Excerise/gym recommendations greater Manchester area??

[Jjones210519]

Hi, as some of you may know (if you have followed any of my posts) I was in ITU for intentional overdose ( medication/suicide attempt) I was in a coma for 8 weeks in which time I contracted around 13+ infections. I was very very difficult to cannulate due to my weight/deep veins. They had no choice than to put an artieral line in my femoral artery. It got infected ( cellulitis) the bacteria got into my blood stream via the line (CLABSI). it then rapidly progressed to necrotic faschitis. I had to have extreme surgical debridement. They removed skin, tissue, muscle and took out a big nerve ( snapped from my spinal cord). Unfortunately it spread too rapidly and then I got sepsis. As a result I was sedated/paralyzed from Jan 27 - march 23 ( this year), as a result I couldn't move AT ALL. It took me an extra 2 months to take my first couple of steps. I also have a brachial plexus injury ( nerves have "snapped" from my spinal cord in neck) as a result I cannot use my left hand. Very numb also. Can use my right hand but still very weak and numb/painful. My wound has just about closed up. I have severe muscle wastage and weakness in affected leg. I had my CC outpatient appointment and the physio is not keen to work with me yet until I have my nerve conduction studies/ see a neurologist/surgeon. I have to go to a brachial plexus injury specialist in Manchester royal. ( I was there for a brief while so they could cannulate a tesio line as I had end stage renal failure. When I was stable was transferred back to Tameside. I can't live like this anymore. I need to strengthen my leg and hands. I am still not back to baseline and would like to know if anyone knows how I can start exercising again. Or it would be great if anyone could recommend a PT that would possibly be able to help. (Able to drive around GM area)

[Rhyl1 Partner Moderator ICUsteps]

You’ve had a really tough time, be kind to yourself. To recover from a critical illness takes time and a lot of hard work. There is an information booklet available as a pdf on icusteps.org/assets/files/t.... You need a physiotherapist who understands recovery from such a complicated illness and will pace exercise appropriately. Very few physiotherapists work in critical care rehabilitation so be guided by the physiotherapist who have already seen. They want to know the safe level for you to exercise at which the neurology assessment would clarify. Have a think about joining a support group so you can talk about your experience and get support from other ICU patients. There’s one on zoom support group run by Critical Care Support Network every Thursday evening at 7:30 pm, information at cc-sn.org/drop-in-meetings.

[Sepsur]

cc-sn.org does numerous exercise session a week too