Hi All,
Late last year, my pain management physician sent me to a Physiatrist (Rehabilitation Physician) for help with the intense pain I was experiencing in my lower back.
He sent me to the local rehabilitation hospital for what, at the outset, appeared to be a form of SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) "Boot Camp".
I was assigned a lot of exercises focused on core strength & stability (which I was sorely lacking). They also taught me how to safely & correctly use each of my assistive devices (walker, manual wheelchair, etc.). By the end, I was able to walk about 700 feet with a walker & supervision. This is a major breakthrough, since the physical therapists I worked with for 16 months following my last surgery had discharged me with the instructions that I would need to use a wheelchair for the rest of my life.
I've spent the last 20 months reorienting my life around this grim statement - sold my car & bought a wheelchair van, moved to a more accessible home, etc. Talk about being blown away!
I'm now able to walk (at least in a controlled environment)! I've also been instructed to use my manual wheelchair as much as possible to prevent further muscle atrophy and keep myself more healthy. I have been taught how to climb stairs & curbs with a walker, & how to safely transition from my manual wheelchair to my walker, bed, etc. My only disappointment is that they weren't allowed to teach me how to do wheelies or dance the salsa!!!
Karen
P.S. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn, but at least this is a start.