Boot Camp

Today was my first day of therapy. And all I can say is that they kicked my A$$! I was there for three hours of hard work. It is amazing how hard it is to make such small movements right now. I did get to stand up with assistance and work on putting some weight on my bad leg. We are also looking at getting me a new set of AFOs (ankle foot orthotics) to help stabilize my legs. I also now have a splint for my left hand to keep it from curling up so tightly. I am to wear it as much as possible during the day and all night. Let me tell you that typing one handed is exhausting and time consuming. So if some of these posts are short that is why. My therapists are incredible and totally rock. They push me but not to the point of significant pain or exhaustion.
What impressed me today was watching the elderly patients (I am the youngest here by probably 30+ years) who are working so hard to gain or maintain skills. No one complained the entire time that I was there. One man whom I believe had a brain injury at some point and now lives here (He is in the residential unit) actually refused to leave until he completed a specific exercise. Everyone was at their own ability level and working on their own needs, but we all respected each other's battles.
After therapy I decided to be brave and join in one of the scheduled activities. I was with a small group of old women and they were so nice to me. We made Christmas cards and craft gingerbread people. Several of them could not write, and it was so nice to be able to help even one handed. It was an activity like I would have done with my preschoolers but still fun and a nice change of scenery. But sitting up for even longer wore me out. By the end I was slumped to the side and raced at the rate of a sick snail back to my room.
I also ate in the dining hall today for two meals. Old people get stuck in their ways and do not seem to like change. I tried to roll up to a table with three sweet looking old women and was told that the spot was taken - by someone not there- and I needed to move. I will get to the cafeteria early when I choose to eat there (I can also eat in my room) so I can start at an empty table and let them choose whether to sit with me or not. The ladies at the activity were much nicer.
My migraine still has not gone away. It is tolerable during the day but gets much worse at night and in the early mornings. I have no pain medicine for it, as the theory (and I call it a theory) is that pain medicine can actually cause it to rebound worse. I for one am willing to take that chance. It has to end soon...right?