Several folks have been asking what's new with my therapy other than the pool update. Also that I upload a video after saying I could walk in the pool. So that's in here, as well.
In short, I would say that the majority of my therapy is practiced by living life every day. I try and add little things here and there, so that when you put it all together, it is enough to have me tired at the end of the day. If I find myself not doing enough, I do more straightforward workouts like squats and lunges, or just walking outside for a ways. I will give the last few days as an example.
Friday when we joined some friends for dinner out, I walked using my AFO (ankle and foot) braces and my crutches. It is definitely more of a workout than the wheelchair but also way more practical. Everywhere we go here has stairs at the entrance, stairs going up or down into bathrooms, streets on hills, etc. Example - At the nearby coffee shop, Bootlegger's, I can't go to the bathroom using the wheelchair. It makes it hard to take advantage of their awesome happy hour, since I have the bladder of a 3-year-old. Motivation to walk more.
I've mentioned the pool therapy, however I doubt that will continue since the water is getting too chilly. Cold water is annoying, sure, but it also causes my legs to spasm and for my tone (stiffness) to increase. On Sunday, for instance, Louie especially had a hard time getting in the water. As soon as the toes touched the cold water, the whole leg snapped back as if I had held a match to it. Thankfully I have figured out a way to mimic the pool therapy at home, using crutches. I crouch in the same position (you will see in the video) and use my crutches as absolutely as little as possible. I don't mean that they aren't touching the ground - just that I'm not putting much weight on them. This forces my leg and back muscles to work harder.
Lately, thanks to my goal accountability partner, Tom Trimmer, I have been doing a lot of pushups. The goal was 500 for the first week. I'm up to 80 in the morning and 80 at night and hope to continue to improve. After putting my shoes on (can't do pushups barefoot - toes smash into the ground = pain & spasms!) I use the walker to drop myself down onto my knees. I lie down on my stomach, wait until my leg muscles chill out, then do 40 pushups. Then rest a few minutes and do 40 more. Repeat at night. It really helps getting the blood pumping in the morning. Makes me more productive throughout the day. If you don't have a goal accountability partner, you should get one. Really cool.
My shower here is a walk-in, raised 6" off the ground (common here). Something to do with the plumbing. So each morning I step up into the shower using the hand rail the landlord installed for me. While showering, I try and stand without leaning against the wall too much to further practice balance.
In the apartment I don't use my braces and never use the walker (except for pushups). This allows me to work the finer muscles in my ankles and feet. There is also a 5" lip going out into the balcony area which I try to throw Louie up onto to get him to practice stepping. I don't say "step" because that would be inaccurate and too generous. Someday...
Each day I spend at least 10 minutes out on the balcony meditating. First, at least 3 minutes thanking God for everything for which I am grateful. The next section (3-4 minutes) is inviting the Holy Spirit in to help me with everything in life, to renew my ambition, drive, and purpose, and to align my will with God's. I finish it off with 3 things I want to accomplish that day. I got this from Tony Robbins podcast interview with Tim Ferris a few months ago (also thanks to Tom Trimmer) and it works really well and also relieves me of stress. You don't have to do it from a religious standpoint. I just made it that way. Tony says, "Trade in your expectations for gratitude and your life will drastically change." I totally agree.
Another example of finding workouts in the day-to-day - yesterday we had a lot of pots and dishes to clean thanks to our joint effort at making lasagna (and then eating it). I made it a workout by doing the dishes while standing unassisted. If I start to lose balance, I just grab the sink for a second or lean against the sink while scrubbing. Then when those are done I bend down and load the dishwasher. Sounds simple but it works my back out a lot, which is still weaker than before the accident. It also helps my balance.
I've been trying to eat right, too, since adding weight doesn't help my legs walk any better. Rebecca tends to ignore this by continuing to buy sweets and make brownies. Actually I laughed as I wrote that and she asked why I was laughing. When I told her, she reminded me of how much I like the custard pies they have here. Yes, that's true. Guilty. All the more reason to not buy them, Rebecca!!!
There are a lot of other little things - bending down to turn off the fan each morning, standing while I work on my laptop if I feel my legs getting stiff, efforts to stand faster and sit slower... just lots of little things that add up. I can always do more, though.
Okay here are a couple videos of me "walking" in the pool. If you look close you can see my legs through the water.
Here is one from mid-December. I am working towards being able to lift the wheelchair over my head. I saw a picture of a guy doing that and thought it was awesome. I can't quite do it, but this shows my improvement in balance. The wheelchair weighs about 30 something pounds.
I can also load the wheelchair in the back of a car and then walk around with my crutches now. Also I can drive an automatic car now that my right foot has regained enough fine motor control. Have I mentioned that???? That was definitely a great day! I'm not awesome at it so I drive slow like an old person. In fact, I do lots of things like an old person. Me and old folks get along great, now.
Dear Lord, thank You for the progress and the healing You have given me so far. Please let it continue. Also heal all the other disabled folks out there, along with anyone enduring suffering. Let them come closer to You in their suffering so that it is easier. Remind me (and everyone else) daily how much I have to be thankful for. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have a good week -
Chip
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