The wheelchair is here and it fits and it's lovely and glorious. I'm SO relieved! Now I can do anything.
I got the grabber too. So while I was assembling the chair, sitting out at the patio table, I dropped a bolt, and I dropped one of the footrests, and a tire fell over and HAHAHA I could pick them right up without giraffing and groaning painfully because -- there was my grabber. That ruled!
Ph33R my robot arm!
It's not the same one I ordered off Amazon, oddly. It's flimsier. Huh, whatever, I need it.
I need a seat cushion too, gel is nice but I think foam would be fine. Must get to the rehab store tomorrow. I could drive there right now but ... well.. pain... Maybe I could order one online, and just use a pillow for now, I won't be in it very long at a time.
Spinning down the driveway light as a fucking bird! I'm so happy! Backing up the hill, decent tires, not to heavy, reasonable pivoting! Yeah I can go anywhere now! Screw all my fears and stuff, give me some independence. Though I will be quick to ask for a push if I need one.
Don't bump the chair by the way, it drives me nuts... It's weird how people do it without realizing it's like they just banged into me, in fact, they just did.
Also, it's very strange who will grab your handlebars and move you around, without asking or even having made eye contact, people who would not think to *pick me up and move me* physically. When that used to happen to me I learned a lot about how to establish boundaries and let people know what not to do. (Aside from the moments of just snapping "Don't touch my chair dammit.") Really what are they thinking!
The doctor today was like "Damn girl your disk is probably GONE." Okay fine. Whatever! Sucks! She favors the injecting steroids into an epidural, and the not staying in bed, and more physical therapy, and gave me a referral to a back/spine orthopedist and an MRI on Monday. Depending on what they see in the MRI ... errrgh well she described the epidural process. It sounds like they used to just kind of stick the needle in and shoot your spinal column up with Stuff. Now they do it under some anesthesia with a CT scan going so they can see better. Scary sounding. Also, they do it 2-3 times but it has a chance of working super well even on the first try.
As I said, whatever, it looks like I will go up and down a bit with mobility and pain, but it will pass, and till then I do physical therapy like a mad dog, and I get around walking if I can and with the chair if I go out anywhere Big enough to where I'm not sure how long I can be on my feet, or where there is a significant car ride. At good times in the day I'm walking pretty well, but it doesn't last long. So maybe the "needs crutches" time as well as "need pain med" time will be pushed out further and further.
After any length of time in the car my leg just sort of collapses, but after a few minutes it recovers. This used to be true for me even up till 2003, on long car trips.
I was able to work almost normal hours yesterday, today a bust but I will try to catch up tomorrow.
Well, what a funny mood, I'm hurting, but I feel pretty optimistic.
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