jwg

On the way to South Africa we had a day in London. One of the things we did while there was to visit the Wellcome Collection - a museum dedicated to exhibitions about health. Henry Wellcome was a medical entrepreneur and his estate provided funding to start this collection and it's mission to deal with Health care ideas.and It had a large collection of medical devices including some 19th century artificial limbs.





There was also a collection called Play Well. It featured exibitions of things to enduce children and adults to play constructively. which has good health implications. With various subtleties such as a dolls' house that was open on both sides to encourage children to work together. Also Legos and larger collections of objects to place in play areas that would encourage experimental construction.

I remember as a child I loved setting up and modifying my elaborate electric train layout and also playing with erector sets to build elaborate structures;.

Progress is slow and steady. I started using a cane instead of the walker yesterday and that is a big improvement. And I barely need the cane but safety prevails. Today the PT guy came and agreed I don't need PT any more. After the neck brace is no longer needed there will be some neck PT as well as a device that stimulates bone growth. Appointment with the surgeon for that is three weeks away. I suspect after the visiting nurse comes tomorrow (I think it is tomorrow - they call in the morning) that will be her last visit.

annburlingham posted this pc in a FB comment today about my cane use. I'm not there yet.


I lost 18 pounds through this ordeal. I hope I don't gain must of it back because I'd like to remain thinner. My appetite is still smaller than it used to be - and I tire easily. Healing consumes lots of energy. I am doing more walking and just ordered a peddler (which I tried out with the PT guy who had one in his car) which will allow me to do peddling while sitting or put it on a table and get extra arm exercise.

Yesterday the OT person brought another shower caddie and now the shampoos, etc. are reachable from my shower seat. I managed my own shower today without Robert's help.

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This was supposed to have been posted on Aug1, but although I put it on FaceBook I forgot to post it here.
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Home Rehab
I've been home for a week. Much nicer than in hospital.

I still have a bit of occasional pain in my neck. It comes as a result usually from raising my arms. Ice on the bcd of my neck helps reduce/ eliminate the pain. Also there still is a bit of swelling there; making my neck brace a bit less tight helps reduce that.

I've had 3 visiting nurse visits, 2 Occupational Therapy visits and one Physical Therapy. All these people seem to agree I'm doing quite well and don't need much other than the passing of time. Today a trip into Cambridge to check in with my regular doctor.

In addition to walking with the walker I have an array of leg exercises that I do.

Had a much needed haircut on Wednesday.

I currently take Oxycontin twice a day and only occasional other pain meds. Last night I skipped the Oxycontin. I had trouble falling asleep (even though during the several hows before going to bed I had a hard time avoiding sleep while watching TV). But there wasn't amy pain. Tonight I think I'll try 1/2 the dose of Oxycontin. When things are normal I often have trouble falling asleep - melatonin usually works.; I took one after several hours of no sleep and it helped.

On Tuesday I went to JP with rsc; it was English Country Dance night - I watched and chatted with a bunch of people. This was the first time that when I saw bunch of people they weren't mostly hospital workers.

susandennis wondered how I was and I realize that although I have been posting sporadicly to FaceBook, I haven't posted here.

I remain in rehab; the target release date is Friday, the 25th. I don't know how accurate that is, and will probably find out more on Tuesday.

I continue to make progress slowly but surely.  I use a walker to get around. I have mild to occasionally severe pain in my middle back, right shoulder, and right forearm/elbow. Position, pain medication, heat or ice help. Over time the situation improves.

We just ordered a shower seat, a hand held shower hose/nozzle, a bar to mount on the tub edge, and a suction bar for the wall and 3 sets of handles to mount on the toilet (one for one of the bathrooms in Cambridge). These are all to make sure I can navigate the use of the bathroom safely. Hopefully I won't need them for long.