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Post by mich64 on Jan 11, 2012 2:53:02 GMT
Today I had another balance test at physio and for the first time in over 5 years, I am one point into the "normal" range!
After a lot of therapy and doing the exercises that you are told to do, I am feeling much more stabler walking and going up and down stairs without feeling, fearing, that I am going to fall. It feels wonderful to have a passing score, now to continue the therapy so I do not lose it.
My physiotherapist was ecstatic today! (Me too!)
Cheers!
Mich
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2012 6:37:32 GMT
That's great, Mich. Interestingly enough, I had the first balance test of my life a couple of weeks ago. There is a new doctor in charge of annual company medical visits, and he did simple balance tests on everybody. I discovered that I am not unbalanced after all.  |
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 11, 2012 13:29:49 GMT
Brilliant news Mich. ;D
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Post by onlymark on Jan 11, 2012 14:48:16 GMT
I hope when you were told you were normal you didn't fall over in shock.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 11, 2012 15:44:23 GMT
Really wonderful news, Mich -- congratulations! I cannot imagine the amount of sheer determination you must have to go through all those years of work and frustration to get to this point. I'm so happy for you.
You have stairs in your home, don't you? How do you cope with those? Also, has the balance problem meant that you can't drive?
It must be so great to have this proof that all your hard work is paying off.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 11, 2012 17:27:01 GMT
I hope when you were told you were normal you didn't fall over in shock. I am so happy for you Mich! It can only get better and betterra  Mark - my family occassionally tell me ' You're not normal mom!' Do I care? Hell NO ;D |
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Post by Jazz on Jan 11, 2012 17:27:30 GMT
‘Getting there…’ is a masterpiece of understatement. Mich, I am happy and excited for you. From what I’ve read on the Port, you’ve worked so hard to get ‘there’ . We have often been the beneficiaries of your determination and creativity. Most people would have been totally overwhelmed and given up. I salute your courage!
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Post by mich64 on Jan 11, 2012 17:36:13 GMT
Thank you everyone, I was so excited I had to post it! I wanted her to make a photocopy for me to take home. Mark, she always has me sitting down when she calculates the results and today I seriously almost fell off the chair from bouncing up and down! Bixa it has been challenging, there are approximately 57 stairs down to my deck from the driveway. For almost 6 years I have had someone beside me each time I come and go, until recently. I knew I was going to pass because I have been able to do it by myself the last month or so. I could not drive. I was lucky the doctors did not take my license away, they made me promise that I would not drive until they told me I could. Last summer I was able to start driving, but with someone. About a month ago my doctor told me to start going places on my own. Yesterday, I drove myself to my dentist appointment, then took myself to lunch and then to my physio appointment. YEAH! Kerouac this is why I had trouble with the metro, the stairs... My goodness, the stairs. Your new doctor probably did the balance test because it can indicate other issues. Thanks Mick!!  Back to my exercises today, but now with the firm knowledge that they work. Cheers everyone! Mich |
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Post by mich64 on Jan 11, 2012 17:53:58 GMT
Thank you Tod! Jazz, thank you very much. After my test yesterday, she had me do my exercises between the bars and when she was done, she said to me, " you look like you you are ready for more, you never give up " I think it is my competitive nature from my years as a gymnast, I understand that the harder your work the better you can be. I also got stopped on Christmas Eve by RIDE (Jazz would know but to those who do not, that is our police force that sets up check points to make sure drivers are sober), this has been one of my greatest fears since losing my speech and beginning to drive again. I have been so afraid that they would mistake my speech for being drunk or on drugs and take me to the Police station! I was terrified! but I just gave one word answers and was told to drive home safely. YEAH! |
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Post by bjd on Jan 11, 2012 18:58:47 GMT
Good for you, Mich! I'm sure your physiotherapist and doctors use you as an example of what can be accomplished to their other patients.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2012 19:12:45 GMT
Very exciting news Mich!! Congratulations!! Fierce determination,very admirable. Keep up the good work!!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 11, 2012 21:00:25 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Jan 11, 2012 21:35:56 GMT
Bixa, I love the clapping people! Thank you Casi and bjd! If I can do anything now, it is to let people know that physiotherapy works, it may take a long time depending on the problem, but if you convey the right information to them and do what they tell you to do, eventually you will feel results and recovery. In a few weeks I will be discharged from speech therapy as well. They have done all they can for me (which was a lot, from learning to breath again to completing full sentences) now I will try to remember there lessons, cues and advice for the rest of my life. Luckily, I have my family and friends to help me. I still will never be able to return to work, but I WILL be a contributing member of society and WILL help people when and wherever I can. Thank you everyone again, and please when you have a family member or friend going through physical therapy, tell them to do what they are told and believe they can recover. Cheers Everyone! ;D Mich |
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Post by rikita on Jan 12, 2012 16:53:16 GMT
great news, mich! congratulations!
maybe i should do a balance test at some point... when mr. r. was teaching me some yoga exercises i kept falling over, and he said he never had students lose balance at those particular exercises before... then again, sometimes i fell over almost on purpose, just to annoy him...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2012 17:30:42 GMT
I probably need one too.....although I do yoga at least 3 times a week. I am prone to some dizzy spells though.  |
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Post by mich64 on Jan 12, 2012 17:35:10 GMT
Thanks Rikita! When not teasing your husband, when seriously doing yoga or any type of balance exercise, keep your focus on placing your weight on the entire foot.
My gymnast that I coach can now do an amazing Y scale on the balance beam without ever falling or losing her balance because she follows this rule, she was amazed by this little bit of coaching and when her club coaches seen her practicing it, they immediately added it to her competitive routine. She has applied it to other movements and is now a much more confident gymnast. Try it! You may be surprised!
Cheers,
Mich
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Post by Kimby on Jan 12, 2012 18:28:04 GMT
Way to go Mich. So happy for you with all this progress. You're an inspiration to the rest of us.
Re: driving with speech limitations. Do you have a note from your doctor clearing you to drive and stating that you struggle with speech limitations that should not be confused with DUI? That might bring peace of mind as you go on outings all by yourself.
p.s. I always forget that you struggle to speak, because you write so eloquently.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 12, 2012 20:13:52 GMT
Kimby, my doctors have offered the note, but I declined. I also declined the disabled parking pass. I just felt the note for my speech would not be taken seriously and for the parking, well since with use/exercise I had the ability to get better, I thought others truly need them and I would not want to take their spot.
I think you all would be surprised to hear my speech. I have some sort of an accent ( been told, French, Russian, Swedish...) that I cannot correct, I can complete full sentences but they are usually short. I often repeat a word three times, not like a stutter but more like an OCD problem. I do can not use contractions, cannot sing... but so much better than when I could only use one word almost 6 years ago.
Cheers!
Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 13, 2012 3:29:26 GMT
The more you tell us, the more remarkable your progress seems. You are amazing, Mich!
A while back you said you'd be working with people just starting their speech therapy. Did that come about?
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Post by mich64 on Jan 13, 2012 15:57:21 GMT
Thank you Bixa, all I am doing is giving my best effort to regain the skills I lost...
I believe when I am discharged from my Speech Therapist they will assign me to the floor, I also want to volunteer in the physical therapy unit as well.
Cheers!
Mich
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Post by rikita on Jan 13, 2012 16:53:44 GMT
i try the weight on the whole foot thing, the problem is i think that i tend to overthink these things, so i can never figure out when exactly i have the weight on my whole foot (if that makes sense). the exercises where i fall are mainly the triangle-ones (like the triconasana)...
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Post by Kimby on Jan 13, 2012 18:55:50 GMT
rikita, if you can climb rocks and mountains without falling off, I find it hard to believe you have trouble with yoga! Maybe just pretend you're clinging to a rock and it will work better for you. |
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Post by mich64 on Jan 13, 2012 18:58:47 GMT
Rikita if you concentrate on one movement only until you can complete it, it will help you conqueror more to complete a repertoire. It just takes patience with the concentration of the first movement you want to learn.
Mich
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Post by rikita on Jan 13, 2012 21:27:59 GMT
well, i will keep trying (eventually, currently i keep putting off yoga to the next day anyway)...
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 14, 2012 10:02:23 GMT
Well done Mich, that is absolutely brilliant news! The progress you've made with the support of those you love has been amazing....you are such an inspiration dearie. Bixa has said it all already, but I just wanted to add my 'two-penny-worth'. Go Girl.... XXX
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2012 17:23:25 GMT
I continue to be inspired by Mich. When one embarks in a process that requires many years to recover, it is really impressive to see someone continue on and on in spite of temporary frustrations.
The key word is "temporary" even when "temporary" lasts longer than anybody would wish.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 14, 2012 19:31:37 GMT
Thank you Cheery! I am extremely fortunate to have so much support from my family and friends. Without them, I would not have been able to get to physio, speech and doctor/dentist appointments. Along with the drive to each appointment, I received encouragement, hope and advice from whomever the driver of the day would be and I listened and applied what I understood.
I still have hope that some of my disabilites are temporary and will keep working to improve them. I have been instructed to accept that one has been deemed permanent and I understand why and accept this.
Thank you Kerouac for your kind words. Thank you to all of the members of this board. This board has made a difference to my life. I learn things everyday and I am challenged by posts and by members.
I aim to to keep trying to get there some day.
Cheers Everyone!
Mich
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Post by fumobici on Jan 15, 2012 1:46:08 GMT
Reading this made me feel good, thank you Mich.
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Post by auntieannie on Jan 15, 2012 10:05:03 GMT
oooh! what wonderful news, what a lovely thread, Mich!
Yes, you are an inspiration to all of us... and you make us feel good!
You are right to consider some of your disabilities "temporary". Our brain and nervous system is amazing. You never know what will happen in 5 or 10 years. Keep exercising. You are wonderful.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 16, 2012 2:32:59 GMT
Thank you Auntieannie! Yes, I have learned quite more than I probably ever would have about the motion and healing abilities of the brain and also. how much they do not know yet, which is makes me feel hopeful.
Fumo, it makes me happy to know I have made someone feel good, because I encounter it on this board every single day from so many members like you.
Cheers,
Mich
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