MAKING PROGRESS
It's amazing how every day I see some physical improvement, I saw that, especially while I was in rehab. There were days when I could not move my left leg. I would look at it and will it to move but it was like a 100 pound bag of cement. The next day it was more like a 50 pound bag of cement and as the days went by I was able to move it easily.

And that's the way it was with my walking. At first it was an effort to walk using the walker (with an aide by my side.) As the days pasted I was walking in a normal relaxed manner, still with the aide by my side. At one point she said - "slow down, you are walking to fast)

At that point in time, whenever I had to get out of bed for whatever reason and whatever hour I had to call an aide and use the walker. ( I got up a lot during the night.) I keep those aides very busy!!

Eventually I got promoted - I could take a stroll with the walker without the aide accompanying me!!! That was a big deal!!

When I first came home I was using the walker and gradually I found myself "just walking around without it." When I leave my apartment and have to take the elevator to get my mail in the lobby, I do use the walker.

One day when my physical therapist came she observed that my balance was good and suggested we go for a walk without the walker. Well, I was OK with that but was disappointed that I tired easily and didn't go as far as I would have liked, so I realize I'm not quit ready to participate in a marathon.

A few weeks ago when I went for a check-up with the surgeon I asked the question, "when will I able to drive?" His answer to me was, "when you feel ready." A' ha - well, I'm thinking I'm getting ready but my next thought is, "when I get where I'm going, what will I be able to do?" Maybe I'll do one errand at the bank or just do "a little shopping at the market." I don't want to rush things, just thinking - "won't it be great to go to a store, browse around and feel no pain." Sooner than latter!



While at the rehab I had a few opportunities to take a shower using a shower chair and a hand held shower - it's not like a regular shower but a shower is a shower. I purchased that equipment and was instructed how to use the items at home - well, I was not happy taking a sit down shower, felt I was strong enough and since my stall shower has bars I now take a regular shower!!

Now, that's progress!!

posted by millie garfield @ 10:58 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >>