Rehab has been a bit slow this week. Since Wed., Matt has been feeling lousy. Tried to do some standing exercises and BP dropped to 70/46. So was unable to go on his big outing. Not so good. Same thing happened on Thursday, so had to stay in his power chair. However he did have a bath which I can always tell because he is so nice and shiny!
Today he was feeling more like himself. This morning did some self care and discovered if his shorts are on the top of his lower legs, he can do a bridge by himself and pull the shorts the rest of the way. Feels like he is getting stronger with that. The therapists also got him in the sit/stand machine and just put the waist support on, not the butt support sling. They wanted to see if Matt could sit on an actual toilet, which he did. Hasn't done that for over a year but he said it didn't seem the same, he didn't have an Archie book with him!
Matt feels his shoulder is getting a bit better. When they got him on the mat on his tummy, they positioned his arms just right and was able to support himself quite comfortably, just like a kid laying on the floor watching TV.
They also tried the TENS machine on his left quad muscle to help him lift they leg while sitting in the chair. He could then hold it extended for 5 secs, which he proceeded to repeat the exercise for about 5 mins. So about 20 reps or so. His right leg doesn't need the stim machine because he can already lift it fairly well.
When I asked Matt how the left hand and arm was doing, he explained it like this: it feels like there is a heavy book on top of it and he doesn't have the muscle strength to lift it. With the right hand, even though he has lots of movement, it feels like it is underwater and there is always a weight on it as well. But just watching him on SKype, the movement is so much more fluid and he can lift his right arm so much higher over his head. So KUDOS to you Matty!
It is so encouraging to hear and see improvement all the time. So many people in your same situation are so discouraged about lack of improvement, or no improvement at all. With Matt, every achievement is meet with optimism and hope from not only Matt but the rest of his cheering squad.
1 Chronicles 16:8-9 "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts."
Friday, July 25, 2008
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4 comments:
Hi Matthew. Sorry to hear you had a couple of crappy days. Better days to come. Just think, you will have all of us relatives at the reunion to bug you next weekend. Can't wait to see you again. Hope you have a good and safe trip to Red Deer. See you on Friday.
Love Auntie Sandy
Hi Matt, You seem to work so terribly hard, I'm beginning to think that I must be lazy or something. Really didn't accomplish much today at all. Not sure if it was the heat or what. Keep up the fight.
Bev
Were back. Had a good time, with all the family. Then the blues set in had to go back to work this morning, after 3 weeks off it was hard to get motivated again,but im like that most days. Sounds like you had some tuff days hope things are better now. Hope the outing to red deer works out great for you,there is lots of capable hands once you get there. Im phoning chad tonight so will remind him to let you know about ball. Later man take care.Prayers,love,good wishes and all that gooy stuff just for you Matt. Bryon,Brenda & crew.
Hi Matt,
Sorry to hear about your last two rough days. You certainly didn't deserve that!
I hope the pain goes away and the blood pressure improves for you.
Say Hi to your family
Glenda
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