Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Sat. June 20th Recovery: Inch by Inch, step by step

Next week most of Jeff's friends will be at Mt. Hermon serving as counselors. Jeff was originally scheduled to be with them. He has been walking with a walker everyday down to the corner and back. Each day he goes a bit farther. I was able to watch him at Physical Therapy yesterday and now have a better understanding of what Gayle sees every week. It hit home how much work he needs to accomplish the next two months. He still cannot stand without assistance. Nor can he walk on his own, meaning that he still cannot move his feet effectively. He has two more weeks with the Bioness electrical stimulus contraption that straps to his left leg. There is a constant push from his supervising recovery doctor. No wheel chair, force him to walk, exercise, etc.

The nurse that oversaw his surgical recovery has suggested a few things to help him along. It is a constant process of collecting all this information and trying to figure out how to incorporate it into his regimen and recovery. The body is a strange unique organism. What works for one person will not work for another. Combinations sometimes work, sometimes not. He is off prescription meds at this point.

He has been cleared by his neurosurgeon as far as his surgery. His healing has been a long process due to infections, but it looks as though he is finally over that hurdle.He goes to Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Monday and Thursdays in San Pedro. Yesterday OT had him balancing on a exercise ball while catching various balls Gayle and I were throwing at him. It gave him the opportunity to nail us when he returned the ball. Hmmm...... In PT they recalibrate the Bioness contraption (http://www.bioness.com/Home.php). He now wears it everyday when he walks.

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