Month: January 2015

I was on time to Barwis and my legs were still swollen.  I hope that being back in my routine of being at work will help me but it hasn’t yet.  Mike worked my calves to make them less swollen.  After they started feeling better, he had me lay on my back.

I told him that he put me in a “modified ‘Ooh Doggie!'” stretch” (he had my knee placement a little different).  Then he had me lay on my stomach.  He did all the same stretches he has done before but it hurt a little bit less so he could stretch me further.  I let a few grunts and gasps out when I was laying on my stomach and I only realized that because Deeds commented about it.

Mike took me out to my car and reminded me of the 4 step process I need to complete to get in my car.  I repeated it aloud, “Stand. Grab. Turn. Sit.”  I tried and only was able to stand.  My legs felt so much like Jell-O that I was surprised I could do that!  I tried again, undershot the car seat, and collapsed and almost ended up on the pavement.  Mike caught me though.  He had me sitting in on the driver’s seat in like 12 seconds.  Once sitting my legs automatically bent.  (It’s nice to FINALLY see progress in this regard but I kinda miss Phil’s “bends.”  Mike is A LOT better at helping me into the car than Sean because he’s NOT 13.  I was completely in my car in like 44 seconds.  My legs began feeling better as I drove home.  I hoped the swelling would go down soon.

I showed up to Barwis yesterday ON TIME (a little bit early actually) so Mike took me a little early.  I sat on the blue table and Mike reached down to grab my ankle.  My legs were pretty swollen!  I told Mike probably the second day he worked on me that I WOULD get cankles  and sure enough; I have!  As Mike started kneading my legs (as both Jesse and Phil have had to do), I told him that I thought it was because I was on break (from school) that my legs swelled.  When I am on my work schedule I am up and in my car  A LOT earlier.  My legs started feeling better the longer he kneaded them.  He put me in the “Ooh Doggie!” stretch but HE’S the one who says it now as a joke but it REALLY did hurt that first day.

He had me lay on my stomach and stretched my legs behind me.  The stretch was intense but I didn’t scream.  A yelp may have slipped out though.  Then Mike had me sit up and he grabbed my hands and held them (he was seated on a stool in front of the table).  He pulled and pushed my arms (core work) and began dancing to the music so my movements were choreographed.  Jesse had worked with Mike previously some years ago and he told me that Mike would not be as goofy as he (Jesse) and Phil were with me before I met Mike.  I told Mike that Jesse and Phil used to dance and it made me feel comfortable that Mike was dancing too.  I’ve felt for a LONG time that MS has taken my dancing from me.  I asked Jesse when dancing would come back because I miss it (not that I was that impressive) and he told me that it would be awhile.  Well, it didn’t come back yesterday but…we’ll see.

I undershot sitting in the driver’s seat when I attempted to get in my car.  Once I was in my car, Mike and I continued a conversation I had started earlier.  I’ve been asking Mike questions about his family since the second day he worked with me in an attempt to expedite me getting comfortable with him.  The first time I started asking about his family (the second time we worked together) he was a bit taken aback with all of my “personal” questions.  I told him that it doesn’t get personal until I ask him his middle name (I know both Jesse’s and Phil’s – but I don’t think Mike and I are there just yet).  I asked Mike what his family calls him.  He said “Rhoades” (his last name) and then he told me that his name is Mike.  I told him that my family calls me, “Jenny.”  He laughed and called me “Jen-ney” (just like Forrest Gump (like I haven’t heard that a million times since 1994!))  Once I was in my car, I continued the conversation and asked if they call him, “Mikey.”  He was putting the metal arm into my wheelchair and he straightened up, looked at me, and warned me to, “Watch it!” Oh! Oh! Oh!  I don’t think I’ll call him “Mikey” like I called Adam “Phil,” but it is a weapon that I will keep in my arsenal.  A well-placed “Mikey” will work to my benefit!  I laughed at his response and he shut my door saying, “Whatever, Jen-ney” and shook his head.  I laughed more and nodded my head saying, “Mikey.”  He circled around the front of my car, stopped, and shook his head with a straight face to which I smiled, nodded, and may have given him a “thumbs-up.”