daily accomplishments

Tom would probably call this a “list” & he really thinks it’s a waste of my time to make such lists, but I want to keep track of my accomplishments (and if I have an accomplishment everyday, even just one, that’s something to celebrate!).  Since my stroke I would start such lists of accomplishments, and then get rid of them, and then start them new again. Well, that cycle went on for some time. I’m done starting and stopping...I am ready to take it seriously now. Here goes...

I want to keep trying new therapies/exercises - new methods. The methods that definitely work for me, I want to incorporate into my daily routine. Those that have certain steps that are good (but maybe not all), I want to adjust & incorporate them into my daily &/or weekly routine.

I will incorporate what I have done & included in my Therapy Tuesday blogs in today’s blog to start, and then I can build from there. Another thing that was pointed out to me several times, at several different locations, since my subdural hematoma (stroke) was that it is very valuable for post-stroke rehab persons to dwell on their accomplishments on a regular basis. It helps them realize what works for them & what doesn’t & how much effort they are putting into their own rehabilitation.

First is my schedule of Tuesday Therapy blogs per my website (here at www.pegspoststroke.org) & on my Instagram page (poststrokepeg). I’ve listed the ones I’ve posted and the ones I plan to post through Christmas.

• Under PHYSICAL THERAPY
  • 12-18-18, 12-11-18, 12-04-18, 11-27-18, 11-20-18
  • All are Tuesday & are as scheduled
    • LEG KICK-UPS
    • BAREFOOT WALKING
    • CHAIR RAISE-UPS
    • KISSES & LEG PEDDLER
    • 11-12-18    LEGS - ON MAT
    • 11-06-18    ARM - AT THE COUNTER
    • 10-29-18    STEPS UP & STEPS DOWN - FLOOR PLANK
    • 10-27-18    LEG WALKING
    • 10-24-18    ARM ROLLER
    • 10-23-18    ARM PEDDLER
    • 10-16-18    BUTTERFLIES
    • 09-30-18    TOUCHDOWNS
    • 09-30-18    UP ’N OVERS
    • 09-23-18    HOW I GOT HERE - MY AILMENT

My accomplishments yesterday were an astonishing threefold!

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ACCOMPLISHMENT #1 - CHAIR RAISE-UPS

1. I started out by standing next to a kitchen chair (though in the bathroom)
2. I raised my right leg up so that I could lift my right foot onto the center of the chair
3. I then lowered my right leg/foot back off the chair to the floor
4. I repeated this 10 times!!

In the time since my stroke, I have accomplished walking. I started out with a walker then a hemi-walker and then moved to a cane. Now at home I use a cane only sometimes so I am really trying to firm up my thighs, balance and confidence. Being able to lift my feet onto the floor plank with the cane, at first, was quite an accomplishment, but to now raise my leg so my right foot can rest on a chair is simply remarkable!! Yesterday was quite a day! I was so proud and so happy to be able to share that with Tom and Annie. I am equally happy to share it with all of you!!

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ACCOMPLISHMENT #2 - WRIST MOVEMENT WITH ARM RAISED

1. I started out lying on the floor mat & held my arm straight up to the count of 100
   
2. Rather than allowing my hand to remain “limp” I forced it to straighten up too  - so the hand AND the arm were both straight up
   
3. I was even able to move my thumb to touch my index finger and then bring my thumb to touch my middle finger - as more times go by, I will continue to touch my thumb to my ring finger and eventually my thumb to its little finger!!
   

Holding my arm straight up has become quite an accomplishment itself lately, but to be able to hold my hand straight up is also great! And, to be able to move my wrist up and down and in little circles is absolutely wonderful - it lets my brain remember what the arm/hand can do!!

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ACCOMPLISHMENT #3 - LIFTING MY RIGHT ARM OVER MY ENTIRE BODY

1. I started out lying on the floor mat and with my right arm straight down to the side of me
2. I raised my right arm over my body, without touching my body, and then lowered my right arm, again without touching my body with my arm
3. I did this five times - and then rested, and then did another five

I would like to say that the first 2 accomplishments were the best for one day, and they were! But the third accomplishment was the true icing on the cake!! In the past it was a struggle for me to bring my entire arm over my body - especially to bring it over my body without touching my body. Well, I was able to bring it over my body AND I didn’t touch my body!! I didn’t let any of the sweater top interfere with my bringing my arm/hand over my body or back!! I made sure that I lifted my right arm/hand up over my stomach/belly to raise it up to my left side and then I brought it back down without dragging it on my stomach/belly at all!!  Way cool!!

Okay. Now, what accomplishments did I have for today? Well I did these three things (yesterday’s accomplishments) again, each twice. So each is now a part of my routine. I remember telling Annie of another accomplishment I had yesterday.  I put on a pair of yoga pants myself standing up with no shoes on yet. Usually I put them on sitting down not standing up.

Then I did “open/close” with my right arm/hand making sure I kept my hand/wrist flat and bringing it to the right of the mat if it drifted too far to the left after 4-5 “open/closes.”

Okay, time for me to do some more therapy/exercise. And it’s time then for me to work on more thoughts of recipes to post, therapies to post, getting to know me thoughts to share and post, and of course (what Tom wants most of all) my thoughts on his business idea and my thoughts on my business ideas. And I really hope my friend, the investor, Teddy, will be back in the next few days to see me.

God Bless, Peg

"Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again."
― Richard Branson