It's almost been a full year since I last posted a blog. I just want to make sure that everyone knows that this is not the result of me not seeing progress, but just the results of how you know you need to do something and have a hard time making yourself do it.
Well, now that I've said that let me tell you everything has been going great with one exception. I have been fighting the worst nerve pain for sometime now. I've tried a half dozen so-called nerve pain medications that had little or no effect. I'm not one for sitting at home and drooling on myself so your medication that is normally prescribed for pain I'm not interested in. It's in my butt and mainly my tailbone area, which is about the worst place I can have it at. Other than that, my health has been pretty much tip-top. I recently went back to India for my fourth trip in December. My father went with me and we had a wonderful trip. It sure was good to see all my old friends. As always, they were pleased to see my improvements. My hand functions are coming but at a very slow pace. Better thumb movement is present. I wouldn't say I have finger control just yet. They are kind of in the flickering stage if you know what I mean. My upper body strength continues to build. Core strength has improved enough where they took the top part of my calipers off. Now they go just past the waist. I still wear the belt to tuck in my butt and also a binder around the waist for additional support. Nonetheless, a big step to my recovery. I was really able to initiate good steps with my old calipers. I was getting good movement from my hips going forward and really good movement going backwards. With the new setup it's like starting all over again. I'm really starting to initiate good controlled movement with my legs. My trainers are all confirming this. I am able to roll from my stomach to my back easily now, which may not sound like much but is a huge accomplishment. I was able to evacuate urine from my bladder on my own on a couple different occasions. Nothing consistent though. I am able to evacuate my bowels better on my own as well. Sensation with my muscles strecthing and and tightening has increased. That all being from the chest down. Progress is slow but steady. As always, headed in the right direction.
