101 in 1001 version 3 Item 28... #disability #standingframe #botox #mission101

Use the standing frame everyday for a week

...has been completed!

I wanted to do this one now because having had more botox a few days before I wanted to make the most of it.

In someways using the frame everyday was easier than expected - i had wondered if it would get too painful after a few days running. And it didn't although on one or two days it was sore when it wouldn't usually be. At least one of those sore days was when my mum was helping me and she can't get the straps as tight as my dad does so that's possibly why.

Time was a bit of an issue though, working out when I could fit it in that someone else was also free. It wasn't a big deal but it was nice on Wednesday to just decide at 5 that I would pop to the supermarket and not have to stop and go "oh yeah, no, standing at 5.45, can't"

Achieving this goal felt really good and mum said she thinks my standing without the frame seems better. Although that said I did lose my balance when transferring on Thursday and need a little help getting in the car on the way home last night.


♥ Emma

You Know You Have CP When...

...You aren't sure that getting discharged from physio is the good thing everyone else is making it out to be.

I went back to the hospital on Wednesday and saw two physios and an orthotist. They were very pleased with the progress I've made with the standing frame (and so am I). I've been able to maintain the improved range of motion in my ankles and my feet are still looking what I consider to be wrong - they used to turn in a lot and I can't remember a time when they didn't. Now they are straighter (I believe my talus - one of the bones in the foot - is now in neutral position rather than rotated inwards).

I do keep looking at my feet and thinking they don't look right. But the fact is they are right for the first time in years or maybe even ever. A friend of mine popped round on Thursday and kept commenting how good my feet and legs look now (my spasticity is better controlled and I can keep my knees bent for a few minutes now if I concentrate rather than automatically spasming and locking out straight) and saying she couldn't stop staring at them. I was joking with her that her secret is out and that I now know she's a leg woman and attracted to me for my legs.

Anyway, back to the physio - my posture has improved which I believe should slowly help with pain. And my legs appear stronger meaning my standing transfers are better. I still have to use my arms to do it and always will not least because I have rubbish standing balance. BUT I am now using my legs more to push myself up in conjunction with pulling with my arms rather than just grabbing hold of something and pulling myself up - which had resulted in me pulling a grab rail off the wall at least twice.

The orthotist said that I would get no benefit from splints or another type of orthotics that I'm not getting from using the standing frame. I was very pleased by that! I'm actually quite enjoying the standing.

So I've been discharged from physio but will see the consultant before Christmas and there should be a physio in that clinic. I am a little apprehensive about being discharged but figure it'll be ok. The interesting thing about it is that people keep commenting "well done" or "congratulations" when I share my progress and I think it's a weird thing to say - because I can't see that anything big or amazing has come from this long, hard process. Then again as I sit here writing this I'm beginning to realise just what it is I've achieved - with the help of various physios and all the other people who have supported me. It might be me that's benefitting and my legs which show these small improvements but I couldn't have done it alone.