So this will cover my physio blitz + the time I spent in hospital. I'll kick off with the wind up to leaving the place. The night before I felt a little fear about going home, I'd grown accustomed to my surroundings. At least that's what I initially thought. But then the day rolls round and I pack up all my stuff, a depressing chore at the best of times!
I slowly realise that as accustomed to the routine as I've become that's not why I'm so down. It's the people! It's always the people I fall for and will miss. A lovely lot who intuitively know just how to play your situation. If you're being whiny, upbeat, silent, shuffling etc. they deal with you in a manner I can only describe as unflappable. That's right boys and girls they can not be flapped! Now this is a reference to my all time favourite comedy sitcom...anyone hazard a guess as to what it is? If you can get the sitcom and who I was paraphrasing the flapping thing from I'll pop the question on the spot.
So that's my weekly threat of marriage out the way onwards! I get full range of motion back in my right foot! But lefty is now lagging. For those of you who read parts 1, 2 and 3 you'll know that righty was the lagger and lefty took the lead. Seems things have switched around. Dawn shows me a little trick to try and get my muscles firing. Basically tapping/squeezing the muscle in time with the contraction to try and get a bit more juice out of it. I'm also given one of these:
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| wobble/balance cushion |
So progress I ask Sam, one of the physios, if I can get the wheels off my zimmer and switch them for feet. He gives a bit of a quizzical look and asks why? I thought having feet instead of wheels meant progress. It is infact the other way round. If you think about it we've got feet, if we were to evolve wheels then it'd be a "step" in the right direction. Anyway he says fine and attaches the feet, takes some getting use to. What I notice is that because this frame doesn't just roll along I have to think about each step. Sounds rather simple right but by forcibly slowing myself down gives me a chance to look at each step instead of just rolling from A to B.
One other thing to add about physios they can find your weakness and give you an exercise that they know you just can't do! Man if only I had that understanding of the mechanics of movements...I'd likely bastardised it serve my dark purpose, WORLD DOMINATION!!!
So as the days progress I more or less get into a routine. Its a bit like I've resigned my self to the fact that I'll be here for the long haul.So I'm a little surprised when I'm told that my surgeon thinks I should think about heading home. Not shocked but a little confused, probs because there was no indication. I'm now not so sure about going home...fear? I don't know tbh it all feels a little fast, change eh? I know this is a muddle but that's pretty much how I felt, confused. I wanted to be back to "normal" asap but then again I didn't want to have expectations. When they aren't realised you get the whole disappointment blah blah but on the other hand I don't work well without deadlines! It's a bunch of contradictions that appear to add up to me making this face
So I sit around and inform my gene donors of the situations. The paternal one is surprised but maternal is...maternal. And that pretty much sums up their reactions. Mum's happy dad is dad. Not the most refreshing of ideas that my parents reacted in a way that I was totally expecting.
Onwards! The physios get my on crutches, I don't like them. They are no where near as easy as the frame, turns out I am a bit of a lazy tosser :-P. They also give me to have a go on their training stairs! Three stairs to get the technique of how to go up and down stairs whilst holding both crutches in one hand!!! Yep it sounds dangerous but it's both measured and completely logical. Admittedly the reason for the tech was not imparted to me but upon some reflection, yep my favourite pastime, I realise it's about centre of gravity. Weight transfer my old friend that'll allow even the tiniest of you to pack a KO punch is the reason behind the routine for stairs. Google it there are loads of useless youtube vids :D
I say they're useless because all of them go over how to ascend and descend stairs if you have a non weight bearing injury. I have a nervous system issue that means I have left side weakness. So I can use me left leg but not as well as the right, for the time being. My uber memory comes in handy as I'd read a leaflet on the matter.
Progress was slow and I got used to walking with crutches and started attending the local physio clinic, Laundon house. They are all kinds of awesome! Really patient and they even did some acupuncture. They also discovered the knots of muscle in my back that resemble walnut sized rocks. Then I got behind the wheel! Not as exciting you think I reversed the car in the drive, left foot is strong enough to operate pedals.
I go on to walk with one crutch and then I'm given a stick. Eventually I don't need any assistance and I am able to run again. Something I discovered whilst rushing to answer the phone. I have become way more aware of my pelvis, yep you did just read that. The angle etc. Since making reasonable recovery I've lapsed on physio several times only to be reminded why I was prescribed the exercises. My core gets all unstable an things start aching. I can do pushups again! My left leg still has numbness below the knee. Something I'll likely have to live with for the rest of my life, but I've got full sensation so no need to fret.
And that's pretty much where I am. Oh you'd think that being paralysed from the waist down for a while would change you profoundly. Perhaps it has and I haven't noticed it yet, not always the fastest on the uptake.
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| My signature knee callus |
