Today saw one of the first real pieces of the wedding jigsaw fall into place, cleo going to the nail bar to have those christmas talons changed for wedding ones. Purple and silver creations that took nearly two hours to do, making us 15 minutes late for physio at lunchtime! (click the picture for an enlarged view)
I have to say that the girl who does cleo's nails is an absolute artist but can she talk. Of that 2 hours I would estimate that 50% at least is chat. Still thats what it's about I guess.
We have agreed with James that we will pursue some specific exercises at home on a daily basis. While cleo gets regular practise at walking just by moving about, her arm and hand are more problematic. Because they are immobile, and because they are not being used, the wrist and hand is prone to soreness, and shortening of the muscles. This causes the wrist to bend, bringing the hand into a "claw" like position. Our aim is that even if ( and we really don't know yet) cleo gets no movement in her hand or forearm that she will at least have a wrist that does not create that claw hand. This is achieved by daily stretching exercises.
We will follow james' instructions in this respect, and hopefully improve the muscle length in the arm, at the wrist and shoulder, remove the soreness and pain that is there, and maybe even induce conditions more conducive to movement.
WE will set aside at least one hour each day to do exercises designed to help movement, and supplenes in cleos wrist and arm. As well as this we bought one of those large balls that are used in physio gymnasiums, which is pumped up now, and which James has used with cleo several times. With one at home we can also work on her leg strength and control too.
It is important to try and get some movement and control in her toes too, because toes are important for balance. Our balance is achieved in several ways, all working together including processing visual stimuli, a gyroscope type function within our ears (thats why you feel dizzy when you have an ear infection) and muscle control within the body, including the feet and toes.
cleo is determined that she will get back her walk ( she has a great walk, very sexy, and very provocative), and I am determined to help her do it.
I am sure we will succeed.
This afternoon saw a first visit from the speech therapist, who has left cleo with some specific exercises to help the numbness in her face: cleo describes this as like the effect after having had an injection at the dentist, when the feeling is coming back but you have less than full control of the tongue or cheek muscles. This is what creates the slight slur in her voice now. Having tried the exercises just this afternoon she said that she felt a slight improvement in her face even after that one attempt. She can work on these whenever she has a few moments to spare, and I am sure that these will help.
The next few weeks are going to be more about the work we do at home, than what we get from the hospital I think, and we need to set goals, and targets for ourselves. We must adhere to what we have agreed, and not give up if we see little or no improvement. It is really about perseverance.
We still await the visit from the core team physio.
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