Have you ever had something cherishable but then it mysteriously disappears?
This happened to me three years ago.
Back then, I was able to walk 200 feet with the platform walker. Then I couldn’t. It mysteriously disappeared. The tone in my body increased and never relented. My body went rigid.
There was no dosage change in my Baclofen pump. I just couldn’t walk.
Until now.
I walked 40 feet this past Friday, June 30.
I attribute this to the Prialt medication in my pump.
This happened during a physical therapy session. Madison, my PT, transferred me to the table mat. She did measurements of the movement in both legs. They showed significant improvement.
Madison asked what I wanted to do next.
“I want to try to walk,” I said immediately.
“Let’s do it,” she replied.
Courtney rolled the platform walker over and they helped me stand. They helped me grip both handles and I rested both arms on the pads.
“I’m going to start with the left leg,” I announced. This leg traditionally is the more functional one.
I took a deep breath and successfully stepped forward with the left foot. And now the moment of truth. I lifted the right leg and took another step forward. Then the left, then the right. And kept going and going.
I tuckered out after 40 feet and sat back down in the wheelchair. Exhilaration and exhaustion seeped through me.
I did it.
After five minutes of rest, Madison asked if I wanted to continue walking.
“I don’t want to push my luck.”
She suggested I try the Nu Step (pictured) next. This is a cycle where I use both my arms and legs.
No rest for the wicked.
I climbed on and pumped another eight minutes unimpeded. The previous week, my legs seized up and I could barely petal.
I should get an increased dosage of Prialt next week.
Addendum: I am unable to download the video on this site. You can see it on my Facebook news feed.
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