This week's report is that I am well enough to be left home alone! Yesterday and today my husband went in to his office instead of working from the house. ~ My PT did not have any appointment time today, which also means I do not have therapy again until Friday, so I am going to go for a walk in town with a friend later, just to get out because the weather is beautiful. I'm feeling thankful for the break.
On Monday in PT, I was introduced to the balance disk, an innocuously cute looking thing that left me feeling as if I had no knees after standing on it for a mere five minutes. Everything that I am experiencing is so fascinating from an academic standpoint, that it was sort of cool to marvel at those knee-less few minutes.
I jogged a short distance and jumped up and down yesterday, just because I could, although I scared my husband half to death.
I am doing semi ok looking forward and side lunges, (They are not as deep or as steady as I want them to be, but they are passable) along with awkward backwards lunges, and I am doing 30 each crunches, bridges, and several pilates moves to strengthen my leg muscles and get those neurons firing. I am hoping to work up to a morning set of 30 and an evening set of 30, but for now it is a challenge just to work in the balance work, without it consuming all of my waking time/energy.
Interestingly, my PT told me to avoid full sit ups for a bit until I get the all clear from Dr. K. because she didn't want to take a chance in straining anything in my neck/head yet, and she also wants to make sure my wobbly head won't cause my spine to roll around and cause sheering and lower back problems. ~ Smart lady, I had not thought of those possibilities.
The ocular exercises are very easy, so I don't have to do very many of those any more. I find that I don't get eye strain when in a moving car, and I can watch television now, even some of the spinning types of camera work that used to induce vertigo before the surgery.
I still have trouble tolerating action-y high speed film cutting techniques with lots of rapid changes between light and dark, but I can actually watch a half an hour of television without any strain or fatigue.
I can stand heel to toe for more than 30 seconds on my weaker side, and more than a minute on my better side, and that is well above the normal range. ~ I can do it with my eyes closed!!! ~ This is really exciting stuff, because before the surgery on a great day with seemingly no balance issues, I could not do this.
I find that I am also getting around fine in the dark, although this does not make my PT happy and she sent me home with a sheet of safety tips. I am also beginning to be able sense that I recover from transitions from full light to full darkness a little quicker and without the fear inducing sensation that used to produce just post operatively.
The various head turning walks that the PT has me practicing are getting easier and more natural looking, so despite my humbling initiation on the balance disk, my therapist is very happy with my progress to date. She said she expects a full recovery.
I am not sure what she means by that... but I am thinking Kripalu next summer for some serious yoga and kayaking might just be on the horizon. She promised to have me walking on beach sand this summer, and I am going to hold us both to that promise, so the balance disk and I are going to be rather chummy I think.
I can 'almost' sit down on the floor from standing, without having to spot myself with my hands. I am still wobbly and thus I still use my hands, but getting all the way down and all the way back up from all the way down is now something that I can do!
I am less sensitive to bending, although I still avoid full bends... I can do a good 'lean' and not get headaches, so that is good for the moment. I have also returned to my childhood ballet moves and have become quite fond of the grand plie. Excellent for getting at the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
I can walk on grass, although it still feels a little like the surface of the moon, and I can walk on inclines, although without a handrail, I tend to pick up speed on the descent. On a recent trip down my sloped lawn my son said, 'Mom, are you running?' I took Buzz Lightyear's old line and said 'No love, I am falling with style!' ~ I stayed upright and was able to correct once on flatter ground, but the fine tuning still needs work, so I still keep someone close by, just in case.
I folded laundry yesterday which made me feel better, too, and the spring itself seems to be making me feel stronger and better every day. So all of you who are facing surgery soon, fear not! Life is good as a postie!
