When is when???

nathanjmac · 01-06-2009, 06:34 PM

I am not sure if this is the correct page, however, my question is just as is asked. When is when? When do you decide to stop therapy and 'go on' with your life after an injury?
For me it has been almost a year and a half. I have since moved from the Washington DC area where I was being taught to live in a chair to Southern California to a very intense rehab program. Here, I have made tremendous strides in all aspects of a 'recovery'. I can now almost stand unassisted and my legs are 100% stronger. No atrophy, more muscle mass, and more movement. I really feel that I am closer to ever to standing unassisted and using my strong hip flexers (sp?) to take steps.
Am I wasting my time? Am I wasting $200 a day 3X a week? Should I go on with life and resume my goal of opening a restaurant and occupying my time and life with that dream? Or... Should I follow my dreams and goals of walking and regaining what I had before my injury?
By the way, I am a T12 incomplete with great movement and feeling.
Thanks.

gurly2356 · 01-06-2009, 06:39 PM

If you are still having good progress you might want to give it your all until you see you aren't having any changes.

You might really kick yourself in the ass years from now if you give up.

trainman · 01-06-2009, 06:49 PM

Therapy is something that needs to always continue, at least in some sort. I'm nearing 24 years and still do ROM exercises 3-4 times a day. I agree that if you're still showing recovery, keep at it. It's said that there can be significant recovery for the first two years, and you haven't reached that yet.

You could slow down and start working for your dreams, but this is something that will need to continue far down the road.

gurly2356 · 01-06-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman

Therapy is something that needs to always continue, at least in some sort. I'm nearing 24 years and still do ROM exercises 3-4 times a day. I agree that if you're still showing recovery, keep at it. It's said that there can be significant recovery for the first two years, and you haven't reached that yet.

You could slow down and start working for your dreams, but this is something that will need to continue far down the road.

He doesn't have to do the intense therapy for the rest of his life. He could do ROM & other stuff at his home. No one could afford to do therapy all their life at $200 a day/3x a week.

zillazangel · 01-06-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainman

Therapy is something that needs to always continue, at least in some sort. I'm nearing 24 years and still do ROM exercises 3-4 times a day. I agree that if you're still showing recovery, keep at it. It's said that there can be significant recovery for the first two years, and you haven't reached that yet.

You could slow down and start working for your dreams, but this is something that will need to continue far down the road.

Wow .... ROM 3-4 times a day, I cannot keep up with even daily most of the time for Chad, even knowing it should be done.

chick · 01-06-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanjmac

Should I go on with life and resume my goal of opening a restaurant and occupying my time and life with that dream? Or... Should I follow my dreams and goals of walking and regaining what I had before my injury?

You seem to have two dreams. Why not pursue both? I don't think it needs to be one or the other. If you have multiple passions and goals, achieving your objectives and fulfilling your dreams may take longer and demand much more of your time, energy, and commitment, but in the end, you may have less regret and 'what-if's' if one dream is not foresaken for the other.

If you are continuing to have returns and increasing strength and function with your rehabilitation efforts, you shouldn't just quit altogether. Maybe, for example, re-organize those efforts so you can utilize those times you are not in therapy, toward starting your restaurant. Like others have said, rehabbing your body after injury can be a life long process, with ebbs and flows along the way. I think rehab can be seen as a (one) means of achieving total health and well-being, rather than just something one does right after injury; nor is some critical mass necessary before starting/returning to your life's other goals/journey.

cheesecake · 01-06-2009, 08:00 PM

Why go all the way to CA? You could go to KKI in Baltimore, most insurances cover it, do intense rehab, start a program at home, and follow up in Baltimore 1x a year.

It is a balancing act, no pun intended. I am a walking quad and frequently have to balance between rehab and life. These days I mix the two and have an excellent home program.

SCI-Nurse · 01-06-2009, 08:01 PM

Are you really doing anything in this program that you could not do on your own at home, after perhaps purchasing some exercise equipment? By now you should know the techniques and regimen.

Everyone should have a home program that they follow to keep themself strong and flexible. A program that you could do in 1-2 hours daily would allow you to return to your home, and get one with your life without "settling" for what you have gotten as far as benefit from the intensive exercise program, but to continue to work on any return you get and do your own rehab.

(KLD)

trainman · 01-06-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gurly2356

He doesn't have to do the intense therapy for the rest of his life. He could do ROM & other stuff at his home. No one could afford to do therapy all their life at $200 a day/3x a week.

nathanjmac, sorry if this is the impression you got. I was meaning exercising in general, not the intense work you're doing now. Anything to keep the joints loose, bones strong and body in good condition.

arndog · 01-06-2009, 11:08 PM

Nathan - you are 32 years old. You may live another 60 years or more. My opinion is that to make that 'enjoyable' you need to strengthen every muscle that luckily will contract. I agree with KLD that there is nothing magic about PT unless you really need someone to count your repetitions and give encouragement ! It is really very simple. Every joint needs good ROM , through proper stretching which you should have learned. And every muscle that luckily contracts needs to be stressed in order to strengthen. And your weight should be kept as low as possible into to transfer, stand and make all movements easier.
Do they have you walking with a walker yet?
Did you work out or exercise before your injury?
I am 7 years out from injury and people will ask me if I do 'therapy' still. I say that it seems that life is continual therapy. Every transfer, every time I struggle and stretch to reach my feet to put shoes on, balancing standing as a brush my teeth, it just never ends. Of course I am really tired by the end of the day due to life/therapy.....
Good luck !
Jon

01-06-2009, 06:34 PM	#1
nathanjmac Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 76	When is when??? I am not sure if this is the correct page, however, my question is just as is asked. When is when? When do you decide to stop therapy and 'go on' with your life after an injury? For me it has been almost a year and a half. I have since moved from the Washington DC area where I was being taught to live in a chair to Southern California to a very intense rehab program. Here, I have made tremendous strides in all aspects of a 'recovery'. I can now almost stand unassisted and my legs are 100% stronger. No atrophy, more muscle mass, and more movement. I really feel that I am closer to ever to standing unassisted and using my strong hip flexers (sp?) to take steps. Am I wasting my time? Am I wasting $200 a day 3X a week? Should I go on with life and resume my goal of opening a restaurant and occupying my time and life with that dream? Or... Should I follow my dreams and goals of walking and regaining what I had before my injury? By the way, I am a T12 incomplete with great movement and feeling. Thanks.

01-06-2009, 06:39 PM	#2
gurly2356 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,561	If you are still having good progress you might want to give it your all until you see you aren't having any changes. You might really kick yourself in the ass years from now if you give up. __________________ Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.

01-06-2009, 06:49 PM	#3
trainman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: IA Posts: 1,348	Therapy is something that needs to always continue, at least in some sort. I'm nearing 24 years and still do ROM exercises 3-4 times a day. I agree that if you're still showing recovery, keep at it. It's said that there can be significant recovery for the first two years, and you haven't reached that yet. You could slow down and start working for your dreams, but this is something that will need to continue far down the road. __________________ C2/3 quad since February 20, 1985. Find out more of my life as a quad, and other topics, at www.joelvm.com.

01-06-2009, 08:00 PM	#7
cheesecake Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,523	Why go all the way to CA? You could go to KKI in Baltimore, most insurances cover it, do intense rehab, start a program at home, and follow up in Baltimore 1x a year. It is a balancing act, no pun intended. I am a walking quad and frequently have to balance between rehab and life. These days I mix the two and have an excellent home program. __________________ Every day I wake up is a good one

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01-06-2009, 08:01 PM	#8
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,523	Are you really doing anything in this program that you could not do on your own at home, after perhaps purchasing some exercise equipment? By now you should know the techniques and regimen. Everyone should have a home program that they follow to keep themself strong and flexible. A program that you could do in 1-2 hours daily would allow you to return to your home, and get one with your life without "settling" for what you have gotten as far as benefit from the intensive exercise program, but to continue to work on any return you get and do your own rehab. (KLD)

01-06-2009, 11:08 PM	#10
arndog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NV Posts: 2,901	Nathan - you are 32 years old. You may live another 60 years or more. My opinion is that to make that 'enjoyable' you need to strengthen every muscle that luckily will contract. I agree with KLD that there is nothing magic about PT unless you really need someone to count your repetitions and give encouragement ! It is really very simple. Every joint needs good ROM , through proper stretching which you should have learned. And every muscle that luckily contracts needs to be stressed in order to strengthen. And your weight should be kept as low as possible into to transfer, stand and make all movements easier. Do they have you walking with a walker yet? Did you work out or exercise before your injury? I am 7 years out from injury and people will ask me if I do 'therapy' still. I say that it seems that life is continual therapy. Every transfer, every time I struggle and stretch to reach my feet to put shoes on, balancing standing as a brush my teeth, it just never ends. Of course I am really tired by the end of the day due to life/therapy..... Good luck ! Jon