Author: Jen Rios

I was scheduled for physical therapy at 5, was running late so rescheduled for 5:30.  We get to Barwis (my Mom drove me) and we parked in one of my normal spots around back.  My Mom went to get my chair from the trunk as Deeds was in the gym walking by.  He saw me and waved and I felt something strange in my chest that I didn’t quite recognize but smiled and waved back.  I got my feet out of the car with my Mom’s help and Dan came out to the car to help further.  He put me in my chair and as my Mom pushed my through the gym to physical therapy I realized what the feeling in my chest was,  I’m going through withdrawal not seeing the guys at Barwis; I miss them!  I saw Mike Morfitt and even Mike Rhoades but just said “Hi.”  I talked with Dan for a second but had to get to therapy.  Barwis has been part of my routine for SO long!  I haven’t been there since the 22nd of July.  I missed it.

My Mom pushed m e into ATI and I see Nick Lucius.  I smiled and he told me that he was working with me.  Oh yay!  My 2 worlds (Barwis and ATI) overlap!  Nick stretched me out had me do some PNFs on my left leg and he put some stim on my leg.  My leg was tired and my hamstring ached.  It’s different to have my leg ache like this.  I’m used to sore muscle ache (it feels good because I can FINALLY feel pain in my legs) but the pain I feel in my hamstring is more of a painful ache.  Originally, I planned to go to therapy and to Barwis right after.  I have since amended that with Elle.

But, I was excited to come back to Barwis on Wednesday.  As my Mom was pushing me through the gym to the car, Mike Morfitt came over and met us just before we got outside.  He asked me what happened and I told him that I tore my hamstring but assured him that I would be back to Barwis on Wednesday.  I told him that it was weird not being at Barwis and I told him that I even had to wear shorts and that I haven’t worn shorts since high school.  He agreed that my legs were REALLY white.  I laughed and I went outside and he went back to what he was doing.  Nick Lucius put me into the car.  Before he picked me up, I warned him that, “I’m a BIG girl” and he replied, “I’m a BIG man” and picked me up.  My leg was tired but I was excited to be back working at Barwis the next time I was here.

I have been coming to Barwis for 2 years and I have never been inside ATI.  it’s the physical therapy office INSIDE of Barwis.  I’ve seen all of the physical therapists in the gym doing various things but I never had a reason to come inside… Until now.  Dr. Frush told me about it and told me to see Nicole.  I called Wednesday and was able to get in to see Nicole on Friday.

Nicole reminded me of a friend and colleague whom I have worked with for the past 10 years.  We had easy conversation and she pushed her hair behind her ear just like my colleague and that made me smile to myself.  Nicole rubbed my leg out (it was STILL puffy and my hamstring kind of ached.  She told me that my muscles felt good and that made me feel really good!  Hearing it from Dr. Frush AND Nicole felt REALLY good! I don’t hear good things about my muscles very often so to hear it twice was spectacular!

Nicole did some stim on my leg as well.  I vaguely remember getting stim on my knee during rehab after surgery.  Nick Lucius was there and it was strange to see him NOT at Barwis but at Barwis.  He couldn’t tell me what ATI stood for so I will have something to ask Nicole next week.  My Mom showed her pictures of me squatting with the harness.  She asked if I used to do squats unharnessed (she saw me back when I could do them).  I told her my PR was 46 and 70 harnessed.

She told me that I won’t do squats for awhile which bummed me out and she told me that she would talk to Nick about how I should workout there until my hamstring heals.  It is SO convenient having my PT (physical therapy) and Barwis in the same place!  All of this just solidifies in my mind that being at Barwis is EXACTLY where I need to be.  I will go to Barwis AND PT next week.

I had an appointment at 7:30 Wednesday morning to get my left leg checked out; it still was swollen and it hurt.  Mike Barwis referred me to this doctor.  He wasn’t just ANY orthopedist.  He is THE orthopedist who works with the Detroit Pistons.  I was shocked that Mike made a phone call and the doctor could get me in SO quickly.  I was nervous about my leg because it was STILL swollen.  My brother’s and my Mom’s concern compounded that nervousness.  There was one other person in the office when we (my Mom drove me) got there.  I

I laughed to myself because there were “normal sized” waiting room chairs and sprinkled in, there were “super sized” chairs.  I told the receptionist that it was pretty cool that they had chairs for tall people and she told me that they have a lot of Six-footers come through.  I was scheduled to go to Barwis later but it seemed unlikely that I would go there but I wore wacky socks anyway!

I chose the red and blue stripes because I WAS going to see the Pistons’ doctor.  Now, this was the first time since high school that I wore shorts out of the house.  I HAD to wear shorts so the doctor could see the swelling and discoloration in full effect.  I wondered if he was going to comment on my ACL reconstruction scar (he did).

After we waited for a little while, I told my Mom that she should sit in the BIG chair.  She did and her feet were like a foot and a half from the floor when she sat back comfortably (she is even SHORTER than I am!).  We both laughed.  I laughed about it ALL DAY!!!  Then I was called back.

I made my way into the room with the nurse in front of me and my Mom behind me.  It was a normal patient intake and I’ve been in orthopedist’s offices before having torn my ACL and having surgery, having broken my ankle, and having Sean having broken his arm.  I went for X-rays and shortly after I came back in, Dr. Frush came in.  As he sat down, he said, “So, Mike Barwis referred you?”  I felt my face light up as I smiled and said yes because whenever I say that to my neurologist, he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.  Then, Dr. Frush asked, “You’re with the First Step Foundation?”  Two for two!  Yes I am!  I felt so good hearing this because he knew ALL ABOUT Mike and the work I am doing to walk.  I felt validated and that felt REALLY good.

Dr. Frush told me that I need to get on the table so he could examine me but it came up to my shoulders like the black table at Barwis. I looked doubtful at the table then he told me that he has a movable table down the hall.  We went down the hall, he lowered the table, I got on, and he examined me.  He left to look at my X-rays.  I felt good that he OBVIOUSLY knew what he was doing and it felt good that I was getting it addressed (at my Mom’s urging).   I didn’t know that I would feel the BEST when Dr.Frush came back.

When Dr. Frush came back, he said that I have a partial rupture in my hamstring but that my muscles looked good and felt good and that I will make a FULL recovery.  He said that I am “an excellent candidate” for the aggressive work that Brawls does to get me walking.  Hearing that made me feel REALLY GOOD!!!  Dr. Frush ordered physical therapy for me and knew the therapist by name who works next door to Barwis, a compression sleeve for my left leg, and an ultrasound to rule out blood clots in my leg.  He said the ultrasound was necessary because he can’t see the range of motion because my legs do not move normally at this point.

I went down the hall and got fitted for my compression sock and my Mom dropped me of at home where I called ATI (the physical therapy office next to Barwis) to make an appointment (it’s on Friday).  Dr. Frush told me to NOT go to Barwis this week but that I can resume Barwis next week.  When I went to the hospital to get the ultrasound, two women asked me if I was a professional.  I didn’t understand what they were asking but I think the coding on the orders and who it came from, got me immediately seen.  The ultrasound was good and I didn’t have any clots.  The tech told me that if I did, I would be admitted to the hospital.  Luckily, I wasn’t.

I texted with Mike Barwis all day and told him that I felt like a VIP the entire day!  I know that it is ENTIRELY because of him.  My problem was taken care of and my faith in Barwis Methods has only been solidified.  Dr. Frush told me that Mike does GREAT work, I already knew that but it was REALLY nice to hear!!!  It was great to hear that I am exactly where I need to be to get walking. Mike and his team do exactly that and it’s just a matter of time for me.

So, I cancelled Barwis on Friday because I was in pain.  My left leg hurt and was a bit swollen.  I figured it would be better or Monday… I was WRONG.  My leg was EVEN bigger!!!  Sunday night, my brother, Dave, came over and instead of making fun of me for having such a swollen leg, he was concerned.  My Mom had been concerned all day.  Now she had an ally and I was outnumbered.

I woke up Monday morning after elevating my legs ALL NIGHT and they were STILL swollen.  My left more than my right and my left leg was bruised.  I texted Jesse and Mike Barwis to find out what they thought.  I sent them pictures of my elephantiasis legs (my Mom took some pictures.  I am NOT putting them in this post because they are PRETTY GROSS!!!). Mike said it was probably a pulled hamstring because that is where it hurt the most.  Jesse agreed and Mike suggested that I see an orthopedic doctor.  He was out-of-town but he called me and told me that he was going to have a doctor’s office call me.

I called Elle and told her that I wasn’t going to make it Monday.  That fact bummed me out.  It was such BAD timing for a FURTHER setback!!!  My legs were VERY swollen and I spent the day with my legs elevated alternating ice on both of them.  The doctor’s office called and I have an appointment Wednesday morning.  I guess the comeback isn’t coming as soon as I had hoped.

Friday, my left leg was VERY swollen.  It kind of hurt on Thursday but I LOVE the feeling of sore muscles – especially when my legs are sore because I haven’t felt my legs in SO long!  But, the pain I felt on Friday was just too much.  I had to call Elle and unfortunately had to cancel my appointment.

I was REALLY bummed about this fact and it discouraged me.  Then I came across this tweet:

@Motivate_Us_: Every setback has a major comeback.

I favorited and retweeted it.  I’ve thought about it and I don’t know how long it will take for me to comeback but for now it’s a setback.

My Mom got me out of the car and I met Nick just inside Barwis.  He pushed me over to the blue table, wiped it down, and worked my legs as I sat in my chair.  He said that my legs felt looser than they did on Monday.  Megan came by while I was still in wheelchair to show me her socks.  It WAS “Wacky Sock Wednesday” #24:

I had the “Hamburgler” socks.  Nick helped me on to the table and he worked my left leg and Heather worked my right.  The stretch was a little intense but I understood that it would be a little rough only for a little while, then my legs would loosen up.  Heather had me lay on my stomach and had me do some PNFs.  I didn’t realize until Nick came back with the harness that I was squatting.  But I didn’t squat on Monday so…

Heather held my feet as Nick pushed me to the Keiser machine.  I did 3 sets of squats for a total of 45.  Nick was happy with my progress.  I started squatting with 100% air but I ended using 80%.  I pointed out to Nick and Heather that I MAY have done better because I was wearing a “Michigan’ shirt opposed o my NORMAL “Squatting Shirt” (my Central shirt).  Nick half-smiled a chuckled a little and Heather told me, “whatever I need to believe.”  Nick told me that he liked doing less reps with not as much air and fist bumped me as I finished.  I was a little tired but put my arms up and, “Woo”ed on my way down the ramp.  Madison was walking by and heard me and laughed.

My Mom was in the front part of the facility talking with Elle and picking up my “1% Day” shirts.  i got one for my Mom, Sean, and me.  My Mom liked her shirt partly because it’s for Brock.  She knows how much he is an inspiration for me and walking.  When we left, she helped me into the car and she said that my legs were REALLY loose.  My hamstrings hurt a little Wednesday night and today and my feet felt REALLY hot last night.  Sean put an ice pack on them and rubbed them a bit as I was falling asleep.  He laughed because my toes were twitching really fast.  It was a little uncomfortable as I fell asleep but I haven’t even FELT my feet in SO LONG so It made me EXCITED!