Well I'm sat in a hotel room about three miles away from RNOH Stanmore, I'm going in tomorrow for intensive rehab and physio on my shoulder and arm, and to discuss further surgery options for pain relief. I think we'll also discuss the options for my forearm and hand.
I'm feeling a bit like Billy no mates, thank goodness for technology or I'd be bored out of my brain!
Physio is working wonders and they've noticed a slight flicker in my bicep and tricep, so I have got some exercises to focus in on them. Everyone pretty much agrees that I'm not going to regain the use of my hand, but we need to wait at least another year before any final decisions are made. I am not going to have surgery for pain relief, it's not worth the operation... yet!
Meeting 'moaning minnie', 'checkout girl' and 'almost guy' has helped pass the week quite quickly but I am looking forward to going home.
Monday 31 May 2010
Tuesday 11 May 2010
It's for charity mate
Lisa and I are planning a skydive on 24th July in memory of Si. He would be 41 on July 25, so on the eve of his birthday we will be taking the plunge back to earth to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance. We are hoping to raise over £900.
Si loved helicopters, so it was quite fitting that his last breath was taken in a Air Ambulance on his way to hospital. We feel that it's important that we do our bit to help them keep flying and help more people like us.
Yes we are crazy, but it is going to be very exhilarating!
Si loved helicopters, so it was quite fitting that his last breath was taken in a Air Ambulance on his way to hospital. We feel that it's important that we do our bit to help them keep flying and help more people like us.
Yes we are crazy, but it is going to be very exhilarating!
Saturday 8 May 2010
The Road
I finally got the courage to do it. I have been thinking about it for months now and booked a double session with my therapist for Friday, I definitely need her with. On Wednesday, two days before, I had my DWT leaving do at the Mill On The Exe in Exeter. If I had taken 'the road' I would have been there in 25mins but instead I had to go via the motorway which took 45mins, it annoyed me! That was very helpful as it served to make me more determined to attempt the journey.
I have driven as far as the Ruffwell before so I was pretty much OK to there, although I did start to feel quite anxious when it started to rain as it was raining on the morning of the accident. I had it in my head that the Ruffwell was halfway but as I drove past the farm shop just after the Ruffwell it suddenly occurred to me that I was halfway to Exeter, not to the accident site and I was in fact only about a minute or two away from it. After stopping and chatting to my therapist I felt strong enough to continue with the journey.
My biggest concern was not knowing how I would feel or react.
It was really difficult and I was very very upset, a huge feeling of sadness overwhelmed me and I realised that this place is a memorial.
This is where I lost my soul mate.
I have driven as far as the Ruffwell before so I was pretty much OK to there, although I did start to feel quite anxious when it started to rain as it was raining on the morning of the accident. I had it in my head that the Ruffwell was halfway but as I drove past the farm shop just after the Ruffwell it suddenly occurred to me that I was halfway to Exeter, not to the accident site and I was in fact only about a minute or two away from it. After stopping and chatting to my therapist I felt strong enough to continue with the journey.
My biggest concern was not knowing how I would feel or react.
It was really difficult and I was very very upset, a huge feeling of sadness overwhelmed me and I realised that this place is a memorial.
This is where I lost my soul mate.
Tuesday 4 May 2010
C leg - the trial. And the dreaded arm!
I brought the leg home on Thursday after a really good training session at Dorset. Practising coming downstairs foot over foot was really strange and took some getting my head around. I'm walking a lot better and on Sunday I actually managed to walk around Taunton which was awesome. I am having a few problems with comfort of the socket but I think that's more about me getting used to it than anything, I guess that's all part of the trial. I also need to get used to charging it as my leg ran out of charge today so I had to come home early which was amusing and slightly embarrassing!
I had a very bad night's sleep last night which didn't help, feeling grumpy and tired is really not useful when I'm trying out a new leg so I've decided that I need to go back on to regular medication for the nerve pain in my arm. I have been taking medication for it on and off but I ran out of the nerve painkilling tablets over the weekend and I think that's why I had a bad sleep, so if it means I sleep well then I think on balance it's worth taking them. I have also started taking dl Phenylalanine, it's been recommended on the tbpi forum (traumatic brachial plexus injury) that I am on. It's supposed to encourage your body's own endorphins into action on the nerve pain so we'll see how that goes.
I had a very bad night's sleep last night which didn't help, feeling grumpy and tired is really not useful when I'm trying out a new leg so I've decided that I need to go back on to regular medication for the nerve pain in my arm. I have been taking medication for it on and off but I ran out of the nerve painkilling tablets over the weekend and I think that's why I had a bad sleep, so if it means I sleep well then I think on balance it's worth taking them. I have also started taking dl Phenylalanine, it's been recommended on the tbpi forum (traumatic brachial plexus injury) that I am on. It's supposed to encourage your body's own endorphins into action on the nerve pain so we'll see how that goes.
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