Today's the day. I move to the Rehab ward. Yahoo! Only took 10 weeks.
All my wound sutures were removed this morning although the wound still hasn't fully healed, it is a long way there and the Doctors are very happy with its progress. A couple of stubborn parts that need some time to close up properly.
Over last couple of days I've been exercising more, with longer walks on the crutches (like once round the ward, so not far) and some work in the gym on my leg balance, strength and flexibility. Yesterday I climbed a full flight of the fire stairs and back down again. Then up in the rehab ward I had a funny little obstacle course to negotiate on the crutches, bit like the show dogs and how they weave in and out between the poles. If I do that again I think I'll bark and ask for a biscuit.
Endurance is low but improving. Just like on the bike, I have to introduce progressive overload in order to promote the physiological adaptations I want. I do have a small dilemma in that the Docs want me to be a little conservative with the exercise as the wound is still delicate. Don't want it accidentally opening up again, do we?
The move upstairs will come with some logistical challenges, might need removallists for all the stuff I seem to have collected over the past weeks.
Anyway, I'll miss the staff here in the Orthopaedic ward, they have been fantastic. I'll be sure to leave behind some treats for them all to enjoy.
'til next time, keep riding
Alex
Friday, June 15, 2007
Rehab - here I come
Posted by Alex Simmons at 1:59 pm
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1 comments:
Hi Alex,
good to see that you are progressing well and at an appropriate rate. No need to overdo anything except your forward planning at this early stage. Those aimless ambles around the wards might seem pointles ATM, but every step forward helps you to get a little bit of fitness back. Just watch out for unscrupulous doctors poring over your xrays and bed records on the night before your scheduled leaving date: the limey buggers are just looking for an excuse to keep you "inside"! And do one or two stair climbs each day with a mate if you can: the physio will probably throw a stairclimb test in as part of your leave assessment.
To ease the boredom of being trapped in the same wards day in day out I used to 'escape' to the outside world. It was scary because it always felt like I was going to collapse or fall with that ridiculous fluids trolley in tow, but once I was outside tasting the metallic city air it was like some weird panacea.
Simple things like feeling the sun or rain on your skin, or walking around crowds of people with your butt crack showing through the back of the hospital gown added to the fun. I reckon by now your "Cyclist's Bum" has been replaced by a saggy grandpa's version though!!
Have the nurses stopped accompanying you to the shower yet? It's a sad moment in any recuperation period when that happens.
Keep the blog entries coming, keep well, and make a bold break for freedom every day
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