Lotech,
Been thinking about you and your comment of not being able to walk yet. I predict that you will get past that challenge, but that it will take a bunch of effort on your part.
It has been 17 years since my accident. They told my wife that I would lose both legs and one arm. When I came to three weeks later, I learned that she would not allow amputation. Great to have her by my side.
After a month in a coma, you are as weak as a kitten. All the hard work you did before surgery puts you in a good position to regain strength, but the strength is not there for you now. You likely have started exercises of pushing a pillow with your feet, and lifting your legs as you lie in bed. Learning to walk again truly starts from square one, except they don't let you crawl around on the carpet and drool.
First time I was transferred to a toilet from bed (bedpans deserve their own message) I was absolutely shocked to find out that I could not stand up from seated. There was nothing there. Moved back to sitting on the edge of the bed, I could not get my feet and legs in bed without help. Sucks. (Does any of this sound familiar ?)
Make sure that your physical terrorist (therapist) works you hard. Do all the exercises, no matter how silly they seem - every bit of strength added, every muscle awakened, gets you closer to walking again. Do not ignore "gait training" - it is all too easy to find a way of moving and stick with it, but there may be better ways to move that will require someone to make you do it. Learn to check out ALL the mobility muscles - as soon as you notice one that is not responding, get help before you fall in to a poor walking problem. Unused muscles become a real problem later. You can do this.
17 years and I still use a cane on the good days, but at least dogs and cats know I mean business when I encourage them to not run under my feet. There is a walker in the closet for the really bad days. Everybody adjusts, and learns to not notice, no matter how many times a cane falls over at the dinner table. Stay Vertical.
I know it is tough dealing with loss of strength, learning to eat, deal with the diversion and whatever else will pop up all at once. But that's the way it is. Push yourself, but don't be hard on yourself. A new normal can be a rough thing to adjust to, but it is a heck of a lot better than no normal at all.
Best to you and yours, as you all work together and get through this. You can do it. It is all uphill from here.
Excelsior,
Jack
