Time to update
It has been some time since I have posted here. As most of you should know, this is a very slow process hence there are not “break throughs” to report on a regular basis.
There is both good news and bad news. I am still on a wait list for out patient physio therapy, another 8 months I am told. January was a horrible month for me pain wise and I did very poorly regarding any home physio as I was usually in bed with pain. As a result, I lost the limited leg movement. This had been attributed to strengthening the lumber muscles due to the intense rehab in China. Last week I had a physio therapist visit me here in the home in order to develop an at home program that will be enhanced with a daily assistant. I’m sure it will not take long to regain what was recently lost.
Now for the good news. The area where I continue to see the most progress is bowel and bladder. I can now release the bladder and have a longer flow of urine before the bladder ceases. I have learned that the act of wistleing as one urinates helps prevent the bladder from closing. I am often able to get the bladder to release several times with just a slight stimulus. I have only been able to completely empty the bladder once and now find that I often have less than half of the volume to cath out. I am hopeful that soon, I will only need to cath in the morning and night in order to ensure the bladder is completely emptied. I continue to have more control over bowel elimination as well. Digital stimulation is only needed to sometimes begin the process or if I am constipated.
For me, I find sensation seems to be developing internally as opposed to externaly or tactiley. I can often sense my muscles moving and they feel in general like “stiff” muscles. I can contract my glutes with better control now and can feel them contract.
I am now three months post treatment and am pleased at the results so far. My home physio program will start next week so hopefully I will be posting more good news soon.
I am also going to begin in a new pain trail next week. This is involves intravenous xylocain administered through out the body for one hour once a week for four weeks. I’ll let you know the results.
Add comment March 9th, 2007
