Tune-In-Tuesday: July 25, 2023

Wonders never cease - I'm actually updating this blog on a Tuesday!

I've technically had two physical therapy sessions since I last wrote a blog post, so I thought I'd write a little update. I had my initial PT appointment last Friday. It went way better than I expected - ha! I don't know what I was expecting really, but I left feeling a lot better about doing PT than I initially thought I'd feel about it. I was honest with my physical therapist and told her that I was not looking forward to this. She understood. But her vibe, the office vibe - all the vibes, put me at ease. I also like the fact that she works with neuro patients and knows how to deal with those issues as well as the physical body. I had already met her once before (probably about a year ago) as she does go once a week to my neurologist's office and evaluates patients there that my neurologist thinks would benefit from PT. Her name is Courtney. So, we met on Friday and did the initial evaluation and get-to-know-yous. When it came time to schedule some appointments, she was completely booked this week and is out of the office next week, so the earliest I could get my next appointment for was for August 8. However, she did say that if she had any cancellations, she would have her office call me. Well, yesterday morning, her office called and said that there had been a cancellation for today and asked if I wanted to come in. So, I went in this morning at 8:45am. It was SO good! I feel very encouraged and very "let's do this!". She had me doing several things and sent me home with two sheets of exercises. I'm so happy that I got in this week because now I have exercises to do while waiting for my next session. I found it funny that some of the exercises I actually already do in yoga. :) 

One thing that intrigued me was that she said that my hips needed strengthening. I'm not sure why that intrigued me. I guess I thought they were strong, but come to find out, they aren't. We will be working on them a lot. Another thing that intrigued me was that she didn't get mad that I walk "incorrectly" with my cane. Maybe that's because I was the one to say that I know I walk incorrectly with it. When walking with a cane, you are supposed to hold it in the hand that is opposite of the side that is giving you issues. I (like Dr. House on the television show House, M.D.) hold my cane in my left hand and my left side is the side that has issues. There is a reason that I do that - it's because it inadvertently helps to calm my leg down (most of the time). Courtney told me I might want to try using foam toe spacers (kind of like what is used when getting pedicures). They may give me enough sensory stimulation (my words) to help me be able to walk with less issue (kind of like how I can walk on soft sand with no problem). 

My personal goal for physical therapy is to leave stronger than I was when I first walked in. I want to be able to walk without a walker again. I don't even necessarily care if I have to walk with a cane; I just really want to be able to ditch the walker. On my initial evaluation on Friday, Courtney had me walk without anything while she timed me. Then she had me walk the same distance with the walker while she timed me again. It took me 21 seconds to walk without anything and only 9 seconds to walk with the walker. While I knew I was much slower walking without the walker, it was also an eye opener to know I was that much slower! She asked me today how confident I was when I walked with the walker, and I told her a 10 out of 10 (that's for the most part; there are times when I am less confident) and then she asked me how confident I was when I walked with the cane, and I said 6 out of 10. I hope in PT to build my confidence as I build my strength.

No matter what happens - whether I can walk walker-free and/or cane free again or whether I still have to use them, I know everything will be OK, because after all, God's Got This! 

Tune-In-Tuesday (But on Friday): July 14, 2023

I had an appointment with my neurologist, Dr. T. on Wednesday, July 12 to get Botox injections. It was also the first time I'd seen him since before having my battery replaced in my deep brain stimulation system. He surprised me by being the one to come and get me from the lobby (instead of his nurse). I think he did it so he could observe my walking. :) He did watch every step I took and then apologized for watching me - haha. He knows I hate when people watch me walk. I told him he shouldn't be sorry because I know that's how he can evaluate and determine what's best for me (even though I still dislike it!). Once we got into the exam room, he asked how the surgery went and how the rechargeable battery was going. I told him the surgery went fine, but that I felt like it took longer this time to see the effects of it, to which he replied that by the time I had the surgery my old battery was probably really, really dead, so it didn't surprise him that it took my body longer to see any of the effects of the new battery. As for the rechargeable battery - I told him it was interesting. He asked what I meant by that, and I told him it's just a learning experience. It's not as easy and carefree as having the non-rechargeable battery. I have to recharge myself every week. It's not as fun as it sounds - ha! Sometimes I lose connection with the charger and the battery, and I have to find it again and although that may sound pretty easy (and it is for the most part), it's just frustrating. The charger is beeping at me, and my device says it's searching, and I KNOW I am placing the charger right over the battery and it's still not finding the signal. OK, rant over! It really is a MINOR inconvenience in the scheme of things. It's just different. I have to make myself do it. I thought it would be all fun and games, and I could watch TV or check Facebook. While I do all those things, it's the fact that I have to charge myself up and I have to lie there that makes me not want to do any of it. Again, I know I sound like I'm complaining, but I'm really not (OK, maybe I am a little bit). This is how I vent - by writing it all out. I know people have it a lot worse off than I do and overall, I am SO thankful for the advancements in technology that allow me to charge myself up every week.

Back to my Botox injection appointment. Dr. T. checked my DBS battery, and it was good (it should be as it's brand new and I recharged it the night before). He checked my surgery scar (because I asked him if it looked OK - one side is "brighter" (for lack of a better word) and it worried me a bit). He said it looked great to him. He asked if there had been any oozing and I said no. He asked if I had been doing any excessive arm movements and I said no. So, everything is good with the scar. On to the actual Botox- he asked if it worked last time. I said I thought it had. Last time was the first time that he not only injected into my left posterior tibialis but also into the medial and lateral left hamstring. We decided to do the same on Wednesday. When he injected it into the tibialis this time, it hurt. He must have brushed up against the nerve because it felt like it was going through the bottom of my foot. He apologized when I winced and said he knew that must have hurt. I like a doctor who can sympathize! He asked about my summer so far (probably trying to distract me!) and I asked about his. He then had me lie down on the exam table so he could inject the hamstring. That went much better than the tibialis. My hamstring is fatter than my tibialis and there's probably no nerve near it. :) It was a really good appointment. I walked out of there much steadier than I walked in. That doesn't mean that it stayed that way. I started to feel some of the effects of the Botox that night and felt that my leg was weak. I didn't feel confident walking, but since then, it goes up and down. I feel confident walking; I don't feel confident walking. To please Dr. T., I'm going to start physical therapy. I'm not doing it just for Dr. T., but he's the main reason - ha! I go for my initial appointment next Friday, July 21 (which also happens to my grandmother's 97th birthday). Before I left Dr. T.'s office, he said that he was really happy that I'm going to PT. He said he thinks it'll help a lot. Next week (July 19) will mark the 6th week after my surgery, which means I get to work out again and have no physical restrictions from the surgery. To be honest, I haven't worked out in 6 months. I told a friend that being told I can't work out for 6 weeks after surgery has made me want to work out so bad! I really do believe reverse psychology works on me - haha! I had all the time in world and couldn't get motivated to work out and then I am told I can't do it and that's all I've wanted to do. 

I am hopeful that I will get steadier on my feet and that exercise and physical therapy will help me. So, that's the update for now. I'll check back in after I have a few physical therapy sessions under my belt to update on how that is going. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. Always remember...God's Got This!