Mon Aug 27th: PT in the morning and Laura was back
from holidays. Did some sitting, keeping my posture and then sit to stand
several times. If I remember to put my nose over my toes, and that is way over
the toes with head up it is relatively easy to stand.Yah I know with my nose I
don’t have to move too far…yuk…yuk! Hard to think about keeping the bum tight
and my trunk relaxed. Did some prone…on my tummy…lying and Laura mentioned that
I need to do it at home.I have the face toilet so I’ll get Yonna to flip me
over.
Saw the chiropractor, in Simcoe to see if he could loosen up
my back. I have been seeing him since my Rugby days in the late 70’s. I was
able to get from my chair to the table and sit on the table. He hooked me up to
the Interferential Machine by attaching 8 suction cups to my back and turned up
the juice and left me there for 20 minutes. If you want to find out more about
interferentialtherapy, see WikipediaInterferential Therapy for an explanation.
Click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interferential_Therapy
I was hoping I might be able to get on my tummy and he could
crack, oops manipulate my back, but couldn’t get there. Have another visit on
Thursday. We’ll see what I am like tomorrow. Upper back between the shoulder
blades feels a little more relaxed, but the lower back is still tight, well…very
tight in fact and feels like a block of wood. He mentioned that it would take a
couple of days to work.
Tues Aug 28th: The
back was very sore when I woke up this morning, tight all over and painful
lower back. Usually I need help sitting up to get in the commode to go for a
shower, oh yes the commode has dual purposes. The PSW has to help me into a
sitting and I skouch to get into the chair. Usually by the time I get up after
the shower and dressed I can sit up by myself. This morning I couldn’t.
Yonna came over at 9:00 and I mentioned to her that Laura
wanted me on my tummy which is good for my hips, tummy and back. The bed is
very narrow and I had to get over on the left side, lying on my right side. To
get me over Yonna picked me up and moved me over as I had trouble skouching
over, I told you she is strong. Once on my side it was time get on my tummy.
Darcy put the face toilet down and in I went, but it wasn’t quite positioned
properly and I was resting on my throat, finally after a couple of repositionings,
I was able to stay prone for about 20 minutes. It felt good but the back still
hurts, guess its back on the pain pills.
Spent the afternoon writing the blog, yes my typing is that
slow.
Wed Aug 29th:
Is the day the stars were aligned, perhaps the planets as well. We leave
for London at about 9:45 and I was sitting at the computerand the dog went nuts
as usual when the mail is delivered. Darcy gave me a letter from an old friend
about a donation from someone I have never met. In the letter was a sizable
donation, I just about fell off the chair when I saw the check, it was
that’sizable’. Left for Parkwood all smiles and ‘visions of sugar-plums’ danced
in my head. We were thinking that we could now get the patio door installed and
a deck so I could get out the back door and into the back yard.
The physio had told me that I’d be going on the treadmill
but first on my tummy for about ½ hourto loosen me up. They put me in a sling
and took me to the treadmill. There are some pictures of me in the sling in previous
blogs. I did some standing with full weight on my legs asthey can lower me onto
the treadmill with 0 to 100% of my body weight. They asked if I wanted the
treadmill turned on...well of course I did. It takes 4physios to get my legs
moving, oneon each leg as they move my legs through the walking motion, one in
front running the controls and one behind keeping me steady.All I had to do was
think about keeping my arms loose. I walked for 3 minutes. After the session
Janelle mentioned the Locomotor Training Program, which is 4x90 minute sessions
per week for 11 weeks and includes 1 hour on the treadmill every session. Even
though I won’t be moving my legs the brain will create the pathways from my
brain to my legs which will assist in walking.Click here to see how locomotor
training works: http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJFKRNoFiG/b.5399935/k.E273/How_Locomotor_Training_works.htm
I am so excited I can’t sit still!
The kicker is that the program is a fee for service program.
As mentioned it takes 4 people to have one person on the treadmill, the
participant has to pay for the physios and the use of the equipment. The
sizable donation will go a long way in covering the fee.
Darcy had purchased a new mattress with a ½ box spring with
the hope I would be able to get into the bed. We tried it. The bed is a poster
bed and I used the post to help me stand. The bed is about 6 inches higher than
my chair and I stood up pivoted and sat on the bed, slide to the middle and
pulled my legs in. Now to get off, sat up skouched to the post and Darcy moved
the chair into place or at least I thought it was in place and jumped on the
chair…remember I am still pumped from the morning events. Well Darcy didn’t
have the chair quite in position and I landed with my left leg a little on the
chair and my right butt on the box spring and I couldn’t get up even with Darcy
helping. The saving grace was, a posture board under the mattress that allowed
the mattress to slide so I could land on the box spring. I was relatively
comfortable otherwise I would have been on the floor. Darcy called Yonna, she
wasn’t home. She called the Sarge and he said he’d be right over. He got me up
easily and we had a good laugh.
At bedtime, we remembered it was our 39thanniversary…hmmm...even
she forgot. We had a laugh about that too.
Thur Aug 30th:Yonna
got me face down on the new mattress in the bedroom but it didn’t work all that
well. I could only stay prone for a few minutes. Rolled over and got some good
stretches on my hamstrings.
Saw the chiropractor
again and he put the pads on my back and thighs and calf. He asked how I hurt
myself and who did my surgery? I ‘splained’ the whole thing. He belongs to a
group that includes Dr Fehlings, my surgeon and about 100 neurosurgeons some
physios and one chiropractor…small world. He says the interferential therapy he
is giving me, will assist with the locomotortraining in creating pathways to my
legs.
Dave Young, Director Environmental Health for the Waterloo
Region, came for a visit.I told him about the donation which was a Segway for
him to give me 2 cheques, one from the Association of Supervisors of Public
Health Inspectors of Ontario and one from the Managers across the province. I
would like to thank the ASPHIO for their generous donation and the supervisors
for theirs. The money came at the right time to help defer some costs of the
locomotor program
Fri Aug 31st: PT again with Emily and stood at the
standing table for ½ hour and did some quad and hamstring stretches. I was
standing across from my former roommate. The difference now is, he walks to his
next station and I go in my chair…that will change!Still excited about
Wednesdayand Thursday.Spoke to the anonymous donor, and thanked him for his
generosity and he said that I am an inspiration to others which is a little
scary. I’ll talk about that in ‘How I am Feeling.’ Got a note from Tour de
Norfolk that they had a donation as well. They donated the entry fee from all
the Silver Spokes Cycling Club members who participated and then added
some.
Had coffee this afternoon with the gang at The Ambrosia
House. They stayed open for us as they were going to close early for the long
weekend. They let us stay while they cleaned up so if you are looking for a
good deli, check out Ambrosia House.
Sat Sept 1st:
A rest day for the most part. Did some standing before bed and did knee
bends which felt good.
Sun Sept 2nd:Went
to Ancaster to meet with some of the cyclist doing a 4 hour ride in the hills
around Ancaster. One of the riders had a little problem, i.e. too many
hills.They had planned to be back at 2 but didn’t arrive ‘til 3:30. Congrats to
Logan a 14 year old who completed the ride which was up and down the escarpment
a few times with at least 1000 meters of climbing.
Mon Sept 3rd: No therapy today….grrrr. Did manage to do
some squats, 5 sets of 10 and then after supper some more sets and just stood
in front of my chairfor a few minutes. Must get the quads built up. I still
pull myself up which is not a good thing but I figure if I get the quads
stronger I won’t need to pull…it’s a catch 22.Did some morebefore bed, another
3 sets of 10 and some stands, bum tucked, chin in, shoulders back head up,
belly button to backbone.
Tues Sept 4th:Yonna
and Grandpa Bob took me to the indoor pool as the lift was repaired. The water
was about 85 degrees and felt good. Floated around for ½ hour which helps relax
my back and arms with constant reminders to relax my neck and traps.Yonna
stretched the hip flexors and hamstrings and Grandpa working on my left arm.
Then it was time for standing. Took the float belt off and put my feet on the
bottom. Since I have been standing at home I found it more difficult to stand
in the pool as the buoyancy prevented me from shifting my weight from left to
right foot. Also when I tucked my butt in I’d start to fall backwards and since
my left side is weaker it starts to cave in. We tried some walking but I wasn’t
able to do it properly and we switched to squats. We took into consideration
that…’practice makes perfect, so be careful what you practice!’ Squats worked
well as I was able to do several sets of 10 on the left leg and more on the
right that’s where the buoyancy helps.
Wed Sept 5th:
PT with Laura and did the usual stuff, posture, standing and sitting and
getting my legs into bed. Darcy spoke to Shannon, who is the coordinator of the
LocomotorTraining and it seems it will take me a while to get in and may not
happen until late October…be patient Glen. Laura’s plan for Monday is to get me
on the treadmill again, looking forward to that.
Another great massage from Jeanie. Had to apologize as I
missed an appointment with her last Friday.
Thur Sept 6:Yonna
took me to the pool today. Neither Grandpa nor the Sargewere available. We did
quite well actually. While I was floating on my back and hanging on to the side
of the pool, Yonna was stretching my legs. Found out something interesting
while floating on my back, Yonna told me to get my hips up and my belly (I call
it my George) came out of the water and my insy belly button actually holds
water which it has never done before.
I stood with me back against the wall and tried to put my
arms on the pool edge, I couldn’t get the left arm up and with only my right
arm up I rotated too much. Did some standing on each leg but the left side is
weak and it collapses, and Yonna scared me. I am standing in water up to my
chest with no flotation device on and she backed away and left me standing
alone…yikes! She was close enough that had I fallen she would have been
there….but it sure makes you stand up.
The next trick was moving along the side of the pool side
stepping to deeper water as we wanted to see if I could float vertical with a
float on…I can. I started kicking but the left leg wasn’t working all that well
as I can’t lift my knee up very high. Yonna picked up my leg just about to my
chin. After she did it a couple of times I was then able to lift my knee higher
and even get my foot up.
Fri Sept 7th: Had PT with Laura and they had me prone
lying and then sit to stand. My trunk and back were all acting as one big lump.
They spent some time trying to loosen it up. The practice standing that we’ve
been doing seems to be paying off as they were quite pleased with the way I got
up and was able to balance.
Sat Sept 9: No therapy Saturday. Was going to go to
Karate class but I can’t go out in the rain with the electric chair. My back is
very tight. A lazy day watching the US
Open Tennis Tournament and some NCAA football. Did some standing and squats
before bed.
How am I Feeling?
One word….GREAT…no…grateful or that should be very grateful,
thankful and very humbled by the support! On Wednesday, as mentioned in a
matter of 2.5 hours I received a sizable donation from an anonymous donor that
would help pay for the Locomotor Program. On Thursday, received donations from
ASPHIO andPublic Health Managers, on Friday a donation from the Tour de Norfolk
to go with donations from Martial Arts Canada Karate Club and from the
Harlequins Rugby Club it pretty much covers the cost of the program….thankful,
grateful,humbled!
Several people have said,I aman inspiration, just hope I am
able to inspire someonewith an SCI or a stroke patientto get off their butts or
get someone to stop smoking, eh Jimmy?Or get someone suffering from anxiety or
panic attacks or other mental illness to get some help. Then I got this fortune
that said, ‘Your influence has a profound impact on others.’ So it must be
true…LOL.Just can’t wait to get into the Locomotor Training Program but it won’t
happen until late October as there is a lot of paper work etc. to set it up,
but at least it is in the works.
My legs are getting stronger and now the hope is that all
the wiring is there to get them working once the brain figures out which wires
go where.Doing standing at Parkwood and at home most nights helps a lot. Not
riding the bike as much because it really tightens up my trunk and arms.
Perhaps locomotor training will resolve that. Still need to get the heart rate
up and the bike does that.
Oh yes I weighed myself on Labour Day as I can now stand on
the scales. I weighed 189….yikes… that’s 30 pounds more than I weighed when I
left Toronto. Must be Darcy’s cooking. They say heavier people in my condition
have better outcomes…here’s hopin’! Guess there will be no more Cozy Shack
Tapioca Pudding for desert and no more ice cream in bed. Good thing I will be
starting the treadmill program, which should wear some pounds off. A good
weight is 170 to 175 as that was what they wanted me to weigh when I was in
Parkwood or 180 max.
Thanks for listening….
No comments:
Post a Comment