Neurorehabilitation From The Trenches: Whatever It Takes
Greetings from Aschaffenburg. That’s where Autonomie is, and so where I am, following the first week of my second round of intensive therapies. Expect a full review, later this week, as soon as I get a few pictures, of this wonderful facility.
That’s the song DKV, my health insurer, employs to pacify their customers, while they’re on hold. Claire has spent several hours, since September 2017, listening to this. In my case, it’s very apt. When Dr Ottes first recommended Autonomie, last summer, I was still a bit delusional about my prognosis, half expecting to be skipping out of there after two weeks; I think I even enquired about that very likelihood during my initial consultation, prior to starting with them last time.
The thing about neurorehabilitation is that it requires complete dedication; the willingness to do whatever it takes. I count myself very lucky to have Claire on my team, as I would have given up by now, if left to my own devices, and resigned myself to a comfortable life in a seated position.
There are two areas of this rehab that may have defeated a mere mortal without any support. These are the gradual (firstly), non-linear (secondly) progression. I can manage 400 meters on my cane, while supervised. That’s after almost 30 months. I see minor improvements weekly, still; but the gradualism is such that at this rate, even if that rate of change turns exponential, will see me with a cane for at least 3-5 more years, even after I gain independence. Even that would be putupwithable if that progress was consistent in a predictable way. Unfortunately, I can venture out with my cane to find that I walked better the previous day, and find it hard to remember that I walked worse months ago.
That’s the song DKV, my health insurer, employs to pacify their customers, while they’re on hold. Claire has spent several hours, since September 2017, listening to this. In my case, it’s very apt. When Dr Ottes first recommended Autonomie, last summer, I was still a bit delusional about my prognosis, half expecting to be skipping out of there after two weeks; I think I even enquired about that very likelihood during my initial consultation, prior to starting with them last time.
The thing about neurorehabilitation is that it requires complete dedication; the willingness to do whatever it takes. I count myself very lucky to have Claire on my team, as I would have given up by now, if left to my own devices, and resigned myself to a comfortable life in a seated position.
There are two areas of this rehab that may have defeated a mere mortal without any support. These are the gradual (firstly), non-linear (secondly) progression. I can manage 400 meters on my cane, while supervised. That’s after almost 30 months. I see minor improvements weekly, still; but the gradualism is such that at this rate, even if that rate of change turns exponential, will see me with a cane for at least 3-5 more years, even after I gain independence. Even that would be putupwithable if that progress was consistent in a predictable way. Unfortunately, I can venture out with my cane to find that I walked better the previous day, and find it hard to remember that I walked worse months ago.
My Tree
There is no Records section this week, for obvious reasons.
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