Monday, December 20, 2010

Walking, Interrupted

I have to admit, I'm frustrated.

I figured E would have some weakness, soreness, and fatigue easier after her surgery/casts were removed. I figured it would last a while, with the worst of it over after a week or so.

I also figured after her STELLAR PT performance the same day as her cast removal, that she'd be sore.

What I didn't expect is that Elena would REFUSE TO MOVE. Refuse to stand up tall. Refuse to walk. WHY?

I figured it was mainly due to soreness that she felt the day after PT. I was nice, sympathetic, and I carried her more often. Five days later, we were barely making any progress. Is this normal? I really wish someone would have prepared me.

E is a lot more verbal/antagonistic toward moving with me than others, particularly Theresa. Still, after she's reached her limit (about ~40 minutes of PT) literally she is DONE. She'll sob, cry, hobble, literally become a cripple after an amazing 40 minutes of movement. I am very confused.

*updated 12/26; she is moving better now, but still reaches her limits before the end of a PT session. After about 30 minutes rest or so (or proper motivation, like a mini-Slurpee or something) she's moving great again. I guess this is fatigue? I'm still not sure. Technically, she's been walking for less than 2 weeks post-casts, so, maybe it's early to be frustrated?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI AMY

I HAVE NOT HAD SURGERY OR CASTS REMOVED RECENTLY, BUT I HAVE JUST STARTED PHYSIO(TRADIONAL METHODS)

I FIND THAT I AM ABSOLUTLY EXHAUSTED AFTER AN HOUR SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS AN HOUR AND A HALF.. I TOO LOOSE FOCUS AND BECOME TIRED ABOUT ABOUT 40 MINS... THIS WEEK I WAS SO TIRED AFTER THAT WHEN I GOT HOME I FELL ASLEEP AS I WAS EXHAUSED.. I WAS TOLD THAT MY LEGS ARE WEAKER THEN I THOUGHT BUT HERE THEY THROW YOU TO THE SHARKS ARE SAY DO IT YOURSELF..

YOU SHOUOLD BE PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH ELENA YOUR MEDICAL BACKGROUND GIVES YOU AN ADVANTAGE THAT MOST DO NOT HAVE.. IF SHE LOOSES MOVOTVATION TO TRY AGAIN YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND ARE THERE TO PICK HER UP!!

I HAVE WATCHED HER POST OP VID AND SHE WALKS BETTER THEN I DO WITH HER CRUTCHES CONGRATULATIONS!!

MELISSA

Anonymous said...

Can you shorten her PT appointments down to 30 minutes so that Elena can expect to have a positive experience for the full duration of each appointment? Especially since she rocks the first half-hour? If she typically taps out at 40 minutes and dissolves into tears, it could be really demoralizing to have that happen repeatedly, not to mention it could make PT something she comes to dread. Think of it as the difference between running a race and doing a speed workout - you can do several speed workouts each week and feel tired but great when you're done, and still be completely ready for the next one. But trying to run several races each week is not realistic - you would be so tired that you would never really be able to do your best at the races or in between. And imagine if the races were not even a choice - that could be emotionally challenging.

Danielle said...

Amy,

I hate to be the language cops, but the word cripple is not okay. I know you don't mean to be offensive. It's just that I have CP- I'm not able to walk without a walker or canes etc. and the word has only ever been used with the express intent of taunting and degrading me because I have a disability. It's hard enough for anyone to live to live up to other people's expectations of what you should be physically capable of, let alone when you're five, and the state of your brain stacks the cards against you. She'll be fine.

Thanks for understanding,
Danielle

Amy said...

Hey Danielle,

You're right when I wasn't trying to be offensive.

But I agree with you. Thank you for your comment.

I'm leaving it up as is, so hopefully others will read the post--and the comments, so hopefully I won't be the only one to learn something today.

Danielle said...

Amy,

Thank you. Very few people can respond as graciously as you to this sort of comment. I really appreciate it.

As for the funk Elena seems to be in, it will pass soon if it hasn't already. She has to work very hard to move as well as she does (I can walk w/support, but I use a power chair, so she gets around MUCH better), and it's pretty difficult to be uniformly motivated all the time. Sometimes it's an emotional not a physical struggle.

These I-can't-do-it phases suck, but in 15 years when she's my age it will seem like small beans.

Amy said...

Hey there! I am glad to hear the update. I don't know much about this because Emma is not as mobile as your Elena. But, I would imagine it will take some time. I think 40 minutes is a long stretch, and I would be tired too right after a surgery. I mean it might take a bit longer to get fully back into the old groove. I bet she has to work a little harder too, as she cannot rely on the older stiff muscles in the same way.