therapy, therapy....

Now, Yodi (Jael, my older daughter, helps sometimes, too) and I just do the facial therapy every night. It starts with the electronic stimulation of some points on my face, then a massage, and then the facial exercises. The electronic stimulation makes my facial muscles move involuntarily, it reminds me of a fish out of the water, gasping for precious oxygen. And you should see the exercises, too... They made me feel silly in the beginning (I still feel silly, once in a while) but I have grown accustomed to them. Yodi makes it a point (he says he reserves the energy) to do my therapy. Sometimes, he is so tired that the counting makes him sleepy and his touch slackens, but he does the therapy without fail. Only on rare occasions do we skip the therapy. I like doing therapy because it eases the pain and discomfort from the numbness, it makes my speech better, and it relaxes me. Another plus is that Yodi (and Jael) and I are closer because we are doing something together (maybe ballroom dancing or Aikido or even walking can also precipitate this kind of feeling).

I had therapy for my arms and legs from April to October. Until the clinic affiliated with the hospital (just a walk away) closed shop because of higher rent. They referred me to another hospital for my therapy but I did not have somebody to take or fetch me to and from there. It was a little bit far (for me). I was not strong enough to take the jeep. Taxis are not that regular. Yodi's time did not permit it. Plus the frequent travel is not good for my eye. At least those were my reasons. Yodi wanted me to go to that hospital, try things out, and see. I agreed but we never got around that hospital.

It was also during this time that the doctor (one who specializes in physical therapy and rehabilitation...I forgot the term, but he said that it is a relatively new field) recommended that I go to a gym to supplement my going to the clinic. He wrote his recommendation and the recommended exercises and I searched for an appropriate gym (appropriate=near). Luckily, I saw Flex Gym and it is just three minutes away from our house. No crossing the street, too. The gym owner (who is an attorney and a body builder)talked to me first, interviewed me. Then he and the instructor came out with a program based on the doctor's recommendation and their experience ("rehab", they called it). Thus, I set out to build strength and endurance. They also emphasized commitment with a capital C. Yodi accompanied me to the gym during my first month. The months after that, I persuaded him to let me go alone.

On day one, we worked on my legs, chest, and biceps. On day two we worked on the back, shoulders, and triceps. I used dumbbells and machines like inclined machine press,lateral pull down, seabed cable row, military machine press and more. It is a body-building gym, so most of the equipment and most of those going there are body builders. I think I am the only one who goes there for rehab.

These days, we are mostly working on my legs. My instructor is different ever since January. He is stricter and more hands on. He sees to it that I do my exercises properly. He also pushes me by adding counts or putting on more weights. Working for the strength of my legs requires the use of four kinds of equipment and exercises (not to mention the stretching). I have improved a lot but we still have some more work to do. But it will come... it will come....I just need perseverance and time. Sometimes the perseverance wanes. But time, that I have plenty of.