More driving stroke rehab
Lots of time this weekend to get in hours of therapy. Don't try this without your doctors ok, you know how dangerous my ideas are. When I started driving it was 78 degrees out so I rolled down the window and hung my left arm out the window. At 75 mph you get lots of sleeve flapping and wind pressure against your skin. In 2 hours the bicep never completely relaxed. 2 hours later the temp was down to 58 degrees and I switched to placing my left hand on the 7 o'clock position on the steering wheel and my left elbow on the arm rest. The arm rest had been enhanced by velcroing a 1 inch thick gel pad to it to prevent the latissimus spasticity from pulling the elbow into my side. It was only 6 inches away but you have to start somewhere. This allows me enough control with my left hand so when I'm on cruise control I can switch cds or drink something. Drinks(even coffee) require a straw so I don't have to tip my head back and can quickly get my right hand back on the spinner knob even holding a drink. I got a turn signal extender installed($190) so I can now signal turns with my right hand. The spinner knob is at 4 o'clock and the turn signal at 2 o'clock so with the left hand providing some stability I can now signal lane changes on the interstate highway. On the way back I wore a wrist support so I tried to lay the arm on the window ledge and just hold it there without it falling off either inside or outside. That was not too successful. Only 13.5 hours on the way back, so I rolled in home around 2am. Don't even think of trying any of this stuff.
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