Woke up this morning with leg swollen and getting ready for my 11:00 rehab exercise which involved basically seeing what were my limits and where were my obstacles. After an hour of trying to determine how far I needed to go and what I needed to do to get on my feet, the PT performed a series of tests of pulling and pulling on my leg to see how far muscle capacity was able to go.
The comparison was taken from my right leg and tried on my left, so they pulled on the right one first then tested the left one to see how far it would go as far as flexibility, articulate and muscle capacity. End of morning physio, off to lunch.
After an hour of lunch on to water therapy, where the PT kicked my ass with a series of leg strengthening exercises starting with my hip. The exercise was to swing my leg front to back and then stretching my thigh muscle by bending it as far as I could in water. Next exercise was peddling in water, then walking around the pool trying to bear more and more weight on my leg. After that was stretching the calf muscles and hamstrings as a cool down process.
I learned that doing exercise in the pool is less stressful and less weight on my leg than doing in dry land, and water gives you more of a resistance.
Done for the water session physio. After a one hour break, back into the gym for a walking session. To help me a long I had a high walker. Half an hour of walking, leg feels cramped so we ended that session of walking.
Now upstairs to the OT, walking on the leg was done for the day, time to attack the upper body. Meeting the occupational therapist, determining range of motion in arms and wrists, evaluating how far we need to push the left wrist compared to the right wrist, keeping in mind that I can't bear weight on the left wrist. The left wrist will only be able to bend fingers and increase flexibility until the x-fis is out next Wednesday. The right wrist is pretty well mobile, almost 100%. The left hand fingers only bend about 30%, can't form a fist.
After my first day of PT, my body feels more energy, but more achy, but it actually feels pretty good to see the light at the end of the tunnel and my goal closer and closer every day. Really like both of my PTs, because they let me push myself as far as I want to, and they hold me accountable.
To reward me my beautiful wife, son and little husky dog came to visit, bringing me gifts and goodies and taking me out for supper.
Overall, excited to start a new day tomorrow after a good night's sleep and re-energize the body.
Till tomorrow, new day new blog, signing off, from my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear,
Mike
Thursday 25 August 2011
Tues 23, 2011
The calm before the storm.. .Up at 7:00am, get downstairs and ready to leave to get to the rehab centre. At the rehab I got admitted and brought up to my room and the nurses need some more info from me and we spend 45 minutes filling in paperwork to be followed by the two physiotherapists which explain what procedures will be filling my time. They measure me and get my wheelchair and walker then on with my evaluation to see what I can do, and to see how far they can push me or how far I will push myself to establish my goals and if they are feasible.
After the psychiatrist and the doctor come in for assessing my situation with trying to comprehend what happened from the time of the fall till now and making some tests of their own - breathing, heart, sensations, reflexes, and her too wanting to see what I was able to do regarding my physical strength and to what capacity I was able to move my leg.
Finally lunch, the normal hospital food on the tray, I had chicken noodle soup, spaghetti with coleslaw, milk and tapioca pudding. For the quiet time, napping for 1 or two hours.
All in all, first day was pretty exciting. Being admitted and now final step to being back to my physical self. The journey will be long and challenging, pretty sure I'll be able to make it through to the end, meet my goals and keep growing from there.
Yours truly,
From my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear,
Mike
After the psychiatrist and the doctor come in for assessing my situation with trying to comprehend what happened from the time of the fall till now and making some tests of their own - breathing, heart, sensations, reflexes, and her too wanting to see what I was able to do regarding my physical strength and to what capacity I was able to move my leg.
Finally lunch, the normal hospital food on the tray, I had chicken noodle soup, spaghetti with coleslaw, milk and tapioca pudding. For the quiet time, napping for 1 or two hours.
All in all, first day was pretty exciting. Being admitted and now final step to being back to my physical self. The journey will be long and challenging, pretty sure I'll be able to make it through to the end, meet my goals and keep growing from there.
Yours truly,
From my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear,
Mike
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Monday August 22, 1022
Good morning everybody!
Today is a glorious day, after the rain is sunshine. Let's get our positive thought of the day. From the WPW cards: Sometimes we have to pass through hell on the way to heaven and deal with the darkness before we see the light. Therefor we are all peaceful warriors in training.
From the MM cards: Commit to being rich. Commitment means "to devote oneself unreservedly". Once you commit to being rich, the universe will assist you, guide you, support you and even create miracles for you.
From the GG cards (from the cards I asked the question: show me the card that will guide me on what I must do today, and this is the card I picked): Sekmet: Be strong. You are stronger than you think you are, and your strength assures you a happy outcome.
Now for breakfast banana, yoghurt, and a bowl of mixed fruits.
On with physio.
I've been sleeping with my left leg up and when I get up blood rushes back down in my leg and feet, a very different feeling... Now on to walking.
Wow!! Just got the call from the rehab centre in Ottawa, they are admitting me at 9:30 Tuesday morning, yaaaahooooo!!!!!
Will write more tomorrow, from my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear,
Mike Paquette
Today is a glorious day, after the rain is sunshine. Let's get our positive thought of the day. From the WPW cards: Sometimes we have to pass through hell on the way to heaven and deal with the darkness before we see the light. Therefor we are all peaceful warriors in training.
From the MM cards: Commit to being rich. Commitment means "to devote oneself unreservedly". Once you commit to being rich, the universe will assist you, guide you, support you and even create miracles for you.
From the GG cards (from the cards I asked the question: show me the card that will guide me on what I must do today, and this is the card I picked): Sekmet: Be strong. You are stronger than you think you are, and your strength assures you a happy outcome.
Now for breakfast banana, yoghurt, and a bowl of mixed fruits.
On with physio.
I've been sleeping with my left leg up and when I get up blood rushes back down in my leg and feet, a very different feeling... Now on to walking.
Wow!! Just got the call from the rehab centre in Ottawa, they are admitting me at 9:30 Tuesday morning, yaaaahooooo!!!!!
Will write more tomorrow, from my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear,
Mike Paquette
Sunday August 21, 2011
The positive thought of the day:
From the MM cards: Promote yourself. Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value, poor people think negatively about selling and promotion. Resenting promotion is one of the greatest obstacles to success.
From the GG cards: Ishtar - Boundaries. Love yourself enough to say no to other's demands on your time and energy.
And from the WPG cards: Within every so-called "other" stirs a soul like our own, yearning for the light. We are all in this together, each a part of the beauty we call planet earth.
I started this day a bit different. Before getting out of bed I did some body stretching to get my energy flowing. After sleeping 8 hours my muscles went to relaxing and rest mode so by stretching and doing some leg raises got my muscles in my legs awakened before getting downstairs.
Once downstairs got breakfast done, toasted tomato sandwich again, I just have that craving lately for tomato sandwich.
Now that breakfast is out of the way on with physio. A bit of a rough start even though all that bed exercise, my left leg is still very much stiff although did get in the motion a lot quicker walking about 30 lengths of the house and feeling the tightness in the heel and ankle. Feels like the tendon or ligaments are out of place and having lots of inflammation.
Now rest for the remainder of the day, leg is up in the air to get some of the swelling down.
I will right again tomorrow, till then have a great day, yours truly,
The Canadien Redbear,
From my heart to yours,
Mike
From the MM cards: Promote yourself. Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value, poor people think negatively about selling and promotion. Resenting promotion is one of the greatest obstacles to success.
From the GG cards: Ishtar - Boundaries. Love yourself enough to say no to other's demands on your time and energy.
And from the WPG cards: Within every so-called "other" stirs a soul like our own, yearning for the light. We are all in this together, each a part of the beauty we call planet earth.
I started this day a bit different. Before getting out of bed I did some body stretching to get my energy flowing. After sleeping 8 hours my muscles went to relaxing and rest mode so by stretching and doing some leg raises got my muscles in my legs awakened before getting downstairs.
Once downstairs got breakfast done, toasted tomato sandwich again, I just have that craving lately for tomato sandwich.
Now that breakfast is out of the way on with physio. A bit of a rough start even though all that bed exercise, my left leg is still very much stiff although did get in the motion a lot quicker walking about 30 lengths of the house and feeling the tightness in the heel and ankle. Feels like the tendon or ligaments are out of place and having lots of inflammation.
Now rest for the remainder of the day, leg is up in the air to get some of the swelling down.
I will right again tomorrow, till then have a great day, yours truly,
The Canadien Redbear,
From my heart to yours,
Mike
Weekend Therapy
The first Saturday with my casts off. As every morning, to the cards Mikeman, to get my positive thinking on. From the GG (Goddess Guidance) cards: Eileen (Peace). There is no need to worry as everything is working out beautifully. From the MM (Millionaire Mind) cards: Play the money game to win. Rich people play the money game to win. Their goal is to create massive wealth and abundance. Poor people play the money game to not lose. Their goal is survival and security. From the WPW (Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior) cards: The path of personal evolution isn't showy, there are no glowing signs to identify an evolved being, awakened people often behave in quiet, ordinary ways.
And now for breakfast, 12 grain bagel belt sandwich from Tim Horton's, it was on the run breakfast - got a call from my tenant had to go get supplies since the backhoe had shown up to do some excavations.
Duplex business done, on for physio. Walk about 30 lengths of our house with the first step stiff with the help of the 4 feet high walker with every step getting better and was adding more weight to the leg, gaining more flex in the ankle and feeling more blood flow to my foot.
Wow! Need physic break, leg is tingling and swollen, on comes the ice pack to bring the inflammation down from the knee and the ankle.
Off shopping for more supplies, lunch not the best BK Burger, minor setback on nutrition... Deliver supplies and back home I go...
Afternoon physic: Can't go in pool, wife is gone on a road trip with her Hungarian band, so for me it's back to Mr. 4 foot walker. So after another 20 lengths of passing the house floor, I challenge myself to a "bear more weight to the leg therapy". I gently start adding more weight to the leg by lifting the right leg off the ground and lowering my arm off the walker, adding a very big challenge for my left leg, coming to a ver fast conclusion that the left leg is quickly not supporting the weight yet. Will need more walking strategy. And that is where the afternoon physio ended with energy nap.
Now waiting for tomorrow's physio session, till then yours truly,
The Canadien Redbear
From my heart to yours,
Mike Paquette
And now for breakfast, 12 grain bagel belt sandwich from Tim Horton's, it was on the run breakfast - got a call from my tenant had to go get supplies since the backhoe had shown up to do some excavations.
Duplex business done, on for physio. Walk about 30 lengths of our house with the first step stiff with the help of the 4 feet high walker with every step getting better and was adding more weight to the leg, gaining more flex in the ankle and feeling more blood flow to my foot.
Wow! Need physic break, leg is tingling and swollen, on comes the ice pack to bring the inflammation down from the knee and the ankle.
Off shopping for more supplies, lunch not the best BK Burger, minor setback on nutrition... Deliver supplies and back home I go...
Afternoon physic: Can't go in pool, wife is gone on a road trip with her Hungarian band, so for me it's back to Mr. 4 foot walker. So after another 20 lengths of passing the house floor, I challenge myself to a "bear more weight to the leg therapy". I gently start adding more weight to the leg by lifting the right leg off the ground and lowering my arm off the walker, adding a very big challenge for my left leg, coming to a ver fast conclusion that the left leg is quickly not supporting the weight yet. Will need more walking strategy. And that is where the afternoon physio ended with energy nap.
Now waiting for tomorrow's physio session, till then yours truly,
The Canadien Redbear
From my heart to yours,
Mike Paquette
Friday 19 August 2011
Blog Day 2
Hello All!
This day started with a positive thought. For every start of my day I take my positive thoughts from these cards, Goddess Guidance cards, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind cards, and Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior cards. My Goddess card said: Maeve - cycle and rhythm, honour the cycle of your body, energy level and emotion. My MM card said: Focus on opportunities. My Warrior card said: Life is theatre - a game we play as if it matters. So play whatever role is called for, in any situation that may arise, with a peaceful heart and a warrior spirit.
This was followed by a healthy breakfast, and on to the best of my knowledge physio to help me get going once I'm admitted into rehab.
What is the most difficult part of this physio is to get my brain to let me do the weight bearing on my leg. The other challenge is actually to get the ankle to articulate and get the flexibility back. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get that back? I'm all ears.
I do have massages and cupping sessions that help a lot to control the blood flow, muscle spasms and stimulation.
Afternoon Physio
I walked laps around the pool with support of my wife. It felt good and also weird. The good feeling was being able to put weight on my leg with water supporting my entire body mass. The weirdness was that pushing through the water was giving me more resistance and a different feeling to my leg.
After coming out of the water therapy, had to rest, drained a lot of energy. After energy being revived, it left me feeling pretty good. Feeling more and more power in my leg and started having more flexibility. And now for an evening of relaxation and reward... Popcorn and a movie!
To all you followers out there, thanks for the vote of confidence and we'll blog more tomorrow,
From my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear
Mike Paquette
This day started with a positive thought. For every start of my day I take my positive thoughts from these cards, Goddess Guidance cards, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind cards, and Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior cards. My Goddess card said: Maeve - cycle and rhythm, honour the cycle of your body, energy level and emotion. My MM card said: Focus on opportunities. My Warrior card said: Life is theatre - a game we play as if it matters. So play whatever role is called for, in any situation that may arise, with a peaceful heart and a warrior spirit.
This was followed by a healthy breakfast, and on to the best of my knowledge physio to help me get going once I'm admitted into rehab.
What is the most difficult part of this physio is to get my brain to let me do the weight bearing on my leg. The other challenge is actually to get the ankle to articulate and get the flexibility back. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get that back? I'm all ears.
I do have massages and cupping sessions that help a lot to control the blood flow, muscle spasms and stimulation.
Afternoon Physio
I walked laps around the pool with support of my wife. It felt good and also weird. The good feeling was being able to put weight on my leg with water supporting my entire body mass. The weirdness was that pushing through the water was giving me more resistance and a different feeling to my leg.
After coming out of the water therapy, had to rest, drained a lot of energy. After energy being revived, it left me feeling pretty good. Feeling more and more power in my leg and started having more flexibility. And now for an evening of relaxation and reward... Popcorn and a movie!
To all you followers out there, thanks for the vote of confidence and we'll blog more tomorrow,
From my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear
Mike Paquette
Thursday 18 August 2011
Fighting Back To Health
For those who don't know, I had a bad accident on July 4th, 2011, surfing on a broken tv tower, breaking my fall on the edge of the roof and plunging to the ground. This left me with severe injuries; two badly broken wrists, a shattered femur, broken ankle and two fractured vertebrae. After 10 hours in surgery finally putting all my limbs back together using casts, pins and rods, I've been confined to a wheelchair for the last 6 weeks.
Yesterday, the light at the end of the tunnel, finally the casts came off and some of the pins came out, liberating me. The doctor gave me the ok to start my rehab, uplifting me to get on track to my recovery.
Milestones: the last few nights I was able to hop upstairs and get myself sleeping in my proper bed, and today, with my stubbornness, taking my first few steps unassisted. This is going to progress to full-time rehab for the next few weeks. Inspiring me to do my exercise and to celebrate these milestones, I purchased myself my first Lululemon training pants!
With all you people supporting me out there, now will be the time that I'll need it the most in holding me accountable every step of the way towards my ultimate goals: This time next year I aim to be able to inspire others to reach their own health and fitness goals. Along the way I'm setting personal achievement goals that by Christmas I intend to be back on my skates playing hockey, and on June 9th 2012 I will complete a triathlon with my beautiful, gorgeous wife.
Please join me in this beautiful journey and feel free to give me feedback and advice on making it a huge success. A good swift kick in my ass always helps, and please send any fitness, health and nutrition tips that will help me get back in the saddle quickly!
Yours truly,
From my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear
Mike Paquette
Yesterday, the light at the end of the tunnel, finally the casts came off and some of the pins came out, liberating me. The doctor gave me the ok to start my rehab, uplifting me to get on track to my recovery.
Milestones: the last few nights I was able to hop upstairs and get myself sleeping in my proper bed, and today, with my stubbornness, taking my first few steps unassisted. This is going to progress to full-time rehab for the next few weeks. Inspiring me to do my exercise and to celebrate these milestones, I purchased myself my first Lululemon training pants!
With all you people supporting me out there, now will be the time that I'll need it the most in holding me accountable every step of the way towards my ultimate goals: This time next year I aim to be able to inspire others to reach their own health and fitness goals. Along the way I'm setting personal achievement goals that by Christmas I intend to be back on my skates playing hockey, and on June 9th 2012 I will complete a triathlon with my beautiful, gorgeous wife.
Please join me in this beautiful journey and feel free to give me feedback and advice on making it a huge success. A good swift kick in my ass always helps, and please send any fitness, health and nutrition tips that will help me get back in the saddle quickly!
Yours truly,
From my heart to yours,
The Canadien Redbear
Mike Paquette
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