Well, forum friends, it's time for another update. My foot/ankle are still badly swollen, but the ortho boot is looser around the calf so though I can't see it, a gradual return to normal seems to be in progress. I have stuck the knee scooter in a corner because I can now stand from the wheelchair and take one or two steps holding on to a counter top or door frame. PTs arrive twice a week, so I have about two hours weekly to practice with the walker. I've had four of those sessions so far, yesterday, for the first time since September, with the confidence of having a PT behind me (but sans gait belt) I opened the back door, emerged onto the porch and clomped down the 30' ramp to the gravel drive. I went to the side of her parked car, turned around and came back inside. This is the most time I have been outside since my slip-go-down in September and it was glorious! The ability to go outside gave me confidence that I will walk again and be able to be outdoors, plant my garden, grow my veggies, and be in my element. After the ramp trial (and it is tricky going down a slope with a lightweight, brakeless device that rolls) we came back inside where I practiced sitting on/and rising from different height seats. Now that I am able to clomp and stomp, my next goal is to master rising and sitting without assistance. As a parting note, the PT told me that I can also use the walker without supervision any time I am ready. So though I am not ready to do the ramp again yet, I will move about the house and practice rising from seats. Onward!!
Clomping along: Well, forum friends, it's... - My MSAA Community
Clomping along
Wow! You're on a roll - just like Mary Tyler Moore, "Nothing's going to stop her now"!
Thatβs so exciting! Youβve had such a long trial, but I admire your fortitude.
Thank you for updating us here. I hope you can hear us cheering for you!
Hooray! Such fantastic news, and I applaud you for your progress. Remember, little steps, and you will get there ~ running with your goats, galivanting to town, dancing down that ramp. I too, have issues when I go down a ramp. I wonder if going backwards down the ramp would help, or will it add yet another obstacle in my mobility. Keep on your wonderful road to recovery, goatgal and I will continue praying for you.
Keep Smiling and Stay Strong,
Carole
Sounds like great news and hope it continues to get better ππ. Ken πΎ
carole572 Thank you! Yesterday, the PT suggested going down sideways. I didn't try that because the differing heights of shoe and boot is already challenging. I ended up by holding the rail with one hand and the walker with the other. That seemed enough to keep me from pitching forward. I do think I'll need to strategize about making the wooden surface non-slip. I fell due to a wet, algae slick step. We fixed that by fastening asphalt roofing shingles to each tread. Maybe we need to do that on the ramp as well so I'm not launched into space some wintry day.
That's great news you R coming along greatly!β€ππLove Ya Goatgal & Stay StrongππͺπππππBlessings to ya!---JazzyππΉ
Well, I am impressed. You are one strong lady, and your determination, courage and independence comes through, you are a very strong example of how I should try to be. You have come so far in a short time, with such an awful injury, please donβt rush to be outside with the chickens. Enjoy healing, then when the time is right, you and your favourite dynamic duo can enjoy being outside in your garden. Patience, something I wasnβt born with but have learnt more so since I have known about ms , blessings and hugs π€ Jimeka π¦
Good news! thanks for the update. Keep moving
Hooray for freedom!!! Youβre doing so well πππΊ
kdali Thank you. Every time I am able to do something that I was hesitant to attempt, I feel this enormous sense of openness in my chest, as if I am filled with light and air. I suspect this means that the tension I felt has been released. It's an amazing sensation and inspires my confidence. I just feel so grateful to take these clunky clonky steps!
I'm sooooo proud of you goatgal more importantly You should be proud of yourself! You are doing awesome!!! Keep up the great work! And don't knock the going down sideways, I have to! ππ€£π€π
Jπ βοΈ
jesmcd2 Apologies! I didn't mean to knock the crab sidle approach to the ramp; it's just that at present, because of the thick book sole, I would couldn't figure out whether to turn right/thick sole downramp or left/sneaker foot downramp. Next time, I may be smarter (though that's iffy) and figure it out. I've never been graced with athletic ability, and never have I wished for more of it than now! Between now and the next PT visit, I promise to channel my inner crab to work on my sideways approaches. Has your headache improved? I hope so.
Fantastic progress!
Ali_B62 I probably should use a tortoise as my totem animal, but slow and steady did win the race. So, yes, slow and steady is good. Thank you.
You are very welcome! Your progress makes me feel very slothful at the moment - the really cold dark weather here makes me feel less willing to move around as much even though I know I really need to move more and keep the circulation going, improve muscle tone and mass. I could do some leg exercises in bed, that would help maybe. The lack of daylight is also a problem in the northern hemisphere. Although I get out into the fresh air at least once a day, it would be better to do even more.
Ali_B62 Believe me, I understand. I was born in California and lived there most of my life. I lived for 14 years in Delaware, where one noteworthy year we saw the sun on only 128 days. Now I live in Virginia, where winter days are cold, damp and often cloudy. My mood is better with a bit of sun, but too much of it, kicks my heat intolerance into high gear. So, Virginia is a good place to be. I just hunker down and hibernate when it gets dark.
I spent about 9 months in Virgina but could not take the humidity and all the little bugs. Beautiful I just couldn't make it and moved back to California after a month stint on Colorado.
MS_Indestructible In my long life, I have lived mostly in Southern California but also significant years in Wisconsin and Florida, as well as decades in Delaware and Virginia. Every state has pluses to savor and minuses to work around; now, living anywhere with MS, a primary consideration is access to good medical care. I'm not fond of the bugs, but I can adjust to humidity, and I don't want to live in a megalopolis. So where I am is where I will stay.
You are an inspiration to us all! I am so happy for you. ππππβ€οΈ
ππThanks for the update! Sounds great! Just a thought of something I used to do when I was recovering from a broken hip, I would turn the walker over the toilet seat, so I could use it to lift myself up.. Now, I keep it that way so I don't get wobbly using the toilet at night.ππ
U go girl! πππππππππππ£π£π£π£ππππππΆββοΈπΆββοΈπΆββοΈπΆββοΈπΆββοΈ xxx