Sunday, April 7, 2013

Getting my arm to hang straight

Initially, getting out of the hospital after 5 weeks, walking with the cane would have the left arm hanging pretty straight.  Sometime around 6 months my bicep started its spasticity. If I walked more than 6 blocks, it would start to dangle normally. Yesterday I walked in the woods for 2 hours, mainly to clear brambles with my pruning saw and shears. One time as I'm reaching in to cut a branch my left hand is resting against one of the bramble branches. I don't have enough control to get it out of the way, so I ended up with 3 holes in my hand, dripping blood. Its all good, extra sensation which I need.  At the end of the walk my arm was finally swinging freely. So right now its a 2 hour process to stop my bicep spasticity.  Is there anyone in the world who can tell me how to achieve that faster? And botox/phenol is not the answer.

at

5 comments:

  1. Barb PolanApril 8, 2013 at 8:32 AM

    Instead of hacking at my arm/hand with with a saw, I find that using those spastic muscles enough to fatigue them gets them to go flaccid. Obviously it doesn't always work or there would be no clenched fists among us. Maybe voluntary vs. involuntary matters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oc1deanApril 8, 2013 at 9:10 AM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. oc1deanApril 8, 2013 at 9:12 AM

      Thats what i think happened after two hours, the bicep got tired of bending the arm and finally gave up.
      I prefer a chainsaw, its faster and has more dangerous connotations.

      Delete
  2. Barb PolanApril 8, 2013 at 8:43 AM

    P.S. You and I have very different spasticity levels: I had exactly zero when I left rehab after 4 weeks; it first showed up in my arm several months later, and my hand long after that.

    And why is Botox not the answer? My physiatrist is injecting me mid-May, but only my finger flexors, no biceps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oc1deanApril 8, 2013 at 9:08 AM

      The last time I had botox for my toes it lasted all of one week. I don't trust doctors anymore, at least not new ones.

      Delete