Continuing my journey

To extend the wrist

To extend the wrist

Reach out & hold

I do not now have regular appointments with my Physio, but occasional contact is kept by e-mail. I recently received a message that stated she "was pleased that my hand is continuing its journey". This is something that I had never considered - the fact that all my recovery has been and still is a continuing journey. I strive to maintain progress with daily exercises and am always trying to re-invent them to adapt them to my current needs.

I am now trying to extend and strengthen my wrist. This I do by holding a salt seller horizontally in my right hand (I should hold the wrist down with my left hand) and then pull up the wrist and hold in this position for up to 10 seconds.

Holding objects is something that I have been doing for a while, I have a variety of objects that are different shapes and medium. However, it has been a challenge to be able to reach out and take hold of an object. At first, I could only get hold of things the reverse way round: as I am predominantly right handed I would have to grab hold and cuff objects in the opposite way that is shown in the picture above. It was as though everything seemed to be working back to front.


To strenghten the triceps in my right arm I put my arm behind me, keeping the elbow straight and then hold up to the count of 10.  This I can do whilst holding the salt seller. My aim is to bring the arm forwards.

Shut The Box

1st throw of dice

Begin the game

2nd throw of dice

3rd throw of dice

Shut the Box is an easy to learn game that can be played by any number of players. It occured to me recently that this would make an ideal game to play for those of us who are recovering from a stroke. It is a useful aid for the mind as you have to work out simple maths. The game can be played at any time and I quite often challenge myself.
The game consists of nine tiles that are numbered from one upwards. The player throws the two dice into the tray and then uses the combined total to "shut" any number of tiles to the exact same value. The same player continues until such time as there are no tiles remaining in the up position that match the value of the dice thrown. That player's turn then ends. A note of the total value of the remaining tiles not shut is taken, and play passes to another who will attempt to improve on the previous player's score.
In the early days this could prove to be a valuable game to test the mind. Even now I will challenge friends!

Glitches & Hitches

The headaches, more a feeling of getting off a fairground ride, have sporadically interfered with my well being.
I first began to notice these episodes a few weeks ago and put them down to: being overtired, not taking my blood pressure tablet on time, something to do with the trapped nerve in my neck, trying to assist with Christmas preparations or doing too much and then having to rest.

The last one was a couple of days ago whilst we were returning back home from visiting relatives, a journey of around an hour and a quarter. I suddenly felt "hot and bothered" and on a night of driving rain had to open the car window. It is a most peculiar feeling, like getting off a roundabout, and although the room or wherever I am does not appear to move around me, my head needs to stop travelling.

All of this has quite un-settled me, and with my condition being neurological, has made me feel quite vulnerable. I have had a thorough check up with my G.P. who did some simple tests: closing my eyes and holding my arm out, tilting my head back for a while and then holding it steady and whilst looking straight ahead following her moving finger. My blood pressure showed a slight increase from a few weeks ago and I am awaiting results of a blood test. These tests, along with others, have indicated Vertigo and I have now been prescribed tablets to help with the feeling of dizziness and sickness.

Anything like this, particularly when I feel any type of problem that concerns my head causes anxiety, but I have the re-assurance from my G.P. that I can go back at any time and discuss these issues.  However, I have to try and accept that this is what the problem is and not get stressed or this will compound the problems.

Shake, rattle and roll

The "bad ankle" finally resolved itself after a four day enforced rest. As frustrating as I find this, I have learned that when these things happen my body is telling me something.
I continued to rest during the day as I had booked to go to a Christmas party on Thursday night, and the next two nights to theatre productions. Friends collected me and took me to these events which were very diverse and equally as pleasing and good fun.

On the Thursday I made an effort to get dressed up, even buying a new top. Horror of horrors! On my way home I realised that I would not be able to undo the zip at the back of my shiny new purchase and as my husband was out my friend had to do unzip me out! 
Lesson learnt - chose your clothes wisely.  

On Friday I attended the hospital's Neurological Rehab Unit to be measured and fitted for a new resting splint.
My hand has now opened and after a long time the swelling on my hand has gone, I know have knuckles and my fingers are back to their original size. The moulding and fitting by occupational therapists takes around 45 minutes. This is the first time that it has been updated and has been made to further stretch out my wrist and fingers. I still wear this overnight and at times during the day when I am not undertaking exercise with the use of my dynamic splint.

Apart from my 3 consecutive nights out, this week-end was the Christmas markets in the town where I live. I caught the bus to town on Saturday to have a look around, but my visit was cut very short. I visited 2 shops and tried to look at the market stalls but began to feel rather unwell. I dropped my stick in the shops and couldn't put purchases in my bag and felt very light headed. On my return home I just rested quietly.
My husband, who was officiating at this event, took time out to escort me around the following day.

I guess that I will not know what caused this to happen, but it does make me feel quite vulnerable.
Even after two and a half years I know that there is a long road ahead to recovery and sometimes wish that I could get up one morning and just give a big shake to get my bones and everything back in alignment.