Skip to main content

PT, OT, ADL and DC

If you’ve ever been in the hospital for an ortho issue or know anything about some hospital admissions, there are certain things besides going to the potty you have to do in order to get out. It’s like working parole.


So my first attempts at physical therapy were miserable failures. I was taught how to do butt crunches (yea it’s a real thing), straight leg raises (really relatively speaking), heel slides (sure can’t bend my knee but if you say so) and I think there was one more but I can’t remember. My first attempt to get out of bed and walk was met with lightheaded and decreased BP. My second attempt was a rapid response. Third time was the charm. Hands on walker, right foot on the floor let’s go. Man that was hard, but getting out of that room was nice. Now I could see the hallway and the elevators/exits. I would soon be liberated from BMH. The therapist and her student were fantastic. The walker had wheels on the front, and the back walker feet sliding on the floor made a marvelous, loud, disturbing fart sound! (Giggle)

Occupational therapy is interesting. ADL=activities of daily living. Before I could be discharged I had prove that I could do basic things to take care of myself- shower, put on socks, shoes and clothes. In order to do all these things the occupational therapist comes. Are you serious lady, we are going to the shower together? Lord. Fortunately this lady reminded me of a tech i have known for years, but how freaking weird is this? So literally I had to wash my hair, body and especially feet. Had to use a sponge on a stick to reach my feet. Mind you it felt good to actually have a real shower Next was getting dressed. So we shuffle back to the room where I was given a long reacher and the best tool ever invented—the sock tool!!! But wait, i forgot the best part. My very wise Mom had brought my clothes a day before knowing I was getting discharged soon.

As the OT was helping me learn to use the reacher to get things around my feet then up - we got my underwear started and up I pulled. Uh oh!!! They got stuck halfway up my left thigh. They were too small!!! Oh no! Of course I started laughing. Why would anything work out right now? So we just punted the idea of underwear and decided I would just go commando.

 


Once I was dressed and sitting back in bed. All that remained was a dressing change, remove the iv and get discharge instructions. It was time to leave! I had seen Builder Bob for the last time the previous day because he was going on vacation and would miss my discharge day. I assured him I would work hard in rehab and once I made it back up Mill Mountain would send him a picture so he would know I made my recovery.


Soon the discharge nurse came, the PT and the aides were in my room stuffing anything and everything in belongings bags. Bandage changed and IV out. Into the wheelchair I went to go outside for the first time in days. The two NAs who helped us out to the car were super sweet. Once we got down there the mystery of how I would get in and out began. There was no way I was getting in the front seat. Despite pushing the seat all the way back, I couldn’t bend my leg enough to get in. So to the backseat I went. Got in on the drivers side and slid myself to the other side so I could keep my leg in the seat. I was finally free!!!!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The ER. Xray and introducing Builder Bob

In walks the ER doctor, “hey, what did you do, where are you from?” I crashed my bike, I probably broke my hip, I whacked my head but never lost consciousness ma’am. She, of course looked at my helmet - a few scratches, small dent but otherwise intact. Yay Giro for making good stuff and yay for a hard head. No headache so that was good. She checked other parts, nope nothing else just hip pain, some road rash on the same, both knees scraped a bit and a scrape on left elbow. During our meeting the doctor shared with me that she was a graduate of VCOM (the DO school in Blacksburg) and that she had done a brief rotation at CRMH where I worked for many years. Her name was familiar but we saw so many residents and students it would be impossible to remember them all unless they stood out for good reasons or bad. My old ER friends may remember her - Jessica Flinchum. She was super nice and friendly. Soon I was whisked away to X-ray by my ER nurse. I expressed to the nurse that I w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 4 of Head Cold from Hell

Things I wish for right now: warm weather no rain no illness to feel at least 85% for more than a week to go hiking to ride my bike I don't call in sick to work, but Thursday afternoon; I told my boss I wasn't coming on Friday.  I rested and watched a ton of basketball all day yesterday.  Today I feel more energetic, but my ear is stopped up now.  Typical for when I get colds.  It will probably be this way now for months.  
Post a Comment
Read more

Busy, but haven't forgotten that I owe ya'll a post or two

I've been busy with holiday stuff... Let's see in the while I've been away from my blog.. I painted 4 rooms in my house, replaced 7 mini-blinds... I've been to Knoxville and back for the Garth Brooks concert.  Overall, it was ok.  I've seen much better Garth shows, but it was cool to be in Neyland at night with all of those people. UT needs to figure out it's ADA plan post show though - that's a joke and a long story.  One that is longer than I have time for right now. Decorated for the Christmas - I'll have to do a separate post about my Lego village. Been to Richmond, VA and back to pick up cakes for my birthday and holidays. Did a birthday bike ride for the first time in 2 years. Hoping to do the annual Christmas Light Tour ride in Grandin on Wednesday - weather permitting. The rain and cold and probably wind will return this week. Anyway, I'll be back to post more soon as oh ya, I signed up for The Appalachian Journey - ...
Post a Comment
Read more