Braces Update

Sorry I have been such a slacker at updating this blog. Since I use a voice program to update it I preferred to do it when no one is in the house, except when I don't have my headset I'm pretty much stuck with not doing it at all. So here's what's going on, and what has happened last couple months.

On May 11, I got my full leg braces. The first time I tried them on, and stood, was in the orthopedics office. My dad, my physical therapist, and the orthopedist all helped me stand.  While it definitely was not easy, it went better than I had expected. I had nightmares for days before we went to get my braces that as soon as I stood upright, I passed out, then fell flat to the ground. Luckily, that was not the case. I did get dizzy, but if I leaned back against the table and laid my head on my dad's shoulder it was enough for me to recover before I could stand again. Everything went well at the orthopedics office, so we took the braces and went home and started therapy that very week. The first few times I stood, I stood in front of the kitchen sink. My hip flexor muscles are so tight that I had to stand with my back arched in order to stay up, or I was thrown forward.  Every time though, I was able to stand up straighter and straighter.  Standing in front of the sink even got a little too easy, so we now stand in front of my bed, and I use my dad to help balance me. Since my hands don't work, I'm unable to use a walker for balance. I'm hoping this week to get a platform walker, that will allow me to balance myself with my arms bent and resting on a platform, and my shoulders will able to do more of the work. We have also upped my sessions from twice a week to three times a week.  The biggest thing, is that I have actually taken a few steps. While I don't downplay my accomplishment, I don't consider them real steps, since it took me and my physical therapist and my dad to stay upright while I did them.  I do take credit for kicking my legs forward. It's definitely happen a lot quicker than I ever thought it would since getting my braces.

I also am looking into possibly going to Boise, to The Elks. It's the largest rehab facility in Idaho, and they have inpatient rehab for all kinds of people. They train spinal cord injuries how to be more independent. Although I don't have a spinal cord injury, my recovery is lightly based off the same rehab. Where I have progressed quicker than I imagined with my leg braces, I have discussed options with my therapist to thinks that might be a good idea.  If I get approved I will go to Boise for a few weeks to do more extensive therapy. I would be required to do a minimum of three hours, five days a week, and with that much therapy I hope that my progress would be much quicker. Hopefully I will know soon if I am approved, and when I can go to Boise.

Leg Braces

Yesterday I went to Idaho Falls and was measured for leg braces.  It was quite the experience!  After being stripped to my unders, they cast both my legs from hip to toes.  Then they cut the cast off and will use those to build my braces.  Now, I wait.  Approximately two weeks.  Then when I got to try them on, I will get to stand.  It will be my first complete upright position in 16 months!  It will be between parallel bars and help, but it will be a milestone.  

My  braces will look similar to this but will be dark gray.

KAFO's

I go to the doctor again in a couple of weeks for a checkup. I'm so excited to go because I feel like I have made some good progress. Also, when I go, I will get new orders written to help my progress ... I hope. My PT and I have been talking, and we think it's time to look into full leg braces. This will help me with standing and eventually walking. Since it's something I will need for a long time more than likely, we decided to just go for the braces and see what we can accomplish. I know they're still a little ways off since I will have to be fitted for them and they will have to be made, but my heart seriously flutters every time I think that I may be standing on my own again. Not only do I feel excitement, but I feel at peace that this is the right step to be taking. I know it will not be easy, and I know it doesn't mean I will be walking shortly, but it's something new and I feel like it's finally a good step in the right direction.

Crawling ... or dragging!

I have been a little more tired than usual the last couple weeks, I'm hoping it's a healing spurt.  I remember when I was in the women's center, shortly before Talon was born, there were days for a couple of weeks I could not get enough sleep to save my life. If I take a nap during the day, that I'm up at night, if I don't, I'm exhausted all day but I sleep at night. It's a vicious cycle.

Yesterday after taking a nap, I was laying on my stomach. I decided to see if I was able to army crawl. I knew my legs were going to cooperate, but I wondered if I could shimmy and scoot forward any distance at all.  I totally did it! I went about 3 to 4 feet, and it took me about 10 to 15 minutes, but I did it. I probably could have scooted better and further but my body is such dead weight that my shirt kept pulling me tighter and tighter. Then I had to try to rock side to side to loosen my shirt up. And oh boy, do I have the rug burns to prove it. I think I would like to find something sticky for my arms, like a jar opening pad, and see if I'm able to scoot better on a slick surface like the kitchen floor. I think I'll let my elbows heal up before I try it again though. It was definitely exciting to feel that I moved any distance on my own. I will definitely keep working on that.  Who knows, maybe this will be the beginning of some more movement on my part. I guess only time will tell.

I know I have been a slacker and blogging. I just feel like I'm blogging about these things that are so tiny, and although their exciting I just wish there was bigger things to report.  Like it's really so cool that I can straighten my leg a half of an inch.  We're doing so much in physical therapy right now. It's fun to see the things I can do now that I couldn't even do a month ago. I can tall kneel in front of a rolled up egg crate, I can scoot backwards while sitting, although it's very hard and I make very little distance.  My physical therapist suggested, if it's possible, that once I start working on standing and other things closer to walking, that I may want to look into going to a rehab facility again. It is still a ways away, but it's something to look forward to.  I feel she wouldn't even suggest that if it wasn't something she knew was going to come eventually.

Left Legs Turn

I am glad that my left leg finally jumped on the bandwagon. While doing therapy yesterday, my left leg was slightly bent, and I was able to kick it up. It was great to feel my whole leg contract to do the motion. It's also a good accomplishment because the movement is not only hard, but I have to fight gravity to do it. I feel strength in my legs more and more every day. I can't wait until I can do more and more things on my own.

Popping and Shopping

I feel like things are still progressing at a steady rate. I have had more good signs that things are continually progressing. My lower abs around my pelvic region have been contracting, which hopefully will help me get some more strength in my core.  I have also had a few more popping noises going on throughout therapy. My left hip has made a couple large popping noises, which leaves it incredibly uncomfortable. Luckily, we have found some stretches that help put my hip back into place. Also popping quite regularly are my shoulders and  wrists. My therapist say this is pretty normal since I don't have strong enough muscle to hold my joints into place correctly.

I have also enjoyed shopping and browsing online for OT supplies. There are so many crazy contraptions out there. I never thought that I could spend 2 to 3 hours just browsing around looking for things to help me. I was checking out hand controls recently. If my hands get working, temporarily I can use hand controls drive a vehicle. Now don't get nervous that I'll be on the road anytime soon, this is still a long ways away. It's nice to know though that there are still options out there.

I also have been looking into going back to school. I would love to take some online classes, and work closer towards getting a degree, the biggest hassle now is deciding what to go into. How much I recover will definitely play in the deciding factor, and since that is unknown it makes it even tougher. I have a couple years under my belt so I don't have a lot of free classes I can take before I will have to decide on a degree. It's something I'm still working on.

2011

Things are still moving fairly slowly. I do still have that little bit of movement in my left leg. While lying on my back if someone stabilizes my eight goals and my knees are bent, I can also hold my legs up in the air. Of course the muscles get tired and eventually they fall but it's a start.

The spasms are getting stronger every day. When my abs spasm I almost can't catch my breath sometimes. I also think that the new pressure in my stomach as causing to have some appetite issues. My legs can spasm so hard they stick straight out and actually lift off the ground. There also contracting and bending. It's almost as if they are learning when to bend and went to straighten, sometimes. The good thing about them bending and straightening is that means that both the front and the back muscles are working.my tricep in my right arm is finally starting to trigger to. Once I build up some strength this will be enormously beneficial. It will allow me to slide or transfer on my own.

I have a new brace that I was supposed to wear on my left arm. The joint between my wrist and my first thumb knuckle is awfully tender when bumped wrong.  They call it a De Quervains. They aren't 100% sure what causes it, but they believe it's an overuse of my thumb. This is pretty likely since my son was the first finger I can use to push. I use it every day on the computer, I use it to control my bed, so it's definitely being worked more than my other fingers are.

The pain in my right hip has come back. I really cannot figure out any rhyme or reason to why it comes and goes. It's not unbearable, but it's definitely not comfortable. Things are definitely coming along. With the new year it's deftly made me make some resolutions I hope to be able to accomplish by the end of the year.

1. To transfer on my own.

2.  To be able to roll over from my back to my stomach.

3. To be able to crawl.

4. To be independent in my wheelchair.

5. To walk.

Although most of these goals depend on how quickly my body continues to heal, my resolution is really more to do everything in my power to make sure that they are accomplished. It is up to me to work hard, keep trying new things, and to not give up. 2011 has my name written all over it!