May 2012 Updates

Hand Held Vacuum Cleaner   

 

In my quest to lead as normal a life as I can at the moment, I have purchased a hand held rechargeable vacuum cleaner.
This enables me to clean the stairs steps and carpet edges and the like. It is only a small piece of household equipment, but it goes a long way to making me feel more functional.
I am slowly seeing improvements in my right hand, fingers and arm, but I know that even after nearly three years, I have a significant road to travel on my journey to recovery.



I seem to be busy doing something on most days now, well as much as my stamina will allow, I have been doing some of the paperwork for our local annual  Bed Race, and my husband & I have taken on the Membership secretary's role at our local Cricket Club. These are important jobs, but come without any pressures and can be done at my leisure.

I attended the eye clinic at the hospital in the middle of the month and this time I managed to get down to the bottom of the eye chart and read it correctly and the pressure is ok. I go back in November to have photo's taken behind the eyes and if things are as they are now I will be discharged.

The following week I attended the hospital again, this time to have my resting splint re-moulded. I have been slightly concerned that my fingers have been bending under again, and after all the hard work that has been done to straighten them out I got quite anxious about it. Now it is fitting much better and I'm happy again!

I have also had an appointment with the Physio, and although I don't receive regular treatment, it is re-assuring that she is only a phone call or email away. I think that it is possible that at some point I may be referred for a second arthroscopy on my right knee. I had the first one three years ago, that can be the optimum time it may last, but my new style of walking probably doesn't help matters!

I have new exercises to do for the arm muscles and these can be done with my walking stick:
Sit on a chair facing a chair or stool of the same height. In both hands hold on to the upside down stick, (handle resting on the stool), at arms length and move the stick backwards & forwards and also from side to side. My weak hand, the right, has to be placed underneath the left hand but this exercise must be driven by the right hand. Keeping my back straight will improve the posture in my trunk and help the nerves in my neck.

I have learnt over time that you do not require expensive pieces of equipment but can be resourceful with common objects that can be found in the house.