If all goes well it is expected that hospitalization should only be a few days. Then hard work begins again, not that rehab work ever stopped.There will be a major incision on the leg and extensive work on the knee and removal of at least 25 screws and a plate. The hope is that the range of motion will be improved and that inflammation and swelling will be reduced. At the least, for some time I will have to go back from the cane to crutches.

As I mentioned in the previous blog, I have been able to predict the weather this winter to a certain extent.
Although the physiotherapy and exercise has helped to strengthen my upper body, the trauma to the right lower femur and knee impedes overall recovery including mobilization.

The phases of recovery from such an ordeal is quite a learning experience and I’m not through it yet. Although there are noticeable subtle improvements along the way stamina is still in short supply and I’m not yet ready to concede to the age factor.

It is such a blessing to have the needed healthcare support, family and friends who care, pray and provide support. I continue to meet people who have suffered traumatic injuries and some haven’t had some of the benefits that I have experienced along the way. It is interesting what we can learn from each other as we interact at therapy treatments.

Yesterday while going through the pre-op preparations at the hospital I commented to the nurse about my gratitude for the consistently good care I have received beginning at the accident site until now. She responded by asking me what do I think accounts for that, to which I quickly replied that there has been a lot of people praying for me within minutes after the accident. I don’t have adequate words to describe my appreciation for all the prayer and the great faithfulness of our gracious Lord and Saviour.

Thanks for stopping by. I’ll give an update post sometime after the surgery.

In October the surgeon recommended another surgery to remove the hardware in my right leg. The hope is that this will help range of motion and remove a source of inflammation.

This past week I finally got the date for this next surgery. It has been scheduled for April 18 at St Michael’s where I was first admitted at the time of the accident. It is expected to be a relatively short time of hospitalization followed by intensive physiotherapy.

Passing through the Christmas season and now into February it’s obvious that this surgery is needed. I seem to have arrived at a plateau with respect to the right knee and its ramifications. The weather, etc has its effects on me which is not really a surprise given the doctors projections. I didn’t know I would become a weather forecaster  but I’m sometimes more accurate that the professional ones especially when there is a low pressure system moving in.

Completion of the cognitive wellness treatment plan occurred in December. It seemed to be of help. It’s quite amazing how the systems of the human body are so inter-related.

I continue to have some form of physiotherapy treatments an average of 5 times weekly plus exercise routines. It’s a head- to-foot approach.

I have learned a lot about recovery from this type of complex injury. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes determination and perseverance. At times when I’ve needed and taken a break from the routines, ground is lost. Consistency in what sometimes seems little things is of utmost importance to make progress – like in so many areas of our life.  After focussing on the main injuries for a while it is interesting how that  secondary issues begin to appear and have to be treated.

Being surrounded by people who pray and care is so important as well.

Although I’m not where I would like to be in this recovery process nor do I know ultimately what I will be left with for the long term, I am often reminded of not only how far I’ve come but also that my survival is a miracle in itself.

I engage with aspects of the workplace somewhat randomly however as yet my energy and effort is primarily spent in the recovery process. The doctors have said it can take several years to reach the ultimate recovery plateau.

The journey continues and by God’s grace the testimony of His goodness grows as time passes.

Thanks for stopping by.

Since my last blog:

- I had a road trip to NB. Carefully planned and with good assistance, it was an amazing time that included meeting friends who have been tracking with me on this journey and connecting with a few places and people that have been significant in my life in earlier years. The trip revealed how far I’ve come in recovery as well as how far I have yet to go.

- I have moved from 85 degrees of bend of the right knee under applied pressure to today reaching 98 degrees. Also my gait is improving bit by bit and I can envision walking again, some day without a cane.

- Recently I had an appointment with the surgeon. He informed me that if I can get an adequate degree of bending in the right knee by my next visit in October we may be able to avoid a hardware removal surgery at this time. I need to get another 20 degrees of functional bending to meet this goal.

-I’m not yet back to work at the office but I can see it from here, so to speak. It’s been 9 months now – hard to believe. Strength in every way continues to build.

The following article that I put together may be of interest to some. It’s about “Proprioceptors“.

I first heard the term “proprioceptors” as I was instructed in using a “wobble board” to strengthen my core and leg muscles by using a wobble board. Both of these terms may be new to you unless you are in the field of healthcare or have experienced this process.

First, a wobble board is a simple platform that is made of a square of wood on which a person stands and tries to keep balanced. There is another piece of round wood under the centre of it that when you stand on it, it tips from one side to the other thus forcing you to try and stabilize yourself. It’s a challenge especially if your muscles and nerves have not been used in this fashion or atrophied due to injury or disease.

The physiotherapist had me stand on the wobble board and try to stabilize myself using my leg muscles and centre core. To assist stability, I was instructed to focus my vision straight ahead on a focal point in front of me then do my best to balance by whatever means I could. There was a ledge in front of me that I could grab to steady myself until enough strength was gained to balance on my own. What an experience initially!

Finally able to maintain a wobbly but reasonable stability, they told me to then close my eyes. Suddenly I went out of balance and into a serious wobble. It was at this point that the therapist introduced the term word “proprioceptors”.

Proprioceptors are sensors in the muscles that provide information about joint angle, muscle length and tension. These sensors provide a way for the muscles to know where they are in space and what needs to happen in order for them to react appropriately in order for us to keep our balance. It was explained to me that in order to maintain my balance while standing, stretching and moving about, there are several areas that provide input to the brain. Messages are then sent along through the nerves to the muscles that need to be called on to respond in such a way so that I can be stable and keep my balance. So from my engineering background and curiosity, I asked them to explain the sources of input that would enable me to keep my balance. The input thus comes from our eyes – our vision, our ears – the fluid in the inner ear and the proprioceptors located in the relevant muscles. The brain processes the information received from the sensors rapidly, messages are communicated, and muscles respond and voila – balance results.

Immediately I thought that there is a life lesson in all this. First, the Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Am I ever getting a lesson in that! Also there are instances in scripture where the systems and structure of the body are used to explain spiritual truth to help us in our journey of life, our relationship with God and with one another.

Here are a few thoughts on this little episode.

Our life on earth can be described as a journey that consists of many experiences along the way. Both the good experiences and the difficult experiences require each of us to maintain our balance through it all. I would suggest that in order to maintain our balance through the experiences of life there is a need for good “input”. Using this experience to illustrate a lesson, I would suggest that the Bible contains essential life-giving information relevant to balancing on the “wobble boards” of life.

Input #1. As to the symbolism of the sensors found in the muscles called proprioceptors, our inner strength comes from faith in God and the magnitude of His strength. In Ephesians 6:10-18 we see a source of extraordinary strength and protection for life’s toughest battles. It’s about the strength of His might. Having a sense of where we are in the grand scheme of things both present and eternal is truly important. Scripture both informs us and nourishes faith that enables us to stand by His strength no matter where we are in the journey.

Input #2. Our vision. What we see about life, our past, present and future needs to be informed from scripture as well. Scripture clearly informs us about all of that and more. The author of Hebrews in chapter 10:2-3 says to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, sat down at the right hand of God. Consider him…. And so on. Many things bombard our vision in this fast paced hi tech world. We need to take personal responsibility to attend to our vision.

Input #3. Our hearing. Many voices cry out saying “come here, do this” however there is one voice that we need to listen for and listen to. It is the voice of Truth. Jesus after teaching many about who He is, speaking of himself in John 14:6 said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”  As we listen to His Word, study the whole text of scripture, we receive the most valuable input of all everything that will give us true life here and for the hereafter.

It’s amazing that the more I practice on the wobble board, the stronger I am becoming. A lesson there too!

Abundant blessings of grace to all,

Denys

www.findingthehope.com

A major focus is still on trying to increase the range of motion in my right leg. I am now in the 85 degree range. It increases very slowly and needs to reach at least 110 degrees to be able to do stairs freely.

I am out and about in a measured way. Although not yet ready to go back to work, I have come a long way over the past 7 months for which I am profoundly grateful. Since my last blog entry I have attended church and actually stood to give several short reports. It was quite a thing for both me and people who have been praying for me.

Life Lesson

Over the past few weeks the physiotherapists have been really upgrading the treatments and exercises to strengthen my “centre core” muscles. This is the complex structure around the pelvis and abdomen. I’ve learned that this is the key area of strength that enables us to walk properly, bend over and not fall over, reach side to side and forward, spring back and not fall on the floor. It’s the part of the body that enables us to balance properly.

An interesting thing about strengthening “the centre core” is that I have to personally take the initiative, follow the instructions and do the exercises faithfully – even those that seem insignificant. It’s amazing how that over time my strength is increasing to the point that I am now able to move much more confidently and without thinking or worrying about falling over.

There is a parallel here regarding our spiritual and emotional centre core – our heart and mind. God in his Word has given us so many “spiritual exercises” and practices that sometimes may seem insignificant. As we build a life of these practices, when the stress and stretches of life hit us, faith and hope in God is already built in like a muscle group that enables us to keep our balance.

I have found that even during the great stretches and strains,  God’s special presence is there by the Holy Spirit in a way that is actually discernible  and incredibly effective. It’s His strength that emerges in our weakness, keeping our “centre” balanced with His extraordinary peace through it all. I have met and chatted with so many over the recent months who have experienced the same thing.

It’s all His indescribable amazing grace! And its available to all!

Thanks for your continued prayer and interest. It means more than I can say.

Denys

www.findingthehope.com

The surgeon commented that when he first saw my right leg on the night of the accident he thought my right knee “was toast”. He is pleased with how well the bones have healed. The bending and strengthening of the right knee is a major area of focus. The range of motion is now touching 80 degrees using pressure, which is up from 75 degrees in my last posting. The surgeon said that if the bending seems to plateau before an adequate range is reached for good mobility, he would do a surgery to remove all the hardware in the area. Once healed from that, along with continued physiotherapy  they expect I would get a greater range of motion to walk freely and do stairs. Of course I’m very open to achieve adequate range of motion without another surgery.

I crossed another threshold this week as well. Until now, using a cane, I have been walking short distances such as inside the house and in and out of the car to go to the clinic, etc. Feeling somewhat ambitious, using my cane, I carefully set out to try to walk to the mailbox which is about 500 feet down the street. Stopping a few times along the way, I made it. It was a great feeling! Then 2 days later I took a slow walk along the sidewalk in another direction. It gives quite a sense to be able to do this for the first time. Continued practice will undoubtedly yield good results. I seem to be at a discernible new stage and it’s great.  Not only is “spring in the air” but also I can envision it coming to my steps as well.

My physiotherapy consists of a team of 4 people, an average of 8 appointments over 5 days weekly plus about 20 exercises that I have to do on my own. This is expected to continue for a number of months yet and it is producing results. It truly is s full time job.

A LIFE LESSON

One of the roles of the physiotherapy team is to teach me exercises, methods and proper posture. This is  to not only regain strength and functionality but to rebuild strength with proper alignment. It’s not good enough to be able to walk in some manner, but for the long haul I need to redevelop muscles and movements in proper alignment. A vivid example is that several days ago  my physiotherapist had me stand up straight according to how I felt was standing straight. Then she forcibly adjusted my posture and said now you are properly aligned according to your body’s centreline. To me it felt like I was looking to the left  however she stated this new alignment was actually correct. I learned that our brain registers as normal what we do or practice for a particular period of time  whether it is right or wrong.

The key to rebuilding correctly has to do with intentionally rebuilding each and every muscle, ligament and motion in proper alignment with the centreline. Otherwise I would wobble when I walk. Muscles would incorrectly compensate for the misalignment and trouble would await me in the near future. Consequently incorrect alignments would produce what I call “mal-formed norms” leaving one in a somewhat “warped” condition and then thinking it is normal. (Can you see a message coming? ha)

What a picture of our life as a whole. Our life consists of so much more than a few years here on earth. It actually has a very real and most important eternal aspect to it. Given this reality , the concept of proper alignment is critical for one’s highest and best for the present, as well as for eternity with God.

For me the Bible, God’s inspired Word is the proven “Centreline” to which everything to do with life is to be aligned.  This amazing book, the world’s best seller, contains everything we need to know about God’s love and grace, the flawed human condition and its redemption and salvation, how to live the highest quality of life possible, what and who to believe in and what not to trust in, how to live, work, walk and relate, etc. even in a world that obviously is off course in so many ways.

How blessed we are to be able to intentionally explore this precious book, then ask for and receive God’s grace to give us strength day by day to apply it, thus reaping all He has in store for us in this life and forever.

The truths of the sacred “Centreline” solidly established in our heart and mind as it relates to faith and hope through Christ is one amazing and incomparable blessing when we are hit with life’s big blows.

A figure of speech: “Just ask me and I will gladly tell you my experience!” And I’ve met so many people along my present journey who have experienced such amazing peace and joy even in the midst of devastating storms of life.

The word “amazing” hardly begins to describe His grace!   Check out   www.findingthehope.com

Thanks again for your concern and prayer. It is most sincerely appreciated!!

Denys

To give an idea of where I am and need to go, with the physiotherapists assistance we got a bend of around 75 degrees today. In order to walk freely on stairs they say I need at least 100, preferably 110 or more. It has taken about 2 months of brute force to get from 55 to 75.

During that time I have graduated from a walker and wheel chair to two crutches, then to one crutch and now indoors often a cane since last week. Although I keep these tools at hand for when I’m feeling particularly tired or weak, it is great to be moving forward. Slow and easy though.

We’ll press on literally!

Monday started off well then along came Tuesday. At 9 am I began the day in the endondontist ‘s chair having a root canal redone due to an infection that arose in one of my teeth. That went reasonably well then following a physio session at 1 pm, I began the hydrotherapy session in the pool. Feeling rather good, I did 2 sets of all of the exercises assigned. Even that seemed ok until after I got home. Then the pain set in. Through the night and into the next days the pain weakened everything. It seemed like I was set back a month’s progress. I even lost a few degrees of knee bend due to inflammation of the joint etc.

Carefully respecting what had happened, the next days brought gradual improvement so that by Sunday as I write this I’m almost back to the pre-setback level and ready to get another week underway.

Doing physiotherapy in the water is easier and very beneficial however one can push “beyond reasonable limits” without realizing it until it is too late.

The problem seemed to be tracked down to likely one exercise that I had done. It was a good exercise however it appeared I had not done it quite the right way for the conditions and it caused inflammation and the negative consequences that actually cut into everything else I would normally do.

Several life lessons come to mind through this little setback.

1. Setbacks in life come however they can be worked through and overcome.

2. Watch out for the  ”beyond reasonable limits factor”.

3. Doing the right thing the wrong way can have as devastating consequences as doing the wrong thing or nothing.

I leave these thoughts to your own imagination and application.

Thanks for stopping by.

Now on to next week! Have a good one.

Little by little I notice that I’m gaining strength. the right leg is gaining mobility degree by degree however it is progressing slowly. The joint, the ligaments and muscles need a lot of work and they tell me the only solution and way forward at this is “brute force” in order to make it bend adequately. The degree of bend is only around mid 60′s and it needs to get up to around 110 degrees.

I’m having to learn and practice even the smallest movements in order to realign and rebuild the affected areas. This coming week I expect to add 3 more weekly appointments for additional therapy treatments. I should be in such great shape after all this. ha.

During the past  few weeks, with help, I have been able to get out and about for short periods of time. Although it is becomes uncomfortable to sit in a chair or a car seat for long, it has been refreshing to be able to get out and see some of the familiar things even for a short period of time. A few stores have battery operated scooters for handicapped shoppers. Gotta try one of those soon. For those who know my interest in vehicles you will understand how I can appreciate something that I can drive.

Not a week goes by without experiencing a profound sense of gratitude. This past week I celebrated another birthday. What a unique year! Apart from the grace of God things could be so much different that what they are. So many people are in such tragic conditions. I pray they will somehow be able to open their hearts to receive the strengthening and comforting grace from the God who cares more than we can imagine.

Thanks for checking in. I deeply appreciate your on-going prayer!

After viewing the x-rays the surgeon said the right leg has healed  well enough to remove restrictions and he upgraded me to full weight bearing status. This means that physiotherapy can move forward to aggressively proceed to get the leg strengthened, realigned and mobilized. On my way out of the doctor’s visit he said that he wants to see me walk in with only a cane when I go back to see him on March 17th. Sounds good to me.

The present condition of the right leg is that it won’t totally straighten out and it will only bend about 55 degrees. It is also very weak and somewhat misaligned. Due to all that has transpired with the pelvis and the other leg, I’m completely misaligned at this point. The right leg appears longer than the left. It reminds me of how a car can have its front end steering parts and wheels totally out of line and everything goes in different directions however a good mechanic and wheel alignment specialist can get it sorted out. In my case it will take more than a few days at the shop.

The plan now includes a rigorous physio regime both in-clinic and at home for the next 16 weeks. It includes treatment to rebuild everything from my shoulders to my feet. And do I ever have need for a rebuilding of stamina!

This whole process, with some of what seems to be small  or insignificant exercises, produces amazing results with persistence. It reminds me of the whole of life-building and our personal formation.  If only personal discipline in all areas of our life came easily and automatically. I’m truly grateful for all the coaching influences along the way and the help of God and His good Word, the Bible.

I have several other specialists’ visits over the next  few weeks that will assess other areas that may have been affected by the impact of the accident.

Thanks again for your interest and support. Greatly appreciated!!!!