Keep Eyes Open!

It looks like things are clearing up a bit from the Flexeril. However, my caregiver said that since I've been taking the pills, my transfers have become a lot more work for her in the sense that I don't hold myself up as well, I was using the spacticity/stiffness in my legs to help me pop right on up. According to my caregiver, I was practically standing on my own before the Flexeril. Now, with the muscle relaxor, my muscles tend to feel like mush. I guess we'll see how the next week or so goes.

It was a relief to find myself being able to workout, rather than just pooping out! Nicole was able to run through like a normal workout with me. Either the workout was killer, or the Flexeril has finallt kicked in...KEEP EYES OPEN! *Bleh!*

Nicole started me out with our old school arm warm-ups. I did small circles forward with my arms out to the sides. I switched it up and did small circles backwards Then I twisted invisible doorknobs. followed by raising my arms up and lowering them to shoulder level with bent elbows. I also stretched my ar ms out shoulder level and bent both arms in at the elbow. I repeated these warm-ups  until my arms felt like they were on fire!

I had to stop for a water break because I was suffering from a lovely side effect from the med.: cottonmouth! Nicqle laughed at me, but she had to get some water too...karma!

Then it was boxing time. Nicole stood in front of me with the "punching bag." I threw punches with one arm after time other. Then, Nicole had me punch repeatedly with the right arm, then the left.

After punching, we went right back into arm warm-ups, followed by more punching! My poor arms...they're gonna be sore tonight! Or maybe the Flexeril will save them...

Next, Nicole brought out a resistance band. She handed me the handles, one for each hand, and she held onto "rope" As I pulled resistance band back to my chest and then released it out in front of me, Nicole held the "rope" back, applying much more resistance. Then I turned my palsms towards eachother, and pulled the r.band into my chest, similar to a Bicep curl. Keeping the other arm straight out and holding on to the r.band, I did reps of about 25 on each arm.And then, of course, Nicole had me another round of the two-handed pull backs!

Then Nicole gave me a challenge. She knew that raising my legs up would be harder if I sat stright up. So, I did and Nicole noticed improvement in my legs since yesterday! The improvement since yesterday may just be because the side effects of the drug maybe wearing off, but that kind of improvement is all I need right now!

 I did leg presses for both legs individually, raised/straightened the knees out both seperately and simultaneously, and held my feet up with straight legs for 1 minute.

Lastly, Nicole sat in a chair in front of me, intertwined her fingers, and pushed her arms straight out, palms out. I mirrored her up until I went to turn my wrists so my palms faced out. I'm not sure why, but I was not able to turn my own wrists. Yet, when Nicole twisted them for me, my wrists and palms had no complaint. Then, we brought one of our arms across our chest, arm straight, and used the other arm to hold the other arm acrss our chest. We gave our shoulders a gooood stretch that way.

It's great that I'm getting more settled into the new med....I'm glad I'm not feeling so drugged...and it's really great that Nicole can sort of "up" the workouts for our sessions. I think she can feel my urgency to walk! At least, I hope so! :)