Hi Everyone:
I'm doing ok. I'm getting around pretty good with my 2 canes now. Distance is an issue for me as the muscles in my legs and hips that still work have to pick up the slack for the ones not working so I get fatigued after 200-300ft. My legs are getting pretty skinny with the calve muscle loss. I look like a bird Hahahahah! I've lost 3" in Circumference already. "Use it or lose it" I guess!
There are still some things I can't do like bend down and pick-up something using my canes. I can do it holding onto a counter-top or something but this is just a function of my weak hips and legs.
I am dealing with boatloads of nerve pain. I'm on all the usual medications for it at their maximum dosages but have only seen a 20% reduction in pain. I have Nerve pain 24/7 but it is manageable most of the time. When I have severe pain attacks they can last for hours and typically happen at night so my sleep schedule is affected.
I'm working closely with my team of doctors, PT, chiropractor (for acupuncture and TENS) to do what we can. I'm hoping once I'm out of the initial 2 year period it settles down. I'm 1 year into this mess as of a couple days ago. So I'm 1/2 way there...
And YES I have changed my own oil again! It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be because I have a Fumoto on the pan and because my filter is at the top in the Caravan, so if I lean just right my body is supported for balance and I can use both hands under the hood!
I'm a Para-Wrench-Head now I guess.
EDIT: Forgot to mention that I no longer need the catheter, that function was regained and with a little practice there is 0 issues. I do have to watch how full I get though because for me 1/2 full and ready to wet myself feels the same to me due to diminished feeling. So when I feel the "I better find a bathroom in the next little while" I just gotta go because if I try to hold it I might overflow.
It's not the end of the world except overnight because I won't wake up in time so I have had to make sure I'm leading on the dehydrated end of things to be sure I don't fill up enough over night to wet the bed. I just keep a glass of water on the night stand for cotton-mouth and to drink first thing when I wake up. It's a work around. I also keep a bottle by the side of the bed in case of emergency. It seems if I do wake up when I stand up I might just let go, so I can use this bottle in the morning to empty so there are no accidents when I try to move from my bed to my Wheelchair.
Got my chair finally... Got it in Blue. Has an $800 Air pocket seat on it to take pressure off my spine. It's REALLY comfortable and takes almost 0 effort to move my Chunky self around. I've learned to hop curbs with it and go down steps backwards as well. (Pretty insane but A TON OF FUN) I get all the best seats and parking spots I mean it's pretty awesome. And.... I STILL RUN BETTER THAN THE GOVERNMENT!
