Lovely SoSensational ladies, who have read my posts from the outer reaches of Rehabilitation and sent kind messages of support, I thought I would let you know how my recovery is going, 30 months after the brain surgery which turned my life upside down.
I have previously mentioned remedial-masseur Paula Edwards and cranial osteopath Theresa Cecchia, who have been pivotal in helping me deal with my various impairments. Earlier this summer, I began a new type of therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Clinically, it is known as HBOT, but I prefer HOT.
While in Spain in late spring, I had 20 HOT sessions. The effect is to increase oxygen in cells to a level high enough to support tissue which is receiving minimal oxygen supply (i.e. damaged tissue). In the UK, the NHS uses HOT only for diving accidents. But elsewhere, including Russia, the USA, Spain and Israel, HOT is used to treat brain damage. It is also helpful in the faster healing of injury. Recent studies suggest HOT can help those suffering vascular dementia. In healthy people, HOT is believed to have rejuvenating effects – why it is popular with celebs, allegedly including Madonna.
Over the last year, most impairments had improved but so slowly I was beginning to feel healing had reached a plateau, or if it hadn’t reached a plateau, was taking a long nap on a ledge… And then I heard about HOT.
I had my treatment at the Hyperbaric Medical Centre, Estepona, near Marbella on the Costa del Sol.
Each session is around 75 minutes during which you are sealed into what looks alarmingly like a huge glass coffin. While inside, I could move around, listen to music or watch a film.
After 20 treatments I felt definite improvements. The dizzy feeling I’d had since surgery has vanished; my walking is stronger and I feel steadier though I still look a bit like a drunk. My vision is better as is depth perception. I no longer get a sticky/infected left eye; and the unexplained itching in my right eyebrow, right eyelid and right cheek have all abated.
My hands are stronger and fine motor skills are slightly better, though I still have a shake in my left hand.
My voice is stronger, at least when I’m not tired. And fatigue, which had barely improved in the last year, definitely seems less of an issue. My concentration is significantly better.
I am not suggesting HOT is a “miracle” cure; I suspect it accelerates a healing process which might have continued naturally, just more slowly.
I am also measuring my progress in terms of cling-film. We have a catering-size roll of cling-film. To peel off cling-film while simultaneously holding open the lid with its cutting edge, needs two functioning hands. A year ago, I couldn’t even attempt it; six months ago, I wrapped the cling on itself making it unusable; three months ago, I was still mangling the roll. But now, I can cut a sheet of cling-film successfully. Progress!
I have mentioned how much I hate the term disabled. Recently, I have been giving a lot of thought to disability.
It has occurred to me that in terms of disability, the world is divided into three groups: group 1, the able (the majority); group 2, the permanently disabled or those with degenerative conditions; and group 3, those with temporary disabilities – the group into which I perhaps optimistically put myself.
If you are in Group 3, you probably hope ultimately to return to group 1. However, you do not suddenly go from Group 3 to Group 1, there are thousands of steps along the way… Initially when you take a step, everyone is very encouraging. But after a while, your “recovery/rehabilitation” begins to be taken for granted.
I suspect that at this point, a few people (perhaps vanishingly few) begin to think it takes too much pain and effort to rejoin Group 1…
Also, at what precise point do you move from Group 3 to Group 1? And how do you know when you are back? I suspect this inability to know exactly when we are back in group 1 is at the root of those tabloid stories about so-called “skivers” who suffer work-related injuries, draw benefits and are then “revealed” to be doing jobs…
The only other thing I wish to say on this subject is that if you know anyone, young or old, with any kind of disability, do not take any new thing they do for granted; recognise how much effort and courage it takes to do even “simple” tasks and praise them lavishly; and go on praising them lavishly…
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