Like I have said several times before, this Call to Adventure (this journey) has taught me so many lessons, and right now, the recovery process from a concussion is quite the learning experience! Like my brother said to me last night, "This is more than just a little bump on the head."
Today, I was scheduled for all 3 of my therapy modalities. At 8am, I was scheduled with hearing and balance. At 9am I was scheduled with the speech pathologist and at 10am I was scheduled with my manual physical therapist. To top the morning off, I was scheduled with my social worker in charge of keeping the lines of communication open between me and all of my therapists and doctors at 11:30am. Whew! All of these appointments take place in 2 buildings across the street from each other. I was a bit worried, I would forget where all of the therapists offices were. Thankfully, I managed to find everything. I guess my brain isn't as scrambled as I thought it was. Whew! I AM getting better!
First up: Hearing and Balance.
Dayna, my therapist, did a test to see if the crystals in my ears stayed put, and they did. Yay! Progress! Then she had me so some walking and gait analysis. I did okay with that. Then she took me into the Computerized Dynamic Posturography Machine. This is where my day started to feel like an "amusement park gone wrong." Let's face it, when someone straps you into a safety harness, you are either going to have fun or get injured while trying to! So when she strapped me into the safety harness, I had mixed emotions. Then she had me stand on this platform and attached the shoulder straps of my harness to the safety chords dangling by my shoulders (the "Oh CRAP" straps as she called them). She did several tests with my eyes open and my eyes shut. The walls that were around me moved and shook. They came in at me then went away from me. The platform beneath me shook and tilted. Sometimes I was steady and at other times I was very grateful for the "Oh Crap!" straps above my shoulders. When it was all said and done, the test showed that I lacked balance. At my age, I should be testing in the 70's and I was at 52. We will say, I have room for improvement. *laugh* In real life, this plays out in lack of balance with uneven terrain, in dimly lit areas, and my depth perception is a bit off. She also said that in things like riding my bike, dancing, trail running I would have some serious issues. Huh. As a result of today, she said my actual THERAPY will start next week. We are done with the testing, and she will request more time with me for therapy than what has already been scheduled. (This will happen at the staffing meeting with my social worker next week.)
This is obviously NOT me in this picture...but this is the balance machine I was tested on today.
Second up: Speech Pathologist.
Tami and Megan are my speech pathologists. Today was more testing. Today they tested my attention. It's hard to explain the tests they gave me, but let me just say THEY WERE HARD! I have never had such a hard time counting to 10 in my life! (well except for when I was a kid learning how to count) It was not as straight an easy as counting to 10. I was given pictures to count then an arrow facing up would tell me to keep counting up but then a few frames later another arrow pointing down would have me counting down from where I was then it would switch back to up. I had to remember which direction I was going in and what number came next. It's harder than it sounds! Then they had me do this in an auditory test using different pitched beeps that I couldn't control the speed of. I got so confused; I didn't know which was was up or down (literally). I wish there was a way to put into typing just how difficult these tests were. When I was all done having my brain stretched and examined, they told me that I did well and these test were indeed very difficult. *shrug* I just left there feeling like a kid who didn't know how to count, and when you are 43, that is kind of a scary thought! Once again, real, actual THERAPY starts next week.
Last up on the therapy rounds: Manual Physical Therapy.
This is kind of a mix between massage therapy and a chiropractor. He is working diligently to get my cervical joints in place where they belong. This gives me the feeling of "it hurts so good". Once he is done manipulating my neck, its time for exercises. This is where I get to do things you take for granted and work on my posture. This is good for a dancer :). At least my brain doesn't really have to work during this therapy and it can rest from the torture of the previous two :).
Ending my day with the social worker:
Grateful to have Greg on my side. He is great. Last week after I was told by the doctors that I would not be allowed to travel for the Spring Ride or to see my mom and kids in Florida, my mom was in a doctors appointment when she fell and shattered her hip and broker her arm bad enough she would need pins to help heal. The next day, she had surgery for a hip replacement and the pins for her arm. I spoke with Greg on the phone and got cleared to go to Florida to help my mom in her transition from her own Rehab hospital in Florida (like the one I go to for the concussion) to her private home. I will leave on the 12th after next weeks appointments with my therapists. Greg managed to get my appointments rearranged so I could make this trip possible. Even when my dad was in the rehab hospital and I worked with the social worker there, I had no real clue what role the social worker played in this process. I'm grateful for this experience so I understand how things work as my mom is now facing her own rehab and recovery. Greg has been able to talk me through some of the process my mom will be going through; then again, so has my manual therapist.
In Review:
I am sad that I am missing the Fuller Center for Housing Spring Ride, but I am so very grateful for this concussion experience and the lessons I am learning...not just about letting go and resting, but about the way my brain works, about how the rehab system works and about remaining calm in the midst of a storm.
I lieu of The Spring Ride, I am working on routes for my own 400 mile ride here in Idaho. I am pretty excited about where my two wheels will be taking me. There are some gorgeous routes to be explored here in Idaho! So as soon as I am cleared to get back on my bike, I will let you know. In the mean time, I am still raising funds for the Fuller Center for Housing, and I would be very grateful if you would join me in this experience and life lesson and make a donation using the link below. I appreciate your continued support!
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