David's SCI Treatment Blog

Another subtle change for Dave 9/22/06

September 25th, 2006

Dave was having a massage at this wonderful place in ShenZhen, and his left hip was really bothering him, and he was uncomfortable for at least a week, so he booked a massage before he had his last lumbar puncture because he knew he would be still having to lie flat for 6 hours. During his massage he realized that all of a sudden he was actually rubbing his own hip!! I actually wasn’t there to see it myself, but Dave couldn’t wait to tell me about it when he saw me. Dave was thrilled to say the least, he couldn’t stop talking about it! Things are so suttle when you realize they are happening and they are things Dave used to do, and hasn’t done them since the injury. When he does them, it is like wait a minute, did you see that? You have to validate what you saw, because it is so suttle you almost think that it didn’t happen. Dave just beams like a little kid when he realizes he has done something new.

Dave has worked very hard in rehab, and his determination is making him push himself more than I would have imagined. He works very, very hard in therapy, but the benfits are paying off for him for sure. It seems that the standing board is the hardest for Dave, and makes him the most sore. His feet, legs and hips ache, and I believe that it is due to the stretching and use of all those muscle, joints, tendons and ligaments that he hasn’t used in 4 1/2 years. That is why he was having his heavenly foot massage again.

We all feel that the best thing he can do for himself when he returns home is to continue the diligent therapies and rehab. on a daily basis like he is doing here. That is the biggest hurdle for him when he returns home. If you have a chronic problem, you are limited by the number of rehab. treatments you are allowed, and this is the biggest hurdle all people face like Dave. The stem cells need a chance to lodge where they need to be and grow, and regenerate where they will. Dave will continue to see gains once he returns home, and not just here in China. The key for everyone with an SCI injury to keep their muscles and joints from stiffening, wasting and contracting is the daily rehab. and treatment modalities to be continued. I cannot stress that point enough. David’s combintation of therapies has proven that fact in this trip here to China. Some of the rehab. is just back to the basics that everyone can do on their own if they stay motiviated and make it part of their daily rountine, So to all of you out there who are waiting until you can have stem cells, get yourself on a regular schedule of exercises daily. Have you care givers assist you to do the things that you cannot do on your own, and make this part of your daily routine. Strengthen everything you can and build your core and even with that you will notice big gains. Stay motivated and focused, because the benefits you reap will be worth the effort. If there is anything we have all learned from this trip to China, it is the importance of using basic eveyday exercises to build yourself back up. You will not only benefit physcially, but you will benefit emotionally. Never give up hope, ever.

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