Aussie Ken

Just a few lines to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a happy NEW Year. My christmas day was very quite as all my family (brothers and sister) no longer live handy and most of my friends had there own christmas festivities to attend too. i promise to give you a full update in the new year but just briefly i'm still loving my water therapy, walking on the treadmill, and will be trying to use a bike or pedal exerciser in the New Year. So take care enjoy the season and stay safe aftwer hearing the reports of the snowfalls. Christmas in Australia is hot but at least my wheelchair won't get bogged in snow drifts, :roflmao: bye

it just keeps going round and round and round, at times i feel like i'm winning but lately i feel like i've gone backwards, when i first stoked i was so determined that i would be up and running by now but alass i'm still stuck in the wheelchair, wondering if i should just give up or keep on fighting. The worst part is that not long a go i was almost walking by myself the one thing ofter another my partner didn't have the time to go through my daily home physio programme but i really enjoy going to the pool for hydrotherapy and still do. my other form of physio was to walk on the treadmill which i can still do every fortnight, we were able to discuss with the physio any problems i was having but now it's there's the machine go for it. hopefully when i see my hosptal doctor next month i want to see if i can get back onto there programme. the other thing i would like to know if i can get into a research programme, whether it be stem cell, using a walkaide etc. well i must keep battling on, have a good week Ken

Hi it looks like Walkaide has not reached Australia as yet plus being on a limited budget i doubt if we could afford it. sso will just keep on keeping on and hope something will come be found to fix this problem.

but i have no excuses, i've pooped in a couple of times but nothing to report. Generally i'm well but get very down and bored with myself. At times feel like giving up but i've still got a lot to achieve and life to live. This months starts another month of being poked and proded by my doctors. I'm really loving my hydro therapy sessions because i can do must of the exercises myself, then fortnighty i've been doing a session on the treadmill and increasing my times each week. I know a lot of my troubles is mind over matter and i won't take risks as i don't want to break any bones. well thats my grizzel for now. Does anybody know if there is any Stem Cell research to help over come Drop Foot. that is my main bug bear. well must keep going have a wonderfull week

Glad you both had a wonderful time Sue, looking forward to the warm weather

from hospital. it's hard to believe that 5 years ago i was so excited about getting out of hospital and back into familiar surrounding. The first months after getting home i would found that the simple task of rolling over onto my side was like doing a 3 point turn but now no worries. I started twice weekly rehab sessions to try to get me back walking, i've almost got there on many occassions but i still needs assistance in case i fall backwards. This is were the frustration sets in. I was so active and had so much to look forward too. The past couple of months i have been feeling down because i really thought by now i would be more mobile. I find that my weekly Hydrotherapy sessions have given me a sence of freedom, and my fortnightly session on the treadmill is improving each time. I just wish i could get my confidence back to walk independently with out the fear of falling. because of the weekness in my right hand and arm i can't use a walker. But i will keep trying and trying till i reach my goals and instead off thrying to climb these mountains i will just go around them, as anything is possible.

Yes Sue, since the cold weather has started my affected right leg is like ice, it doesn't matter how much i wrap it it's always the same, i put it down to circulation problems as once i get in the hydro pool it warms up and stays warm for ages. i might have to get it wired (Haha) summer time no worries

have a good time Sue, i wish i could escape this winter cold with you

All i seam to be doing these days is climbing more mountains and hitting brickwalls, my progress seams to have stalled and some areas gone backwards. i'm still enjoying doing my hydrotherapy and every two weeks i visit the physio and do a session on the treadmill for 35-40 mins little assistance. Footdrop is my main problem still and recently heard of a Canadian system called Footlift AFO but i doubt if it would be available hear in Australia and if it would be suitable for me. I would try anything to get moble again as i hate being so restricted and would do anything to get my independance back. Other then that life goes on, it's allowed me time to trace my family tree and potter around on the computer. cheers Ken

For Foot Drop, it's the only thing holding me back from leading a near normal life. i use a custom made AFO and when i'm on the treadmill i can get my foot and leg though ok but when i only have the cane i can only manage a shuffle. it may be more mine over matter as i don't want to fall. If i could get more strenght into my hand and arm i would try a walking frame. I do daily stands using a wedge but it still hasn't corrected the problem. i've tryed to find out more about drop foot but there dosen't seam to be a cure. i don't know if surgery would help or even devices such as Walkaide as my doctor and physio haven't heard of such devices in Australia plus like most things it would be too expensive. Ah well one day!!!!!!!!!

have a great time, i wish i could get away. .. ENJOY

Thank you everbody, those articles were very interesting dstraugh i will print them off and give them to my physio, it my also help other clients of her's as they help a lot of clients with sports etc rehab like most of us the cost of things can be terrible when on a limited income. i'm at the point now were i will do anything to get mobile again as i'm bored witless i would even become a test dummy if it would get me walking. Ken

I'm not sure about that, something you could ask or enquire on line with your provider. i haven't done so here in Australia but i will be making enquiries with both Medicare and my private health cover people. good luck with your enquries, Ken

I have just been searching through the site under therapies etc to see if there is any posts were members have used WIIfit games and balance board as a therapy tool. The reason i'm asking is that a stroke survivor i've met through my Facebook page has found the balance board a great tool to help her correct a balance problem. I will be raising the question with my physio when i see her next. I was wondering if any of our hosts could point me in the right direction if there is a posting in the site. My recovery is still progressing at a slow pace but then Rome wasn't built in a day but destroyed quickly just like me. I have vowed to rise from the ashes and my moto is "Never give up with out a fight". I really enjoy my Hydro therapy especially in deep and waste deep water. i just wish i could beat this drop foot problem. have a good week everybody and happy easter

Last week our computer had a major meltdown, so Kathy took it down to the puter shop to get fixed. Because it was a second hand machine from my old work it didn't have much memory (like my brain now) so we are now in the process of upgrading to a bigger puter. so finally i will be able to post more photos of my past life. The biggest problem is looking through old photos is remembering how active i was and wishing that i wake up tomorrow and that it was all a shocking nightmare. But i guess the stroke has given me time to reflect on my life all the joyfull times, disappointing moments, and future hopes and dreams. One good thing is that i have been able to reconnect with some old work and school friends throught such sites as Friends Reunited, Facebook and trace my family tree meeting some long lost cousins and corrosponding with relatives i've never met. So still look for that silver lining and live your dreams.

Last Sunday was the first trail games for my childrens soccer games for the up coming season. As it was an overcast and gloomy day, plus an early start we rushed out without proper sun protection, the first game (son's) was ok as i was able to sit in the shade undercover. Then for for the second game (daughters) we had to move to the bottom field away from shade. Everything was fine untill the sun broke through the clouds and although it didn't feel very warm because Kathy and myself are fair skinned we got burt to a crisp. It wasn't untill we got home how bad we were burnt, since then i've been glowing like a red beacon. So so it doesn't happen again we have put some spare hats in the car and will make sure we carry some sun block. As they say you live and learn, just that we had taken out the gear at the end of last season. Other then that not much has happened in my life, i wish i could say that i was up and walking around but it's just not happening. I wish i could overcome this foot drop, does it ever go away, or any alternatives. i'm at a loss. well have a great day, Ken