Author: Jen Rios

I was scheduled to work with Sue but it changed to Megan.  We worked on the furthest black table.  Megan explained to me that Sue had to leave so she took me.  I was cool with that!  It was “Wacky Sock Wednesday!”  I wasn’t at Barwis for the last “Wacky Sock Wednesday” so this one was #35.  As I got to the table after Megan told me that I as working with her; I said, “First thing’s first” as I handed her my phone to take a picture of our socks:

I wore the green and white stripes because she grew up in Lansing.  (NOT because I’m a State fan!) She wore the “raining cats and dogs” because it WAS raining “cats and dogs!”  We did my normal PNFs which feel A LOT stronger and then she asked me if I wanted to stand or work on core.  It WAS raining so I opted to work on my core because my legs were stiff and ached more than they normally do because of the barometric pressure.

Working my core made this “A.R. #4.”  I sat on the edge of the table and I used the yellow and black 6 lb. medicine ball.  I like that one the best and look forward to the day that turning my shoulders, pivoting my waist, and extending the ball up and outward is easy.  That day is NOT here yet so Megan told me specifically how I need to move my body and which muscles I need to tense.  I TRIED but it ends too many times with me falling over and Megan catching me so I don’t fall off of the table.  I attempted these extensions for what seemed like a million times on each side.  My sides burned!  Yep.  This was DEFINITELY A.R. #4!!!

 

I didn’t go to Barwis on Wednesday (still working out the scheduling) but I was able to go on Friday but I went at 7.  I got there a little bit early so I saw Chris and Emily leaving.  I smiled at them and asked how book sales were going and asked how I could get one.  Emily told me that they had some in the van and she can grab me one.  I was so excited!!!  I’d never had gotten a book from the author before!  He even signed it for me!!!

I had never been to a book signing… Until now!!!  I hugged the book to my chest and was excited to read it!  Chris wished me a good workout and I was ELATED!!!  The gym slowly got quiet because I was not the only client working out.  Megan was somewhere on the other side of the gym so I couldn’t see her.

I went to the first black table and my Mom sat on the blue table next to me.  Mike asked what we wanted to listen to.  My Mom chose Fleetwood Mac.  I could dig that.  Mike and I did our normal PNFs.  Then we worked on my core.  It was A.R. #3.  We did all kinds of exercises using different core muscle groups.  I felt productive doing these and have noticed that I am sitting up taller in my chair so it seems to be helping.  We drove home with my sides aching but it was a GOOD ache.

I was excited to show Sean my book!  I showed many colleagues at work on Monday and anticipated getting through the book quickly.  NOT the case!  I’ve since seen Chris and he asked how I liked it.  I told him that I LOVE it but I’m not finished because keep having to stop because I’m crying,and crying, and crying but it is SO GOOD!!!

The Power of Faith When Tragedy Strikes by Chris and Terry Norton

SO, SO, SO GOOD!!!

I worked with Sue on the lack table Monday (I like that one the best I think).  My legs were a bit tight but Sue methodically stretched them out so they relaxed and we began PNFs.  I am pleased with the progress I see in doing these PNFs.  When Sue tells me to “push” or “pull” (depending on if I am laying on my back or stomach), I can feel the muscles activating and I am telling my legs to move and they ACTUALLY listen.

I still only do sets of like 5 or 6 but it feels like 500!  My right leg is STILL stronger than my left after my hamstring tear.  It’s kind of weird that the leg that used to be my, “poop leg” is the stronger of the two.  I probably only did two or three sets of five but it FEELS like I’m doing so many!  As I completed the reps alternating legs, I felt as if I was gaining momentum and it was exhilarating!  Now, after I saw the acupuncturist in Florida 9 years ago.  I was able to wiggle my toes.  I was unable to wiggle them since my diagnosis 7 years earlier. I really feel like I am wiggling them quickly but I recently saw how LITTLE they wiggle when I think I’m wiggling them a lot.

I don’t see my legs move when I’m laying on my stomach and my eyes are closed most of the time I am laying on my back to help me concentrate but I feel the muscles activating, they slowly gain momentum and that is exciting!  I’m not sure how it looks and it probably is as pitiful as wiggling my toes but – it’s movement.  Movement that I had once lost.  Now, I’m getting it back.  Slowly; but its gaining momentum and that is EXCITING!!!

I worked with Mike on Friday, we worked on the black table where he stretched me out and we did PNFs.  He looked over to the shuttle and asked me if I had done single legs on it.  I told him that I had not and he smiled and told me that we were going to do that.  He helped me back into my chair and pushed me over to it.  He asked Jon to help him lift me on to the shuttle and then he got me into place with my legs bent.  He sat on one of the exercise balls on my left and Jon walked over bouncing another exercise ball at sat on my right.  He was going to work with us!  yay!  I hadn’t worked with Jon in over two years, since my first summer here at Barwis.  I remember back when Jesse used to refer to Barwis as “Barwis” and I thought it sounded funny.  Back then, I used to call it “Barwis Methods.”  But now, i just call it “Barwis.”  It makes me feel like I belong, like an OG.

Jon sat and checked his phone and laughed about something Eric had posted.  Mike didn’t know who he was so Jon asked if I remembered him.  I told him I did and that made me feel like an OG further.  We ended doing one set of 40 double leg squats.  I think we started off with 500 lbs. (no bands)  and half-way through, change to 750 lbs. (or 1).  I could feel the muscles taking hold at the end of my push and I slowly would bend my legs on my own.  My legs were SO tired and I worked SO hard.

My cousin, Ariel, had driven me that day and because her car was foreign to me, Mike and Jon helped me slide in.  My legs ached on the way home but it was an ache that made me feel REALLY good!  I am disappointed that I am NOT walking yet, but it feels good that my muscles ache in my legs from overwork.  I am working TOWARD walking and this muscle ache is evidence of that… and that feels good!

I worked with Mike on the black table on Wednesday.  I told him about waking up Tuesday morning in so much pain and that I have been stronger when I transfer as of late.  Before transferring from my chair to the table, I wanted to show Mike.  I placed my hands on the arms of my wheelchair with my elbows up and stood up.  It was straight up and it felt good!  He took a step closer to me and I let go of my chair.  He was impressed but then when it was time to move my feet to sit on the table, I smiled, shook my head, and told him that I didn’t know what to do.  He laughed and put me on the table.  He stretched my legs out and explained PNFs to me in more specific detail.

We didn’t return to the shuttle but instead stood up from the edge of the table.  We did this a couple of times on the black table but it proved to be difficult because I was too short.  My legs are short.  Mike set my feet but I was not able to extend my legs properly because they weren’t bent enough.  Mike compared the black table’s height with the blue table’s height and decided that we would move to the blue table to continue stands because it was lower.  After I was seated on the blue table, Mike began this extensive demonstration of the muscles I need o activate as he bent his knees and simulated sitting and standing.  The demonstration was valuable and I understood it and nodded.  As he sat on a stool in front of me, he added, “But it WILL difficult because you can’t balance on a pole, with feet like these, that is what it is like.”

It took a minute for me to process this statement; and just as I realized what he meant, he started to laugh.  I told him that my feet have been this size for the past 10 years.  He continued to laugh and told me that he noticed that when he set my feet at the black table.    We stood a few more times at the blue table because I felt I “had more room to stand.”  Nick helped us for my last stand by putting his foot in front of my left foot and he had my left hand as Mike had my right.  I was tired and Megan had left but it WAS “Wacky Sock Wednesday” #34 (Sean’s football number).  So I had Mike snap this picture:

I worked with Sue on Monday.  My legs were extremely tight!  We used that tightness to our advantage.  It was easier to stand up with my legs already so stiff.  Sue first had to convince ,my feet to move closer to my chair so I could stand up.  Easier said than done.  After some time, my legs relaxed just a bit so she was able to help me stand and transfer to the black table.  He did some PNFs and they were really strong!  I told her about working with Nick on Friday and being on the shuttle.

She looked over and decided that we were going to do that.  We got help (I think it was Mike) and she situated me on it.  I started with 500 bands (really none) and I did a set of 20.  She liked that I was getting momentum and that my legs were firing so we didn’t stop to rest.  After about 40, she put 750 bands (or 1) on and I continued to push myself up.  It was a whole lot different because it was 250 more bands!  Or 1. My time ran out and I tired out so we didn’t do 20 with the 750 bands  but I think we got pretty close!  Deeds helped to put me back in my chair.

I’ve been laying on my stomach before I fall asleep these days.  I tell everyone how Mike Rhoades suggested it and they all agree that it is a good idea.  After I turned onto my side, I immediately fell into a DEEP sleep.   I was awakened at two o’clock in the morning in a WHOLE LOT of pain!!!  My quads BURNED!!!  It was a pin I hadn’t experienced in a LONG while to THAT extent!!!  It hurt so good and that made me smile even though I was unable to really fall back to sleep but I’ll take it.

Friday was my first time working with Nick Lucius at Barwis.  I worked with him before at ATI but not at Barwis.  Jake was shadowing him.  Jake is a new hire and he is in training.  Nick helped me onto a black table and we started PNFs.  Nick also encouraged me by telling me it was, “good,” or “perfect,” or “Attagirl!”  These accolades always make me feel good!  They wee strong and that felt good too.  I rolled onto my stomach and Nick left to do something.  Jake was sitting on the other black table next to me and I turned to him and asked where we was educated.  He told me that he went to Western Michigan Univ- I cut him off and exclaimed, “You’re a Bronco?!” I smiled and told him that I’m a quarter Bronco.  Then I corrected myself because I am actually 20% Bronco (it took me 5 years because I had Sean in the middle of getting my bachelor’s degree). We did PNFs on the table and then Nick had me sit on the edge of the table and he sat on a stool across from me.

He had me put my hands on his shoulders and attempt to stand.  He braced my knees and on the second attempt, he had Jake brace my hips from behind.  It wasn’t a very good attempt.  I was having a lot of difficulty straightening my legs.  It frustrates me that my body doesn’t listen to my brain especially in something so small as standing up.  But at least I attempted with two strong men assisting me in that attempt.  Then Nick looked over to a part of the gym I had never been and told me that we were going to go over to the shuttle.  He pushed me over to it and he and Jake lifted me and laid me onto it.  I was laying on a slight incline with my knees up and my feet against a board  I had been on this years ago at physical therapy so I understood what I was expected to do.  Pressure bands were placed on the opposite side of where my feet were for resistance.  Nick told me to push my feet against the board and use my quads to straighten my legs out.

At physical therapy, about 10 years ago, it was A LOT easier.  I asked Nick how any bands were on the machine because it felt like 500.  He told me there were none.  I completed a set of 12 reps and then I rested.  He fiddled with the bands but I couldn’t see what he was doing.  Yep.  Just what I thought.  As I tried to straighten my legs, he put 750 bands on.  Or it was 1 but it FELT like 750.  I completed a set of 12, rested, and did a final set of 12 with only 500 bands.  Or none.  I was tired but they put me back in my chair and we ended with straight leg pull downs on the air machine by the roll down door.  I did 2 sets on each leg with 5.5 pounds of resistance.  I was spent but I liked working with Nick and it was nice to meet the Bronco, Jake.  He’s really tall.