May 31, 2023
“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:32 NKJV
“Your spinal xrays look great, Pam! Your fusion is healing slightly ahead of schedule at 13 weeks after surgery. Now you can bend over, twist, and lift about 20 pounds or a carry-on suitcase. You no longer need to wear your big back brace unless you get tired and need the support.” My surgeon also ordered Physical Therapy at the nearby university at their indoor therapeutic pool.
I celebrated on the way home by stocking my pantry at two grocery stores since I could now carry more than five pounds at a time. I called Physical Therapy and they said they had a cancellation and could see me that afternoon. Praise God! I was totally prepared to wait a couple weeks for the next opening.
After registering in the main PT office, I carried my new chart into the swimming pool area and handed it to the Physical Therapist (PT). After a thorough history and exam, she told me that my back muscles were constantly in total spasm and I had no flexibility when I bent over. She also said my constant left buttock pain was not sciatica but piriformis pain caused by weak gluteal medius muscles. (Each buttock has gluteal maximus, gluteal medius, and gluteal minimus muscles, often called the “gluts”.)
I failed the balance exam because I could only stand for three seconds on each foot with my hands in the air. She said technically I should use a walker for safety. It wasn’t a matter of if I would fall but when resulting in a catastrophic head injury because I would not be able to break the impact. This news definitely shook me up. I need to practice standing on one foot at home until I can hold it for 30 seconds which is equal to 60 seconds in the water.
I couldn’t stand up at all from the chair without using my arms. I’m so weak after three months of only walking. She taught me how to sit and stand correctly by tucking my chin to take my back muscles out of the motion and force me to use my buttock and leg muscles instead.
The PT then massaged my tight gluteal muscles and showed me how to do clamshell exercises and straight leg raises on each side. The goal is 40 repetitions twice daily. She also showed me how to stretch by sitting in a chair and putting one ankle on my opposite knee and draping my arms over my leg for 15 seconds to repeat three times on each side. The final stretch is to curl forward from a chair and reach for the floor between my legs and hold it for 15 seconds three times several times daily. I can also use my massage gun on my sore muscles to loosen them. I was amazed that after doing these exercises and stretches I had total pain relief for about 30 minutes!
Thank You, Lord, for progress.
I returned to the pool two days later wearing my swim shorts and top. The assistant had me demonstrate the exercises and pulled on my legs to relieve the imbalance in my pelvis. I then descended the steps into the delightfully four-foot-deep warm pool. She demonstrated how I needed to walk up and down doing three laps of forward, backward, sidewise, goosestep, marching, bottom kick, and Rockette step. Then I practiced standing on one foot, squats, and ended with stretches.
My treat at the end was to hang from a floating noodle for 15 minutes in the 9-foot-deep section to stretch out my back. That felt wonderful!
June 15, 2023
“Today we will do your two-week evaluation, Pam.”
I have faithfully done my exercises at home twice daily in between my thrice weekly PT sessions. I did almost two hours of therapy on land and in the pool some days and feel much stronger.
I filled out my self-evaluation of my pain and my ability to do my activities of daily living. On May 31 I scored 29/50. Fifty would be equal to severe pain and almost bedbound status. Today I scored 17/50. A huge improvement!
Then the PT had me sit and stand up from the chair without using my arms. I did it 9 times. Another improvement from zero. My goal is to do it 30 times daily. It’s becoming easier to remember to tuck my chin when I sit and stand.
Finally, the balance test. I was able to stand for 16 seconds on the right foot and 9 seconds on the left. In the pool, I can stand for 60 seconds on each foot.
My PT said, “Good job, Pam! You have tripled your strength in two weeks!”
I thank the Lord for helping me do my exercises faithfully and for so much progress. I am blessed to have access to this beautiful aquatic facility near my home. In addition to increasing my strength, stamina, and balance, my ultimate goal is to be able to sit without pain for more than 15 minutes. This will certainly make driving and traveling much easier. I must be patient with my body and be content with each day He gives me.
Pamela's Nursing Reflections 