Therapy and recovery from post surgery deficits

[richard0314]

Hey John, remember you are only limited to your goals. If i quit every time i got fed up with my recovery i don't know where i'd be right now. I'm not saying life isn't tougher on us but quiting isn't an option. everyday you have to set a goal and reach it. I have found that this disease has had more of a psycological effect on me that anything else and just when i thought i couldn't i did. Don't let anyone tell you your done. recovery is a life long mission and everyday you'll find you accomplished something you couldn't do yesterday. in 2003 i never thought i would be able to stay in the Army, today i am on my 13th month in Iraq doing what i love to do, which is soldiering. I'm not saying it's always easy, but then most of life great rewards are the one you work the hardest for. when you wake up feeling like this is it, remember there is more and you can achieve anything as long as you set your mind to it. good luck and remember to keep setting those goals.

Good luck

[john8888]

Richard

“Quitting isn't an option” is a very powerful message.

The posts in this steam have amazed and inspired me. I would not have believed that people ran marathons, returned to the Army and even returned to Kung Fu post spinal tumour surgery.

But you all have.

Now I just have to keep working though the “dead leg and numb bum” and join you all some day

Thanks

John

[dennis]

John said:

Therapy

Based on your personal experience do you feel there is a relationship between the amounts of physical therapy a person undertakes post surgery and the level of recovery from deficits?

Do you think there would be a difference in your eventual level of deficit recovery?

Are all the hours in the gym worth it?

I had surgery in Dec 2007 and now spend 2 to 3 hours each day in the gym following all of the exercises my therapist has recommended. Is it worth it in the long term?

I was a skier, golfer, squash player etc pre tumour but had been reduced to shuffling after a block walking in pain pre surgery. Like many of the stories I have read here I have more deficits post surgery (i.e. the buzzing, numbness below the chest, inability to balance, pain)

What is your view? Are hours and hours in the gym worth it?

[Joel]

John:
As with all things post-op, there are huge variances wrt recoveries and capabilities. Running is completely out of the question for me. But I push myself to adapt to my new capabilities and continue to work out--at least that is when I "feel" the best. Whether or not it has helped anything I don't know. But the mental help is very important to me. Riding a trike, adaptive skiing, traveling, reading, writing; these are the things I can still do well and love to do. Just keep exploring and testing yourself.
Joel

[john8888]

Joel

That is wise advice, thank you.

On the site, I noticed your posts about adaptive skiing and that you have had two surgeries 11 years ago and again 4 years ago. It was good to hear that there are options for future skiing.

Were there differences in your rate recovery and reduction of deficits between the two?

John

[went]

As I'm sure has already been said numerous times in this topic; it all depends.

I believe it's important. That being said, I've been doing nothing but therapy and exercise for the past year and a half, and I really can't do anything. I can't even stand up.

Have things gotten better? Yes, and I'm grateful for that. Have things gotten better to the put where it's functional? No, nothing has, so are any of my gains worth it at the end of the day? It's debatable.

It all depends on what damage was done what you can and will get back. You have to work at it, though, if you want any recovery.

So yes, you need to keep at it, or I will punch you in the face. My arms still work. A punch of love and best wishes, of course.

[went]

Another thing: If you do any smaller-type exercise (like just flexing muscles, or something of the sort) I've found that doing them over and over throughout the day helps. Rather than just doing a bunch of them at once and completely draining the muscle, do a few every hour or so, and it kind of gets the brain used to using them all day long.

[john8888]

Ryan

I just read your post “The Tale of Ryan’s Tumor” in the topic “A Theory on Walking Again”

Your story is amazing. I thought I was pushing the envelope at 3 hours a day in the gym but now I have your shining example up there on my wall.

Next time I grumble on my way to the gym I will read your quote

“I’ve dedicated my life to getting better. 24/7, it’s nothing but exercise. Exercising at home in the morning, then going to rehab, then exercising at home after rehab, then shocking my legs with a Neuromuscular Stimulator”

Thank you for the inspiration.

John

[went]

john8888 said:

Ryan

I just read your post “The Tale of Ryan’s Tumor” in the topic “A Theory on Walking Again”

Your story is amazing. I thought I was pushing the envelope at 3 hours a day in the gym but now I have your shining example up there on my wall.

Next time I grumble on my way to the gym I will read your quote

“I’ve dedicated my life to getting better. 24/7, it’s nothing but exercise. Exercising at home in the morning, then going to rehab, then exercising at home after rehab, then shocking my legs with a Neuromuscular Stimulator”

Thank you for the inspiration.

John

Well thank you, that's quite flattering. I really only exercise that much because I have to, you know? Nothing is working, so I have to keep trying until I get things to work.

Once you get moving ahead, you probably need to take breaks and let things catch up. I'm sure three hours in a gym is enough. I can't do a lot of "normal" things, so a lot of my exercise is just simple things like trying to lift my feet off of the ground, etc. I just happen to do it all day long.

It's a difficult dichotomy, because you have to sort of dedicate yourself to it, but you can't let it completely take over your life. You shouldn't at least. I have, and that's probably a mistake. I wouldn't tell anyone else to do it, because I'm not going lie, I lead a fairly miserably existence at the moment, ha.

[chickiet]

This thread is very inspirational - comments from each of you are so motiviating.

It would be nice if this thread could keep getting put at the top so that any new folks coming in would be sure to read it, and so that the rest of us could get a "refresher" on those positive statements that will help keep us trying.

I think that "just try your best" should be somehow implanted in all of our brains. We are all at different points in recovery and all have different deficits, but if we all give it our best every day, that's the most we can ask of ourselves. "Our best" can even change daily for each of us, but having goals and focusing on them is key.

Chris