillsonburg pool is about 5 degrees. Does the warm water ever make a difference. It really helps me relax. But I won’t be giving up the Tillsonburg swim as Yonna is helping me a lot.

Laura called as she remembered what we are doing on Wednesday. That was to get up in the platform walker, which is a walker that allows me to put my arm up at about shoulder level as I can’t hang on a normal walker…yet. 

Tues Nov 27: Got Botox in my left arm. Dr. Potter injected in my bicep and my Finger flexors. The idea is that it weakens the flexors enough to allow the extenders to open my fingers. I will know in a week if it is going to work. Dr. Potter explained the he injects a conservative amount the first time to see how my body reacts to it. If it is favorable he may adjust the dose and do other muscles. Seems that Jody had emailed him about doing my finger and Laura had asked about doing my left foot as the calf is always in spasm and pulls my toes down which causes drop foot. I see Dr. Potter in a month to see how the Botox is working. 

I’ve done 352 K on the bike since June. Doing 15 minute sessions with 3 min cool down between sets.  Going to up it to ½ hour and see how that works….gotta catch Byron somehow. Today rode 3x15 minute sets and one 10 minute set = 55 minutes. Longest time on the bike to date.

Wed Nov 28: I got up in the ‘high walker’ and took 3 steps.  Well not the greatest 3 steps and perhaps the last two weren’t even real steps. I try to bend forward to make my legs move instead of moving my hip through first and following with my leg…gotta lot of work to do. Joining a gym is a must to strengthen the leg. A little disappointed but now I have something to work on. But I do think the high walker has possibilities. The left side is just not able to hold my body weight, even with 4 physios, one in front, one on each side and one behind, I couldn’t take a step with the left leg. I can stand on the right leg and take a step with the left. The problem starts when I try to put weight on my left, my left hip slides out and I can’t stand tall on the leg. Very frustrating….grrr! 

Thurs Nov 29: In the pool with Yonna. Did some of the exercises I did with Laura on Monday. Put my feet on Yonna’s shoulders and do leg presses. She’d hold one leg while I’m floating on my back and I move the other leg out and bring it back in quickly which gives resistance and strengthens the hip abductors or is it adductors…one of them anyway. 

After the pool got home and Darcy had taken the Bug…VW bug…to get the lights fix. She drove it to Brantford with no brake lights. She put on the hazards when anyone was behind her. Thought it was going to cost a fortune as there were some lights flashing on the dash for electronic stuff however, it needed a couple of switches and new tail-light bulbs. It’s all working and for 120 bucks, not bad considering it was the dealership.

Fri Nov 30: PT and OT. In PT Emily stretched my hamstrings and quads and got me in prone and did ‘mobs’ on my back…they feel very good. No time to get into the standing table.

Off to OT for 11 o’clock. Jody worked on the left arm and mentioned that the Botox had loosened up the bicep but could not see any difference in the fingers…yet. I should start seeing differences in the fingers by next Tuesday if it is going to work.  We also did some stretching on my back. As mentioned, my back is in tension all the time. Jody had me sitting on the edge of the table and put my forearms on my knees which really stretched my lower back out. With all the stretching it loosened up about 6 inches of my lower back above the tailbone….it felt very good. This is now a stretch that will be incorporated into my workout sessions…like after the bike rides…just hope it loosens up the rest of my back. Once I bend over Darcy will be able to run the vibrator up and down…opps that sounds too kinky, that should be the electric massager not vibrator.

Had a visit from an old rugby buddy, Ed  and his wife Sue. Told us about their trip to Istanbul and there upcoming 6 week trip to New Zealand.

Karen picked up the meds in Delhi, and dropped them off. Friday night just happens  to be veggie pizza night and Karen is a veggie so it worked out great and then she cleaned up the kitchen for Darcy. 

Sat Dec 1: A day off. Didn’t sleep very well as there is trouble with the CPAP. When my nose plugs up I can’t use the nose faceplate and the full faceplate doesn’t work. I slept 2 nights without it and I don’t sleep well without it as I keep waking up. Today I kept falling asleep while I was reading. In fact I was tired when I got up and missed Karate as well.

Sun Dec 2: Since Saturday was such a bust it was time to get the butt in gear. To start, went out to the Mall and had coffee with Grandpa, The Sarge and Uncle Vern. We solved several of the world’s problems but it is the same as solving them over glass of wine but not as much fun. Then home for lunch, an hour reading then 10 sit to stands at the side of the bed. Got into bed for 45 minutes to do some bridging, leg lifts, bicycling and some trunk stretches. Got on the bike for an hour and did 19.2 K. Did another 10 sit to stands with the PSW. Legs were a little pooped when I got into bed.

Back on the nostril CPAP breather but had trouble keeping my mouth shut. Having some strange dreams about fighting through the house doing MMA stuff but always end up pinned and I can’t move…go figure! The CPAP may have something to do with it as it makes a loud hissing sound when I open my mouth as the air blows out of my mouth. Is there an oneirologist out there to interpret my dreams? Yes I looked up oneirologist in Wikipedia.

Mon Dec 3: PT at 11 and was in the pool for an hour and did lots of work loosening up my trunk. The back stretches are helping, I think. Got home at about 1:30 and had lunch…then the Sunday workout kicked in and I had a nap from 3 to 5. Thought it might mess up me up at bedtime but went right to sleep at 11 o’clock. 

Oh yes I am off the sleeping pills and had been cutting then back for a while and was down to 2.5 mg a night so we decided to stop it completely. No withdrawal symptoms to date and I fall asleep relatively quickly. I do 3 sets of exercise before I go to sleep, 10 finger taps with my left hand, 10 shoulder rolls frontwards, 10 shoulder rolls backwards, 10 pelvic tilts, 10 glut flexes holding each for 10 sec, 10 leg flexes tightening up the quads and gluts alternating legs and 10 foot flexes alternating feet. Do it 3 times. Sometimes I fall asleep before it is completed.

Tues Dec 4^th:   To the pool with Yonna. Incorporated more of the exercises we did on Monday in the pool with Laura. Must do longer stands to get some endurance in the legs. Can stand for about 3 minutes need to extend that to 10+ and more. Working on that with the PSW’s at night before bed, try to stand for 3 minutes, the goal is to get to 10.

Biked for 55 minutes, the legs just didn’t get going. Couldn’t get the cadence up and the legs and body became very tight.

Laura, my physio at Parkwood asked if I’d be interested in writing an autoethnography which is according to Wikipedia “a self-reflection exploring personal experience connecting the story to wider cultural, political and social meanings/understandings.” Checked on the internet for examples and how to write one. It would involve a lot of research and I would like to do it. Not ready to put that much time into it. It would be a qualitative report and I’m of a quantitative guy…numbers are better.

Wed Dec 5^th: OT and PT. Jody did lots of stretching of my arm and loosened up my trunk. Yonna drove me to Parkwood and we were discussing what happens in physio and the how it would appear to an outsider. For example I need to turn on my gluts for standing and walking. To make sure it is on the physio will grab my ass and say, “Make it hard!” while I am lying on my stomach. Now what would that look/sound like if someone just walked into the room.

Did some standing with Laura and got into prone and had a great back mobilization of my vertebrae in my back by a student. He mentioned I had about the tightest back he’d ever worked on.

Got another great massage from Jeanie. The face cradle that we use doesn’t really fit me all that well. The hole that my face goes into opens up and my head slides through the hole and my throat rests on the edge. Think we need to put a pillow under my chest to get my throat off the base. We’ll try that next week.

Darcy was having a nap and I woke her up for a pee. She went into the washroom and brought out the drinking mug…we had a good laugh. Perhaps I should start doing it myself which would be less work for Darcy.

Yonna had parked facing the wrong way in front of the house. I mentioned on the way out that it was a parking offense to park that way. Yonna wanted to know if she should go back and change it. I said, "the cops rarely come around here." On the way back, when we turned the corner onto my street, there was a yellow ticket on her windshield. She was quite upset that she got a ticket. When we got in I asked Darcy if she had seen the police, "Only when they drove away" she replied. She asked Yonna to get the ticket. The Sarge and Grandpa had been helping Darcy get the VW in the garage and the Sarge wrote a ticket on yellow paper, "Offence, parking the wrong way, Fine $50, Send money to George and Bob."

Thurs Dec 6^th: In the pool with Yonna and worked on more exercises from Parkwood. Did some stands and weight shifting. I can stand on the right leg and lift the left knee up in the pool but I can’t do it on dry land. It seems that the knee is too stiff on dry land but in the pool the buoyancy helps lift the leg.

Did some biking, as Byron is off there is a little less pressure. Byron is having surgery tomorrow and hasn’t ridden this week so there will be no swelling in his ankle when they take the pins out tomorrow.

Fri Dec 7^th: Off to Parkwood with the Sarge for PT and OT. PT with Emily and did some hamstring and quad stretches and then at the standing table for 20 minutes. It was a good stand as I stayed relatively straight without leaning on the supports or on my arms. Got a good calf stretch while standing on an incline board.

In OT had a good discussion with Jody. Most of my damage is at C5 andC6 with some at C7. The problem is not that there is no nerve impulse it is the brain is confused and sends signals to all the body parts and doesn’t differentiate between parts. The physios and Occupational therapist are trying to make my brain selective in turning on different parts. But when I stand my entire body becomes tense. A drill I am doing is when I am in prone they have me in superman position that is push with my legs to turn them on,  pull my shoulders back and down, then lift my arms and then my head. Once up I turn them off one at a time. Let head down arms down, shoulders down, relax legs and then repeat. Trying to get my brain to turn on separate body parts by themselves.  

At home did some biking and did 1 hour with tension of 20 minutes at 5 to 7, 20 minutes at 3 to 5 and 20 minutes at 5 to 7 and did 20.7 K, most mileage yet.

Sat Dec 8^th: Really feeling the effects of my bike ride. I’m tight all over and had several spasms today. My lower back does loosen up when I sit and bend forward in the chair. Darcy ran the massager up and down my back and that seemed to help. 

Was getting ready to go to Karate but had some diarrhea…grrrr. The better part of valor was to stay home. I put on depends but didn’t need them. I have a dinner to go to tonight and hopefully it doesn’t act up there…I’ll keep the depends on just in case. The dinner worked out very well and I even had some wine and Scotch. Got home at about 1 o’clock and then an hour to get ready for bed so we didn’t get there til 2 o’clock.

Sun Dec 9^th: Got up at 8:30 and went for a two hour coffee break with the guys. A little tired and had a nap in the afternoon. Since there was no bike competition, didn’t need to go on the bike…good thing.

How do I Feel?

The tight body after riding for an hour is something I am going to have to reconsider. Now here’s the catch 22, riding makes my legs stronger and gets the heart rate up which I really need the catch is it tightens up my body for a couple of days after and it may interfere with my therapy. Seems the more tension I put on the tighter I get. Perhaps limiting the ride to 30 minutes with a lower tension may help. Disappointing as I may have to give up the races with Byron. OR perhaps taking some pain meds will help? I’ll just have figure out what will work. In discussion with Jody, she mentioned that when I plateau or stop progressing I will stop therapy but will begin again when I need it and it could go on for years.

I must admit I have been down a bit because of the slow progress but it seems that’s the way it is. Just keep working at it. I have a very enthusiastic physio and she keeps me going and doing new things.

Thanks for listening...

Nov 11 to Nov 26

Nov 11 to Nov 25

Holly shit it’s the middle of November and it’s dark by 5:30.

Mon Nov 12:  No therapy as it is a stat day. Did my own stuff...1/2 hour on the bike and my exercise routine for about an hour. Went for coffee with Grandpa and got caught in the rain on the way home. Darcy brought over a rain coat and we had some plastic bags to put over my feet and the wheelchair  control. The weatherman was wrong. It was supposed to start raining at noon and it was only 11 o’clock….grrr. Wasn’t too wet but did get a little chilly.

Tues Nov 13: In the pool with Grandpa and Yonna and after stretching, got up and did some walking. I was really tight in the trunk and twisted to the right when I was floating. Grandpa had to keep me straight.  Yonna stretches my legs by getting in between them and pushing them apart to stretch my hip flexors. Sounds kinky eh? It’s not! Do you know how hard Yonna can push? I am supposed to say ‘when’ when it is far enough but Yonna has learned that I shut my eyes when it hurts. I get even if I have a spasm and if she is between my legs it squeezes her ribs. She stretches the hamstrings by holding one leg down with her legs and pushing the other one over her head…yikes!

Wed Nov 14: OT and PT in the morning, again the trunk was tight and we did a lot of stretching to try and loosen it up…didn’t work too well and I was tight for PT. My right leg is the strong one and it started to give out while I was standing…don’t know what was going on there. 

Thurs Nov 15: In the pool with Yonna and Grandpa, trunk was very tight but loosened up a bit. Got some bad news…Grandpa called and said he couldn’t go in the pool anymore as he is allergic to the chlorine. I am really going to miss him as he and Yonna worked very well together.

Had an interesting event on the way home, had a big pee AFTER I got out of the pool…it was a big one more than 600 ml. There was nowhere to dump it. Darcy put the lid on the urinal and put it in the bag, loaded me in the car and took me home. At home the bag came out of the car first as it had been sitting on the back of the wheelchair (note: the back rest comes off to get the chair into the car.) Darcy wanted to know how we got the back wet implying that we somehow got it wet at the pool. It wasn’t until we got into the house that we realized that the urinal was empty…it was strip the covers off the wheelchair back, take the cover off the cushion, change my pants and get everything in the bag and the bag into the washing machine…just another day in the life of…

Fri Nov 16: PT with the physio. Laura works Mondays and Wednesdays but if there is a stat Monday, she comes in on Friday. Did some stretching and got up in the standing table for 15 minutes.

Sat Nov 17: The PSW was here early enough to give me time to go to Karate class. I got to look at and critique some of the katas. I was very nervous about doing it as I hadn’t done kata or instructed for a while. I must learn how to instruct verbally to get across what I want. Demonstrating was so much easier. Then it was off to a Black Belt workout which I just observed the class. Very interesting to watch the Black Belt technique.

Sun Nov 18: Went for a 2 hour coffee break with the guys…almost like being back at work. Did some reading and ½ hour on the bike. Did some more reading. One of my friends who broke his leg is using a bike trainer to recoup and rides most days. Being a competitive nut I challenged him to a competition of total miles per week. We report every Sunday night…I’ll let you know who wins the first week.

Mon Nov 19: PT with Laura. Usual stretching and standing. Good news, I will be getting another hour of OT on Fridays from 11 to 12. 

Wed Nov 21: OT, PT and a massage. First time Jeanie, the massage therapist got me over on my tummy. Jeanie brought a satin sheet. I got on the sheet and rolled onto my right side and she pulled me to the side of the bed. Darcy got the ‘face pillow’ and put it into position. Then Darcy and Jeanie flipped me over and I got a great massage on my back for the first time in a year+.

Thurs Nov 22: Swimming pool with Yonna...stretching, standing.  Stand on right leg and put left back to stretch the quad then switch legs. Mimics walking.

Fri Nov 23: PT at 10 with Emily got there a little late. The ol’ left arm got a workout. Shannon got hold of it and put my arm in positions it had been in for a long time. All this while lying on my tummy with my face in a face pillow.  Felt good as Emily was moving up and down my spine pressing hard on each vertebra. The left arm was much looser than it has been for a while. The pillow is soft material with a plastic base. When they push on my back the cushion moves out and the cheek hits the plastic and my long nose hits the bed. When I get up I have red cheeks and a red nose….just in time for Christmas.

Then off to see Jody in OT. As mentioned, I am now getting an extra hour of OT a week….5 hours of therapy a week...yeehaw. Jody worked on my left arm and again was able to get it into positions it hasn’t been before. That was partially due to the fact that Shannon in PT had loosened it up quite well.

Sat Nov 24: Got to Karate class a little late but got to look at some of Brown belts. This time I looked at them one at a time and it was much easier than working with them as a group.  Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Need to get better with verbal instruction…practice makes perfect…..sooooo be careful what you practice.

The guys came over and cleaned up the yard and the eave troughs…thanks to Nancy, John, Eric, Annette, Chris, Andy, and Roy…the yard looks great. 

Sun Nov 25: Well I got my ass whipped on the bike. Byron did 64.5 K and I did…….45.5 K. Started reading a book about the Second World War written by a man, Charles Kipp who lived about 5 K from here. It is very interesting as he mentions names of people that I recognize and knew of growing up. 

How am I Feeling

I am a year and a ¼ from the accident. I keep reading about you get what you have after a year. I must admit it is a little negative thinking but I may be in a chair for the rest of my life. Those thoughts do occur. I am writing this on Tuesday, Monday I was in the pool with Laura the PT and Emily the PTA. We did some neat exercises that, if I can remember them all, Yonna and I should be able to repeat at least some of them in the Tillsonburg pool. At the end of the session Laura asked me what we were going to do on Wednesday…I had no idea…so it was going to be back into the pool again. At home on Monday afternoon, I got a call from Laura; she remembered what we are going to do on Wednesday. She has asked Janelle a Physio and Barry to assist in getting me up in a platform walker. Since I can’t hang onto a normal walker handle with my left hand, there is an adjustable table/bench that I’ll be able to rest my arms on. 

I am very excited about Wednesday. My goal of course was always to walk, but it seemed to be getting further and further away and the ‘failure’ on the treadmill seemed to re-enforce, in my mind, that walking may not happen. Now on Wednesday, I get to try the platform walker. I have tried my walker at home but have a lot of difficulty hanging on with my left hand. The knee doesn’t straighten all the way so I’m up on my toe.  Perhaps with a physio holding my hip in and keeping my knee as straight as possible….I will be take that step.

Got to be careful not to get expectations too high. I’ll let you know next blog, how it went.

Oh yes the blank page was me learning how to post a blog. We got it there but couldn’t remove it.

Thanks for listening….    

Oct. 26 to Nov. 11, 2012

The last couple of weeks I’ve been getting over the failure to get into the Locomotor Program. I can still get into it if the legs start working a little better and I think the left leg is getting stronger. As I can now stand on my right leg and lift the left foot off the floor. Can’t stand on the left as it needs a lot more strengthening. Thinking about joining a gym but I’d need to check it out to see if I can get onto the machines. The bike trainer here is good but I need more.

Oh yes, on Saturday the 27^th I had my first panic/anxiety attack since the crash.  I had just got off the bike after a fairly hard work out and my nose and sinuses were plugged up and I ate some Halloween candy…and then it started…in the past I’d get up and move around. Can’t do that now.  I got very agitated and had to get out of the house. Wheeled into the garage to get some fresh air and after a few minutes it subsided. I think it was brought on by my stuffy nose, because as soon as my nose cleared up in the garage the attack subsided very quickly. Haven’t had one since but I’ve been taking some decongestants to keep the nose clear.

The CPAP is on every night and instead of the full face mask that eats my nose. I use a small mask that fits up my nostrils. The mouth must be kept shut or it short circuits the air. If the mouth does open it makes a lot of noise that usually wakes me up. Once last week Darcy was up at 4 and my mouth was wide open with the pump going full tilt. She tried to shut my mouth but my jaw was locked open and she couldn’t budge it…hmmmm if I was a kid on a computer ‘budge it’ would  have been ‘budget’…hee,hee,hee! I am getting used to keeping my mouth shut and once the nose adjusts to having the soft plastic nozzles shoved up it. It is the little things that matter, if I can keep my tongue on the roof of my mouth no air leaks out even if my mouth is open. At first we had trouble adjusting the mask and I had to take it off several times (note: Darcy has to put it back on), Darcy was ready to put it where my suppository.

Halloween was good we had about 20 kids, all older ones and I have been eating the left over candy ever since, which is contributing to making ‘my George’ bigger.

Messing with the computer…tried to install Windows 8 but it wanted me uninstall a bunch of apps including my WiFi…which I did and it wiped out my internet. Had no internet for a day couldn’t even read my eBook.  Just thought Windows 8 would miraculously reconnect me to the internet. Called my ol’ friend Kevin who chastised me for trying to do install Windows by myself…he implied That I wasn’t smart enough to do it. Got the Intel driver back and got back online.

OT and PT

OT and PT are getting into a routine. OT works the arm and PT is trying to get me relax my upper body while working my legs. Prone lying to stretch the back out and we also do quite a bit of standing and then weigh shifting from right leg to the left leg.  They are trying to get me to extend my hip and I got a bit of a compliment as one of the physios walked by and said, ‘that’s good Glen, your hip is somewhat extended!’

On Fridays after some stretching I was able to stay in the standing table for 20 minutes.

Yonna Training:

Yonna and Grandpa worked me very hard in the pool with lots of hamstring and quad stretches and lots of standing and squats to strengthen the left leg. I was standing in the pool and falling backwards a bit. Couldn’t figure out why the balance is off. Our diagnosis was that the sensors in my feet aren’t working all that well so they don’t turn on the muscles in my legs to keep be balanced…our diagnosis only. Jack, a friend can stand and walk with canes or a walker but he can’t walk without them. He has no feeling in his feet which would explain hius lack of balance. At home when standing I seem to be able to balance so here’s hoping it is just in the pool…..

 Social Life:

Went to two Halloween parties, (Laura and Jeff’s Engagement Party, Sensei Mark and Kelly’s Party to honour the Karate Club team that went to the world championships),  the Cycling Club’s annual banquet at the Belgium Hall in Delhi. At the cycling club they asked me to give a little talk on my journey since the crash. It is cathartic to get it out there, about the same as writing the blog with the blog it’s just press send and it’s gone.

 Out for coffee with the guys several times which is always good.

Went to Karate class on Sat Nov 3^rd. It was good to see the class working out. As mentioned previously, I’d like to get back to some teaching. I can’t teach new stuff as I can’t demonstrate but I think I could sharpen up some of the basics and Katas.

On the weekends, did a lot of reading and finished ‘The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest’, what a great trilogy. Started and finished James Patterson’s ‘Cross’. 

On Tuesday Nov 6^th went to Elmhurst again to have Seniors Brunch with Jack and his wife Beanie….yikes missed swimming for a brunch…can’t be doing that very much. Jack is having nerve pain in his legs and arms and describes it as severe burning and pain pills don’t work on it. He is getting acupuncture. They put a needle in his forehead just above his nose, one in the top of his head and one at the base of his skull. They attach wires to the one in his forehead and at the base of his skull and hook it up to a battery and pulse a current through it. Fortunately I don’t have nerve pain.

My Own Training:

Found that riding the bike hurts my knee. It is very strange as it hurts right where it did before the knee replacement, but it is all metal where it hurts…go figure. Doing some more work on the knee by putting a rope around my foot and pulling to bend the knee as far as it will go. Put a garbage bag on the bed so the heel will slide easily and the pull the foot up as far as it will go. Also doing leg lifts in bed.

Mark, a patient at Parkwood was watching me stand and asked if I needed a walker. The answer was ‘yes’.  He had received it from someone and it became motivation for him to get up and use it. Perhaps it will do the same for me.  I’ll pay it forward when I am finished with it just to keep it going round. I can stand and hang onto the handles but the feet are bolted to the floor.

 How Am I Feeling

Hmmmmm….having another panic attack wasn’t nice…hopefully that was the first and last. I am not really feeling down, I just don’t have as much enthusiasm as I once did. I think it is just that everything is slowing down and the gains are very small now, but still happening. It is good that we are into a routine but it has become a little boring.

Guess the real reason I’m down a bit is because it’s been a year and 3 months since the crash and I was told that the muscle spasms in my stomach and back will probably stay that way. There is a slight possibility that they may taper off….grrrrrr. My back feels like a block of wood and there is a tight band around my stomach….guess it’s time to get used to it.

Thanks for listening….