Alright, here are some updates. I'm a huge fan of the bullet-style blogging (if you haven't already noticed), so - read on...
* I have a start date for OMT: September 15. Unfortunately, that's a long way off. This OMT (who has apparently treated SPD/PSD/PGP before, wahoo!) only sees three new patients a week, so... that's me. Since she's one of few in my area, she's obviously booked out. Also, I'll travel about a hour and 15 minutes to get to her. I'm on the cancellation list, so we shall see if that happens. In any case, I'm excited to see what OMT has to offer me!
* I met with my ortho doc again yesterday, for x-rays and an examination. The bad news: my PS gap has hardly closed. I was at 2.5cm at 10 weeks PP, and am now at about 2.3cm at just over 6 months PP. I say "bad news", because my heart sunk when I saw that. However, my doc says that, even if the width of my gap stays stubbornly where it is, my recovery can still progress, with continued focus on core strength, pelvic floor work, and gait training. I see that I should believe this, because (a) if I don't, what do I have left?! and (b) he (my doc) has treated SPD before, and seen nearly full recoveries happen.
* The good news from my ortho doc: I am officially ditching my walker, and moving on to using a cane! I have secretly been using a cane for the past few weeks, at first just around the house, but in the past week while out and about, too. I decided to go for it after hearing from some of the ladies in the SPD Facebook group: many were moved from the walker to the cane at around 3 weeks postpartum, on the recommendation of their pelvic PTs. I confessed all of this to my ortho doc, and he nodded sagely and said, "Good for you - that's the right choice". I told him about my PTs being gun shy about progressing me, and he wrote them a note for me to deliver, explaining that now is the time to let me "weight bear to tolerance". #letsgoooo
* In addition to continuing with my current PTs and pool work, I'm going to see a pelvic PT, too. I found a woman who practices about 10 minutes from the school where I work (!!!), and asked my ortho doc if it would be a good idea for me to see her, too. He said that, while he has a lot of knowledge after having practiced for 35 years, he is open to trying new things (such as writing a referral for a PT he has no personal knowledge of), and gives me his medical blessing. So. Stay tuned for more on that!
* Little R slept for the entire night, with no wake-ups, in his crib last night, for the first time ever. He also started daycare this week (he'll be going 3 days/week), and he (nor I) has suffered too much with the transition so far.
Speaking of the devil, he's done in his jumparoo for the time being. Time for a diaper change, a bottle, and a nap. More later -
Showing posts with label assistive devices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label assistive devices. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Friday, July 1, 2016
Onward, Onward
Well, here we are, almost a month from my last post. Here is what's cooking...
* I am officially back in the pool for PT, without any resurgence of infection! THANK GOODNESS. Today will mark my fourth session, and I am loving it. My body is also loving it... the weightlessness of the salt water pool is amazing - I literally feel no pain when I'm in there. I am currently working on walking "regularly" (heel-to-toe, natural stride length, etc.) and strengthening both my hips and my belly. MAN, will I ever be excited when I can begin working away at my mommy-pooch... !
* My first session with my therapist went well. I definitely haven't ruled out meeting with her again - as a matter of fact, I plan to next week. I was worried that I would leave that first meeting thinking that I had wasted my time, but that's not the case. Hopefully it will help me feel better about everything that has happened.
* This month I meet with the orthopedic trauma doctor again. I'll have another round of x-rays to see how my healing is going, and to make a plan of attack for the next few months of recovery. I'm still using the Rollator now, but I wonder if the doc will support me using a cane and/or crutches instead - my PT has been wondering if that would be a good next step (no pun intended), to help me re-learn how to walk correctly (gait training). We shall see.
I am finding it hard to believe that it's been almost 5 months since R was born, since I first learned what a pubic symphysis is, and how much it sucks to have it rupture. Maybe these blog posts have helped someone else going through the same thing, or dealing with PSD, etc. etc. No matter what, I know that that blogging has been a definite, therapeutic activity on this end. Here's to RECOVERY - no matter how slow it's been, it's HAPPENING. #staythankful
* I am officially back in the pool for PT, without any resurgence of infection! THANK GOODNESS. Today will mark my fourth session, and I am loving it. My body is also loving it... the weightlessness of the salt water pool is amazing - I literally feel no pain when I'm in there. I am currently working on walking "regularly" (heel-to-toe, natural stride length, etc.) and strengthening both my hips and my belly. MAN, will I ever be excited when I can begin working away at my mommy-pooch... !
* My first session with my therapist went well. I definitely haven't ruled out meeting with her again - as a matter of fact, I plan to next week. I was worried that I would leave that first meeting thinking that I had wasted my time, but that's not the case. Hopefully it will help me feel better about everything that has happened.
* This month I meet with the orthopedic trauma doctor again. I'll have another round of x-rays to see how my healing is going, and to make a plan of attack for the next few months of recovery. I'm still using the Rollator now, but I wonder if the doc will support me using a cane and/or crutches instead - my PT has been wondering if that would be a good next step (no pun intended), to help me re-learn how to walk correctly (gait training). We shall see.
I am finding it hard to believe that it's been almost 5 months since R was born, since I first learned what a pubic symphysis is, and how much it sucks to have it rupture. Maybe these blog posts have helped someone else going through the same thing, or dealing with PSD, etc. etc. No matter what, I know that that blogging has been a definite, therapeutic activity on this end. Here's to RECOVERY - no matter how slow it's been, it's HAPPENING. #staythankful
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Assistive Devices
I've had to rely on an assortment of assistive devices since coming home from the hospital. Here they are, with reviews and all:
* A Rollator walker: This has been my most used assistive device. Before getting a Rollator, I was using a less heavy-duty, 2-wheeled walker. The Rollator has 4 wheels, ergonomic handles, brakes, and a seat that also functions as a place to store/transport things. These days, I don't use the Rollator when I'm moving around small areas in my house (like the bathroom, the walk-in closet, etc.). So long as I have something to balance myself on nearby (counter tops, door frames, and the like), I do OK. The Rollator also easily folds up and fits in the trunk of my small SUV for transport. I have it in a bright blue color, too, which adds to its appeal in my mind.
* A grabber: This is used to (what else!) grab things that are out of reach. There are TONS of affordable grabbers out there - I have an EZ Reacher that I found at Rite Aid. I don't need to use it anymore, but it was most helpful to pull up my pants (TMI? Maybe. Oh well!) and pull down shades in my living room.
* A raised toilet seat: A completely necessary item! When I first came home from the hospital, sitting down was NOT easy to do. Both the pain and the unsteadiness of my core contributed to that. I have a Drive Medical Elevated Toilet Seat, with the padded arms. It's still installed in our guest bathroom, although I could probably sit and stand without it now.
* A rubber ring seat: I didn't start using this until a few weeks ago, when I started sitting at the kitchen table again. It's literally a rubber, blowup ring that you sit on - VERY comfortable. I also picked this up at Rite Aid.
These were all things that my PT suggested I use. They all definitely helped my functionality around the house. Even though I paid out of pocket for a few of them, I figure I'll use them again when I reach the geriatric stage of life! :)
Also, for the record: it took me 3 days to write and publish this post, thanks to the presence of my little R. He'll be 3 months old next week... time is FLYING, in that regard!
* A Rollator walker: This has been my most used assistive device. Before getting a Rollator, I was using a less heavy-duty, 2-wheeled walker. The Rollator has 4 wheels, ergonomic handles, brakes, and a seat that also functions as a place to store/transport things. These days, I don't use the Rollator when I'm moving around small areas in my house (like the bathroom, the walk-in closet, etc.). So long as I have something to balance myself on nearby (counter tops, door frames, and the like), I do OK. The Rollator also easily folds up and fits in the trunk of my small SUV for transport. I have it in a bright blue color, too, which adds to its appeal in my mind.
* A grabber: This is used to (what else!) grab things that are out of reach. There are TONS of affordable grabbers out there - I have an EZ Reacher that I found at Rite Aid. I don't need to use it anymore, but it was most helpful to pull up my pants (TMI? Maybe. Oh well!) and pull down shades in my living room.
* A raised toilet seat: A completely necessary item! When I first came home from the hospital, sitting down was NOT easy to do. Both the pain and the unsteadiness of my core contributed to that. I have a Drive Medical Elevated Toilet Seat, with the padded arms. It's still installed in our guest bathroom, although I could probably sit and stand without it now.
* A rubber ring seat: I didn't start using this until a few weeks ago, when I started sitting at the kitchen table again. It's literally a rubber, blowup ring that you sit on - VERY comfortable. I also picked this up at Rite Aid.
These were all things that my PT suggested I use. They all definitely helped my functionality around the house. Even though I paid out of pocket for a few of them, I figure I'll use them again when I reach the geriatric stage of life! :)
Also, for the record: it took me 3 days to write and publish this post, thanks to the presence of my little R. He'll be 3 months old next week... time is FLYING, in that regard!
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