Ric's Road to Recovery

Yipes B, is there a person there in that bed!? ;)

Judy, I was also wondering about the possibilities of acupuncture, and if Ric and Holly would be interested in it. I used to work with a Dr. who was also licensed in acupuncture; I discussed with him having it done myself way back when the Trigeminal Neuralgia was so horrible... sadly, it was not an option for my particular case. But for Ric, I bet it could be tremendously helpful.

WOW--somehow I had unwatched this Thread...wondered why there were so many Posts
and I had not seen any of them....
Wondered how that happened...gremlins?????

Best wishes, Ric and Holly! So happy you have each other to go through all this.
It really matters. Gita

Where there's a will---there's a way. My little CC's show that well. Gita

Hi all, more very good news. Dear Ric is back to his old self mentally anyway. LOL They have gotten his pain meds balanced so that he is back to his normal dazed and confused self. Talking and laughing with the nurses and therapist. I took his albums of garden pictures with me yesterday and he was showing them all pictures of his garden. He is moving very well. Yesterday we got him showered, had PT and even played a few hands of cards. He still has a long recovery ahead of him but he is on track and will be coming home on Sat.

YAYYYYYYYYY!!!

Yes, I've seen life from a whole new perspective after last week's pain treatment. Instead of using more of any one thing they resorted to lots of other. I've been through the looking glass
and twisted yet again on the way back. I can't imagine trying to function in any compacity while in such a state.I almost think I could have enjoyed a tea party with Lewis Carroll and explained why to someone.LOL

Darn, Holly left herself signed into my Kindle-!#=//++?

She's a bad girl. What are gonna do with her?????

Hi Ric, welcome back to the forums! It's so good to hear that you're doing better and that you're going home soon.

Yay so glad you're doing better!

Ric, this is great news!

How lucky your care takers are, now that you can entertain them with your lively personality once again. Welcome back to our world! It was not as bright while you were "out of it".

Well said Roses. Welcome back Ric. Good news indeed.

You made my day! Congratulations!

Been a long day, with pt and all. I'm headed back to bed especially since Holly went home early. I have heard I'm going home Saturday. We got a personal tour of the horticulture rehab they run here with a few hints about helping. Well at least most of the work can be done from a wheelchair.LOL

Ric: So are you confined to a wheelchair for most of the time right now?

WOOOHOOOO, Thank You LORD!!!!!! Welcome back to the land of the thinking, Ric!!!!!!!!!!!!
< =D Oh boy oh boy, you get to come home on Saturday, Wheeeeeee!!! How very cool that they have a horticultural section of rehab, that's some really smart thinking on their parts!! I tell ya, God really put you in the right place! =)

So glad to see you more back to your "old" self again. (and I use that term very loosely!) =)

No, he will be out of the wheel chair once he comes home they have him walking quite a bit now. Just uses the chair to get around from one area to another at the Rehab Hosp. They have a very nice Hort Rehab area. A room with grow lights and shelves to start plants and a lovely garden where they can walk with several raised beds for Veggies that are wheelchair height. They also plant all the very large planters that are around the front entrance of the hosp and several other areas. They are always looking for donated materials, plants, soil and the like.

I'm pleased that Ric isn't going to be stuck in a wheelchair for a while. Nothing wrong with a wheelchair, but it will be nice to see the recovery process move faster than that would anticipate.

The hospital sounds terrific. What a nice idea to integrate horticulture into the recovery process.

Well, Holly, they sure saw Ric coming with that Hort Rehab!

Here's a little blurb on same:
"Horticultural Therapy benefits rehabilitation patients by increasing strength through watering and lifting soil/potting materials, using different sized pots and various sized plants. Horticultural therapy uses plants, gardens, nature crafts, and gardening activities. Aspects of movement that can be improved with this type of therapy include range of motion, balance and standing endurance, bilateral integration, fine motor skills, sensory stimulation, and cognitive sequencing tools. Horticultural Therapy provides emotional and psychological benefits to patients as well."

Hoping for a wonderful transition home tomorrow!

Doing a happy dance and praising God for His provision.

Hort rehab. Hello, my name is Jan and I like plants. For some reason that struck my funny bone. Just coming at that from the back door instead of the front. What a great way for patients to do therapy both physically as well as spiritually!! Well done!!

Hoping the move home goes smoothly.

Hahaha!
Enjoy your last night at Chez Rehab.
Yoi have enough hort rehab at your homeplace to make do.

There's no place like home! I hope you have a comfortable journey home tomorrow.

Lol Jan, hort rehab! Hi, my name is ssgardener, and I admit that I'm powerless over plants!

Hello, my name is speedie and I'm a plantaholic. I last had a plant.. ummm... yesterday. < =/
Haahahahaahaaaaa Jan, you have such a delightful view on life!!! < =D

Got an envelope of goodies from my Mommy in law in the mail, and it included the cutest clipping from the newspaper that I wanted to share... a little Pick-Me-Up for your rehabbing pleasure! =)

Hort Rehab--love it! :-D

Love the gnomes! Hort rehab, a whole new world, . . . God grant me the sincerity of my garden, to accept the bugs and drought, the beauty and bounty it may bring, and thanks to you for my ability to spread the beauty and joy of your creation. I'm doing much better today ,new are doing the exit interviews an
d .are about to leave.

Woohoo! We are home. Ric had lunch,played with Alfie watched one of the programs I recorded for him. and did a short walk out to the mailbox. Made himself coffee and changed into lighter weight clothes while I was out picking up his meds. He is taking a nice nap now, pretty big day so far. Not only is the wheelchair a thing of the past but he doesn't need the walker for around the house either. Didn't have any trouble getting in and out of the recliner or bed and didn't need the 12 noon pain meds either.

Holly--
I am so happy for you both....

Funny--the owner's sister at Chapel Hills Nursery, I ran into, had just had back
surgery and was walking around in a Velcro back brace, told me that,,
after 2 weeks, she was pretty much good to go---just had to be careful.

Seems that holds true for Ric as well....Just watch it--he is going to try to do too much
and then have to "pay for it"....keep the reins tight!

Take it easy, Ric.....take it easy................ Hugs, Gita

Woohoo!!! So very glad to hear that great news!!!

Life is good. I truly believe I'm in less pain than I had on a daily basis. Swelling must be going down, I swear I can feel the parts creaking in my lower back. LOL

Welcome home! So glad you are feeling better and able to ditch the wheelchair.

Ric: What a fantastic turn-around that you have less pain now than before the surgery. Absolutely amazing. Now the task is to force yourself not to overdo it, which may be the hardest thing you have had to do in your life!

WOOHOOO, WELCOME HOME RIC!!!!!!!!! (yeah, a day late and a donut short, as usual)

I bet it's incredibly nice to wake up in your own bed, huh!? THAT alone has wonderful healing powers, the peace to know you won't have some nursey person popping in from outta nowhere to poke and prod you when you're trying to rest. PEACE!!!!!!

I think Happy said it best:

what a difference a (couple ) days makes. Very happy for you.

Had a good night, Thanks to all for the prayers and thoughts. I've reduced my pain meds by more than half since being home, it was a moving experience. LOL I'm going to try and get Dr. Holly to let me make her breakfast in appreciation.

Ric, really glad to hear that you are noticing all of the ways your new bod is different than the well worn version. Like getting a new car, the owners manual and behind the wheel will reveal the ways to keep this model going for another 50 years! So, my version of don't overdo it is to continue to learn and adapt to this version and all of its nuances and cricks and clicks and purrs and not drive it like the old one Some times making a few notes as you round the learning curve is good...acelleration, stoping distance, turning radius, torque and suspension and handling are all different.
lol, just saying...trusting the mechanic, figure out how to do and fix it in you is a good thing.clever one!

That is stupendous news! Being aware of movement will help you as you retool yourself. I see you are back to being yourself because you want to pamper your dear Dr. Lady. Very sweet!

We had a good day today, and I did a pretty good job of listening to Holly, LOL . I didn't sleep well last night, no reason, just restless. Holly said maybe I'm just slept out. I go tomorrow to have the clamps taken out and should have more to report tomorrow.

Praying for a restful sleep tonight. We took dinner to a couple with a week old baby. Now, THEY could use a restful sleep. Hehehe

Ric, I am thankful for you and Holly and the good progress on your recovery.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am catching up on this thread tonight, and I am so happy you are home! How great it is that you are doing so well and improving every day!

I hope that you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Karen