I forgot to give you the diagnosis of the MRI, apparently I have an enchondroma see http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00085 on the end of my thighbone. The recommended course of treatment is to do nothing, which I am very good at. They have also given me a new type of anti inflamatory Celebrex http://www.drugs.com/celebrex.html it is certainly preferably to opening up the knee and chiseling it off.
Much of thre PT and OT time this week has been spent trialing things, this included a lifting belt similar to those worn by weightlifters in case people try to pick me up, and a sliding board to help transfer me from the wheelchair into a standard car. This was frankly terrifying and uncomfortable. A convertible with an overhead hoist would be preferable. Train travel and cruises are looking very attractive.
We also tested portable ramps the longer the ramp the heavier it is so ot is a real balancing act to decide which one is the best. After nearly falling out of my chair on the downward slope of the shortest/steepest ramp, I decided to opt for the heavier one :-)
I have been testing a new air mattress overlay http://www.nationalseniors.com.au/icms_docs/118318_2012_CommGrantsEquipmentList.pdf see item 3 on page 2 which is more comfortable than others I have tried. So I was very surprised to learn that it had given me pressure marks on my shoulders. Further investigation determined that there was a new policy that bolsters for extendable beds were to be placed at the head of the bed instead of the foot as some patients were getting pressure marks on their heels. The bolster was repositioned to the foot of the bed and the pressure areas are disappearing. Hopefully the mattress can now be ordered next week
On Wednesday I commenced carer training with Emma from SIA she will come to Townsville with me for my first week back at home to train the cares that are allocated tov me in Townsville. She is very nice and capable which is reassuring.
Wednesday was a milestone when we visited the newly renovated TRP house at 18 Newmarket Rd Windsor. It is a 4 bedroom house but currently two of the back bedrooms are locked off for storage. I will be spending next weekend there with Darrell and if all goes well will only return to the hospital to complete discharge procedures. I will include photos in a later post.
Work is scheduled to commence on the modifications to my new apartment on Monday and there will be a big push to complete them for my return on 17 December.
Norm went to Tamworth on Thursaday but I had many other visitors both expected and unexpected. Mitch and Chrissy and daughter Zara stopped by to see me at lunch time, they are moving back to Tpwnsville after 11 years in Germany. It will be great to have them back. Thursday evening Sam, Russell, Colin and Jen Cook turned up to my living room aka patients visiting room where we polished off the rest of the fruit cake. Sam and I had a game of Scrabble, Russell was very good at picking out the right letters to ensure that I prevailed.
Despite my aim of having no more goal planning meetings we had another on Friday morning, complete with OTs, PTs, nurses, and social workers, hopefully this will be the last before my discharge.
The new chair is going well I have driven 16 kilometers already. The chairman is coming by tomorrow to fit the new armrests, backrest, headrest and to fine tune the programming. I should be able to control the TV and sound system at the TRP house through the chair's computer. Kylie has arranged the registration of the chair with Queensland Transport and Val is bringing the licence plates tomorrow, he should fit these too. The lights and indicators are very impressive.
The Motomed Viva 2 Lite arm and leg bike which was partly funded by generous contributions from the Scrabble community will be delivered to Townsville on Monday. Thank you again to everyone who donated.
Had a lazy weekend at the Kangaroo Pt apartment loafing about reading the paper, watching TV and watching the world go by through the window. I will need to get a telescope like James Stewart in Rear Window to check if any of the neighbours are murdering their wives and burying them in the garden.
Well it is time to get back to the Weekend Australian, hopefully my next post will be from the TRP house.
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