Missed a month here, again. Same old same old, seeking answers to pain, this time on the right side, from neck to lower back. Been visiting the student physio clinic at the Uof A, since the last post here.
Geoff, Karol and Kerri have done allot of head scratching. Every time I show up, there is a new issue. Undaunted, they've collectively designed some basic, small support muscle exercises, to correct the imbalance.
The route cause is massive over use of my right side, caused by complications from hip surgery.
The adage; if it doesn't kill you, it can be good, fits here. The surgery didn't fix my problem, actually created more. Now 'we' are learning what to do. There will always be issues, always an opportunity to fix them.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Student Clinic ReOpens
The student staffed Physiotherapy Clinic, at the University of Alberta has re-opened. I was introduced to the clinic a year ago. The students did a wonderful job on me, then, reducing pain, increasing strength, and mobility, on my troublesome new left hip.
The clinic shut down last spring. It re-opened, two weeks ago. Good news for me. I'm back. This time working on troublesome right side issues. The result of over use and complications from the original surgery.
In just two sessions, " we've " identified some issues, devised new therapies. All I have to do is follow the regime. Best part, it's working.
The biggest benefit to the the student clinic, for me, is time and attention. It's a one hour appointment, with two students and a supervisor. Collaboration and consultation amongst the four of us is enabling. The sessions consist of assessment, to monitor progress and issues, treatment, and exercises.
The down side is the teaching environment. The patient needs to be patient, as the students work through their analysis. Not an issue for me, I enjoy the interaction. Patient gets to make the odd suggestion. Better patient gets a hearing! We all learn!
Find out more from Geoff Bostick PT PhD Candidate
Rehabilitation Science
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
3-48 Corbett Hall
Edmonton AB CAN
T6G 2G4
bostick@alberta.ca
The clinic shut down last spring. It re-opened, two weeks ago. Good news for me. I'm back. This time working on troublesome right side issues. The result of over use and complications from the original surgery.
In just two sessions, " we've " identified some issues, devised new therapies. All I have to do is follow the regime. Best part, it's working.
The biggest benefit to the the student clinic, for me, is time and attention. It's a one hour appointment, with two students and a supervisor. Collaboration and consultation amongst the four of us is enabling. The sessions consist of assessment, to monitor progress and issues, treatment, and exercises.
The down side is the teaching environment. The patient needs to be patient, as the students work through their analysis. Not an issue for me, I enjoy the interaction. Patient gets to make the odd suggestion. Better patient gets a hearing! We all learn!
Find out more from Geoff Bostick PT PhD Candidate
Rehabilitation Science
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
3-48 Corbett Hall
Edmonton AB CAN
T6G 2G4
bostick@alberta.ca
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Being in Sorts
People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abe Lincoln
Feeling a little 'off' these days. Must admit I am.
Some may say that's my natural state. No problem, then. Ya ya.
Not so sure about happy, as good Abe wrote. Flip side of 'happy' is unhappy.
Attitude is always a challenge, and a choice.
Find Bugs here
Here's 25 tips to quiet the mind. The source of 'sorts'. Be it, in or out of them.
1) Go to the gym and exercise: it cleans your head out!
2) Step away from the big picture and ask yourself, what's the next right thing I can do now? Go do it. Repeat this process until good spirits return.
3) Do some charitable service work, and help someone else out. Sometimes this reminds us
others have it worse and we have a lot to be grateful for.
4) Write out a list of 10 things that you are grateful for…
5) Go for a walk and notice everything as if it were the first time you saw it.
6) Get out of the city/town/office/your house and spend sometime outdoors.
7) Have coffee with a friend who you haven't seen in a while.
8) Spend some quality time with your loved ones and family members.
9) Plan a vacation!
10) Watch the sun rise or set. It's hard not to see the beauty there!
11) Watch a movie. That's an instant two hour form of captivated attention that will take your mind off things.
12) Eat a good meal deliberately. Take in the whole experience - appearance, taste, company.
13) If you are spiritually or religiously inclined, meditation and/or prayer can calm the mind.
14) Meet new friends. One of the best ways to renew how we think about ourselves is to have a brand new chance to make a different first impression.
15) Read more, especially good fiction. There is nothing better than a well-written story to get your creative juices going.
16) Be more available for last minute meet ups with colleagues, friends, and peers. Sometimes the best events are unplanned.
17) Write down your ideas. Put pen and paper in easy-to-reach places. You might be pleasantly surprised at the number that has potential.
18) Think positive! Use this as your new mantra: "Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something."
19) Ask for help. You'll be amazed at how a collaborative effort energizes you.
20) Slow down. Sometimes we miss all the good stuff that happens in between point A and point B.
21) Discover classical music. Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Chopin tell amazing stories with their body of work.
22) Take an improv class. Learning a new skill that can help you in presentations and public speaking will increase your confidence.
23) Listen more, speak less. It will help you learn to appreciate others in whole new ways.
24) Teach a class at the local community college/school/library. Sharing knowledge is very satisfying.
25) Sing along while you drive.
via Conversation Agent
Feeling a little 'off' these days. Must admit I am.
Some may say that's my natural state. No problem, then. Ya ya.
Not so sure about happy, as good Abe wrote. Flip side of 'happy' is unhappy.
Attitude is always a challenge, and a choice.
Find Bugs hereHere's 25 tips to quiet the mind. The source of 'sorts'. Be it, in or out of them.
1) Go to the gym and exercise: it cleans your head out!
2) Step away from the big picture and ask yourself, what's the next right thing I can do now? Go do it. Repeat this process until good spirits return.
3) Do some charitable service work, and help someone else out. Sometimes this reminds us
others have it worse and we have a lot to be grateful for.
4) Write out a list of 10 things that you are grateful for…
5) Go for a walk and notice everything as if it were the first time you saw it.
6) Get out of the city/town/office/your house and spend sometime outdoors.
7) Have coffee with a friend who you haven't seen in a while.
8) Spend some quality time with your loved ones and family members.
9) Plan a vacation!
10) Watch the sun rise or set. It's hard not to see the beauty there!
11) Watch a movie. That's an instant two hour form of captivated attention that will take your mind off things.
12) Eat a good meal deliberately. Take in the whole experience - appearance, taste, company.
13) If you are spiritually or religiously inclined, meditation and/or prayer can calm the mind.
14) Meet new friends. One of the best ways to renew how we think about ourselves is to have a brand new chance to make a different first impression.
15) Read more, especially good fiction. There is nothing better than a well-written story to get your creative juices going.
16) Be more available for last minute meet ups with colleagues, friends, and peers. Sometimes the best events are unplanned.
17) Write down your ideas. Put pen and paper in easy-to-reach places. You might be pleasantly surprised at the number that has potential.
18) Think positive! Use this as your new mantra: "Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something."
19) Ask for help. You'll be amazed at how a collaborative effort energizes you.
20) Slow down. Sometimes we miss all the good stuff that happens in between point A and point B.
21) Discover classical music. Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Chopin tell amazing stories with their body of work.
22) Take an improv class. Learning a new skill that can help you in presentations and public speaking will increase your confidence.
23) Listen more, speak less. It will help you learn to appreciate others in whole new ways.
24) Teach a class at the local community college/school/library. Sharing knowledge is very satisfying.
25) Sing along while you drive.
via Conversation Agent
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
One in Seven
This diagram was a piece of my report to my surgeon, a year ago, today. Severe debilitating referred pain, in my Gluteus muscle, was consistent and constant from January 2007 , until January 2008.
My intention, with my hip surgery was to eliminate pain, thought to be emanating from my hip, and regain diminished capacity. The surgery exasperated my condition.
In six weeks, starting January 15, 2008, with the help of a group of physiotherapists and fitness trainers, we reduced the pain on the operative side, my left hip, from 9 to 2, on a 10 point scale. Resolving a mystery which befuddled my surgeon and the Alberta Hip and Knee Clinic, for over a year.
My rehab team identified my pelvis, and the muscles around it, as the source of the pain. My pelvis was, is, out of alignment. That's posture, a core strength issue. The muscles reacting to the misalignment over compensate, become stressed, wear out. The warning is pain.
Now we are working, on my right side, which was over used during my rehab. The symptoms are similar.
The take away...
Surgeons and physicians are not rehab experts.
Plan for issues arising, when you sign up for hip surgery.
There's a one in seven chance there will be a problem.
Find rehab specialists to help you through it.
Physiotherapists, Fitness Trainers, Active Release Chiropractors, Message Therapists.
No, or don't know, is not the answer you 'need'.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Think Form and Function
A reminder, all the core strengthening techniques we're demonstrating can be done, anywhere. Our focus is form that begets function. Location and apparatus are secondary.
I go the gym, at Grant MacEwan College. I enjoy the outing, and interaction with the staff.
Yesterday, we demonstrated a simple side step. We were using a functional trainer device. There was an 10 pound weight, attached to my ankle.
You can do this exercise at home, without any weight, using a chair for balance. That's the only way, when you are just starting your rehab. I used the kitchen counter allot, during the first 12 weeks of my rehab. Still do.
The critical piece is 'function'. Executing on form, yes suck, squeeze, and squeeze is most important. That's what will get you functioning.
We'll show you some of the basic techniques from the Alberta Hip and Knee Clinic's, red book, over the new week.
I go the gym, at Grant MacEwan College. I enjoy the outing, and interaction with the staff.
Yesterday, we demonstrated a simple side step. We were using a functional trainer device. There was an 10 pound weight, attached to my ankle.
You can do this exercise at home, without any weight, using a chair for balance. That's the only way, when you are just starting your rehab. I used the kitchen counter allot, during the first 12 weeks of my rehab. Still do.
The critical piece is 'function'. Executing on form, yes suck, squeeze, and squeeze is most important. That's what will get you functioning.
We'll show you some of the basic techniques from the Alberta Hip and Knee Clinic's, red book, over the new week.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
It's All Core
Recently, I've been having some issues, well pain, on my right side. Over use, favoring my right side, from the long rehab process, is causing some grief on my so called good side.
Just discovered the importance of the Gluteus Medius Muscle. It's a little difficult to find. Strengthening it and learning how to fire it takes a little work too. Well worth it though. Take a look.
Just discovered the importance of the Gluteus Medius Muscle. It's a little difficult to find. Strengthening it and learning how to fire it takes a little work too. Well worth it though. Take a look.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Ryan's Roar
Meet Ryan Hyland, my 'grand' nephew. Ryan's got, Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia.
His prognosis is good.
That's because his,18 month old sister, Alexandria,is a match, for a complete bone marrow transplant.
The sibling match is an every day miracle. There was a 25% chance of that happening.
Long odds, but improving, just the same.
An operation is planned, for the end of January.
Hard to imagine how two tykes and their parents will fare.
Makes some of the issues, discussed here, previously, rather tame.
Perhaps you'd consider helping other Ryans. Here's how you can do that.
Might be one way to enable, one of those New Year's resolutions.
Thanks
His prognosis is good.
That's because his,18 month old sister, Alexandria,is a match, for a complete bone marrow transplant.
The sibling match is an every day miracle. There was a 25% chance of that happening.
Long odds, but improving, just the same.
An operation is planned, for the end of January.
Hard to imagine how two tykes and their parents will fare.
Makes some of the issues, discussed here, previously, rather tame.
Perhaps you'd consider helping other Ryans. Here's how you can do that.
Might be one way to enable, one of those New Year's resolutions.
Ryan and Mon Suzanne
Hope is a wonderful thing
Hope is a wonderful thing
Thanks
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