Just as things get going, situations occur that set you back a bit from your immediate goals. I was getting all set to go to Parkwood, probably would have been there by now. An ultra sound on Tuesday showed that I have a blood clot in my left leg, which can be a problem. On review of the ultra sound my doctor would not sign my release to go to Parkwood, as he wants to make sure the blood clot issue is cleared up before I leave. I am now on additional blood thinners, including worfrin, cumadine and a heprin drip intervenes. So I guess it’s just a matter of time to see how it all works out. For the time being, Parkwood is off and this will continue to be my home address.
On the other side I had physio today, in the torturer room, that they call a gym here. I was taken out of my chair and then they laid me on a flat table and then they tried to make me roll over by myself. Perhaps, I better define the movements. They put funny (really funny) neoprene booties so my feet don’t slip on the vinyl table top. Then they ask me to bring my feet up so that my knees are bent and my feet are flat on the table, remember I am lying flat on my back. So, I can slowly slide my right leg up and get it into position but my left leg doesn’t want to move very well, so with some assistance I eventually get my left leg into position. It seems that my right side is stronger than my left, and it should supposedly be easier for me to roll left then right, the process is once my knees are up I must lift a hip off of the ground and then through my arm and shoulder in the direction I want to roll. With some assistance I was able to roll onto both sides, it seems I can get onto my right side better than my left and I was able to get on my side without assistance once. Note: I would rather do a thousand kicks on a heavy bag. My next task was to sit up on the edge of the table I am on. This is a little difficult to describe, but I’ll try: visualize laying on the edge of a table on your right side, with your knees bent and then slide your feet off the table, and as your feet slide off the table try and push yourself upright using your right arm. Problem is I don’t have full control of my right arm and there is not really enough strength in my arm to lift my body up. With a little assistance from my friendly physio’s I manage to get into a sitting position with my legs dangling over the table. Then we started a few leg exercises and I do some leg extensions. Right leg is actually pretty good and I can extend it out and even hold my right leg straight the left leg is another problem due to the condition of my knee. It is hard to do a leg extension but I can move my leg forward, I can’t really hold it up very high. I think that is mostly due to the condition of my knee. Oh yes I forgot to mention that most of the time when they try to move me or my left leg it goes into spasm and cramps up.
Sitting, once they get me up into sitting position I put my right hand on the table and try to lock my elbow with my bicep and triceps. Since I don’t have a lot of control over my left arm the physio puts it on the table in the correct position and I try to hold it there with a little bit of bicep strength that I have. Here is the picture: I am sitting at the edge of the table, with my hands on the table, with physio sitting on a chair in front of me holding my hands in place. The second physio is on the table behind me holding me in an up right position. Now the task is, for me to contract the biceps in both my arms to try and stabilize my body, and then physio at my back slowly lets go and the one holding my hands slowly lets go, I have to tighten my stomach muscles as tight as I can to maintain an up right position, it is a very weird sensation, the closest thing I can compare it to is trying to maintain your balance while standing on one foot with your eyes shut. If you don’t believe me try it.
Setback: blood clot, gains: rolled over on my side by my self, and was able to remain in a sitting position for about 60 sec. yeehaw.
~glen
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