Mobility Post ICU

[Delanio]

Hi all,

I’m a 37 year old who is one week home from hospital and two weeks post ICU discharge. I was on ITU for roughly 10 days - 6 of those in a coma on the ventilator for respiratory failure.

My main concern post discharge are my mobility issues. I can walk, best with a crutch - but only for small distances. My exercise tolerance is super low. As is my concentration. My question is, did other people experience this? And did your mobility go back to normal with exercise (I’m trying to do something, a walk say to the end of the drive at least each day). I’ve also booked in with a private physio.

I’m just terrified that at 37 I’m facing a life of reduced mobility. I’m praying with time my mobility will improve.

[Lux95]

Hello - yes, that is all common. During the month I was in the ICU, I lost 40 lbs (mostly muscle) and couldn't even pick up a spoon, much less stand or walk. It took a couple of weeks before I could stand without feeling like I would be gasping for breath and pass out due to reduced lung capacity. I spent 2 months rebuilding enough strength to walk more than a few feet and care for myself. Exercise is not only helpful, but absolutely necessary to rebuild lost muscle strength and lung capacity. Physical therapy helped tremendously.

With daily, disciplined exercise, and time, you may return to normal. As you are already walking to the end of the driveway, you are way ahead of where I was at the same point post-ICU! Don't worry, and give yourself time to heal. It does take time, but life does improve. the ICU is very traumatic and it take more time to heal than you might have expected. You may also need time to heal emotionally and psychologically - that varies greatly from person to person and may or may not be an issue for you.

[Sepsur]

Don’t worry for most of us - what you are describing is temporary - how short lived is down to each person and how active they were before ICU. We lose a colossal amount of muscle in the first 10 days.

Have a look at our website - for more info and some sessions you might find helpful

cc-sn.org

[Raven21]

I was under 44 days and have been in and out of hospital since my first discharge in June last year. I use a wheelchair outside of the house due to tireness, weakness and muscle wastage. I lost 3.5 stone under and anotjer stone in ICU/recovery ward since beingvawake - with other complications I'm now over 9 stone down. But I only use a crutch now when going upstairs or if I need to walk to my Doctors from the car park (short distance). I make sure I move as much as I can, and although it's 10 months on, I can now stand to cook a meal and shower which is freedom itself for me. You'll get there, just be kind to yourself.

[Hidden]

Hi. I was in ICU for a total of 14 weeks, initially with Sepsis and then with Covid. I could barely move, the physios tried to get me out of bed when still in ICU using various equipment, but I was very week. I was transfered to a community hospital and gradually over a four week period the two physios managed help me stand and slowly walk with a frame, and eventually I could get out of bed unaided and go to the wash room on my own. I practiced walking up makeshift stairs, and walking short distances with walking sticks. The two physios were brilliant. I was then transfered to care home for another 4 weeks for further physio, and then home. At first I used a frame around the home and a trolley walker outside for a period of time . Slowly I only needed one walking stick, I went to a personal trainer and they put together an exercise routine that improved my balance and mobility. It has been a long process of recovery and after 2 years I still am not 100% in terms of mobility. I walk every day, sometimes unaided outside, but generally unaided within the home. Be patient, it will comeback, but you have to work at it. When in ICU I was so tired from being ill, it was difficult to cooperate with the physios, that seemed not to understand all I wanted to do was sleep. They'd get me out of the bed into the chair, and it was the last thing I wanted to do. On one occassion they dropped me (accidently) on the floor, and I had to be lifted by hoist back onto the bed.

We nicknamed the physios in ICU physioterrorists.......I have spoken to a couple since and read the care they gave me when I was on a ventilator and sedated, so bless them.

[little_sister]

it’s great to hear that you’re out of icu. From what I know, the more you exercise the more your mobility will improve. My brother was in a coma for 3+ weeks, septic shock. When he woke up the only thing he could move was his eyes. Now after 2 years he is walking, driving, going up and down the stairs etc. keep doing the physio, keep walking, small steps will go a long way , just keep exercising as much as you can, you need to rebuild your muscles. Wishing you all the best!

[bledi]

hi Delanio I been there exactly like you and trust me you do not need physio just keep walking slowly slowly more every day and try to be around 🌲 forest you can get there all the oxygen you need will come slowly but I will take time

[Tedsdad]

Inhad this sort of thing after a similar time out of it. I am a lot older than you. But after two years I really don’t have much problem now. I was warned it would take that long and it did. Just don’t think about how far you have to go and concentrate on how far you have come . What can you do today that you couldn’t a week or a month ago.