another grat day

skippy here... another great day with more progress. day 2 of being off my medication so it appears the fog is lifting. i did lots of walking today. i was challenged again since it appears i tackle what they give me each session. so today, i was able to balance on a piece of wood with another piece of wood attached to the bottom. sue this had a name, but i dont know. the goal was to practice weight shifting fro my right to left leg. tough to do w/o feeling on my left side. but it was about trusting that i have a left leg, and strength and balance. then i walked over to the mock stairs and walked up and down those....then over to a balance beam. that is when i said you've got to be kidding. i didnt have to walk the beam, but i did have to practice walking over the beam. this tested my vision, my ability to think about what to do when i got to the board and balance to step over it back and forth. i stepped over it leading with my left foot followed by my right. then backwards over the beam leading with my left followed by my right.

amazing!! SIMPLISTIc sounding, but very challenging.

now when i walk, i try to focus on relaxing my left side to lose what i call the "gorilla claw" look. as i walk, i have to bear my weight on my left leg, and make sure that i'm on my left leg for a few seconds before taking my next step. this weight bear forces me to relax all the way down to my fingers. strange but it works. lots to think about while walking!! so hope to have more pics and/or video soon.

as for feeling....i still cant feel touch on my left side, but sensation and awareness is coming back slowly. my face feels like i ad novocaine that is wearing off. the best feeling is in the morning when i wake up. i can feel the muscles stretch all the way thru my body, even the left side. finally, a sensation that brings a good feeling.

hope that update helps.

denys is on her way up here although not sure if i will c her tonight. she arrives after visiting hours and the hospital doors get locked to the rehab area. so i may spend the whole day here with her in the hospitalon friday. oh goodie, either the club med dining room,for lunch or cafe. either one, yuck!! sorry denys

skippy