Tag Archives: health
Blocked neck
3
Some weeks ago I saw Circa in Tiel. Merijn invited me to come and see this show of Australian acrobats. They were awesome. They had dance incorporated into their show, but also mimicry. Almost all their acrobatic tricks are of the level I am able to do as well. One trick in particular I thought I could do as well.
Standing on the head.
Only with one leg. Maartje was the one performing the trick. After the third time I felt a spasm in my neck. A muscle spasm I thought. It’s going to be ok in a few days I thought. Apparently not. I actually messed up the fifth vertebrae in my neck. This has been leading to a gradual dysfunction of my right scapula (if you want to know why this is you need to know a little about neurology). Because my scapula isn’t moving like it should, my tendons around my right shoulder joint are strained and painful. Luckily I have colleagues helping me. I’ll be right as rain in no time…I hope…
Discharged
My colleague physiotherapist has declared my ankle fit for 100% use again. This means it took from the 29th of January 2010 until now. That’s half a year. If I might give you all a word of advice…never try to slide over snow with a head full of alcohol.
Neurological issue
Two weeks ago I wrestled a guy after 20 hours of acrobatics. Why? Because I like wrestling. There is a downside to wrestling if you are very tired though. You don’t have a lot of power or coordination in your muscles. This means that trying to stabilize your head when somebody pulls it down, doesn’t work that well. It leads to neck injury, as even a medical layman could tell you.
Now after two weeks of pain, stiffness in my neck and hardly any sleep I “only” have numbness of the skin in my left arm. I’ve drawn it out for you.
I was looking for the next thing after my ankle ordeal. A nerve lesion seemed like a pretty good idea. Luckily for me full recovery is expected within 6 weeks to 6 months.
Two things
First of all the screws I had in my ankle are out. A little hiccup occurred though. The surgeon put several needles of anesthetic into the skin and opened the outside of my ankle. The first screw came out.
Then the second came out.
Or so I thought. Apparently the second one is broken off. X-ray showed that the broken screw will not damage the joint. Since I thought the screw that was broken off was pushing through to the other side the surgeon decided to explore the other side as well to see if it would cause any problems in the future. He decided there would be no problem so he stitched me up again. So now everybody is happy. Although I have to say I’m very happy. I complained of not having a man scar before. Now I have two scars plus a piece of metal in my leg. How cool is that?
In the afternoon a dear friend of mine had to defend his dissertation. Miko has work hard on his thesis and has earned his doctorate. After defending his work for an hour in a very eloquent way the assembly of professors and doctors decided to make him a peer.
Congratulations to you Miko.
Challenged
When you are impaired, handicapped, challenged in your mobility, affected by a war wound, crippled you find ways to go around difficult stuff. One thing that is really difficult to do with two crutches, is to take something in your hands and bring it somewhere else. Hopping on one leg is a possibility providing it’s not scolding hot tea, a sandwich with hagelslag, a handgranate, something heavier than 1 kg, etc. So for all the things I have to carry while taking care not to spill or explode the item I invented the sjroep shuffle.
True it doesn’t take me far or fast, but it does do the trick.
Foul mood
@%$^$!^%#$ Two weeks ago I had a check up on my ankle. I was told there’d be no waiting list and so the screws in my right ankle would be removed after 6 weeks. Today I found out there is a waiting list. Apparently the first opportunity is on the 2nd of April. That’s still a month to go! That means I will not be able to put pressure on my right foot for another month. This is so not going to happen.
There is probably somebody out there who has one of the above.
Cycled
I have cycled 15 minutes today after our sport physician told me I could do this. Boring, but extremely satisfying. Now my right ankle is very relaxed.
No cast
Back in Nijmegen so I started my beloved D&D again. Friends were rather disappointed when they discovered I did not have cast. It did not stop Vincent though…
Further improvement
I say things are well underway. Bruising has almost gone, flexibility has improved by a 100%, almost no discomfort due to pain, and when I walk with both my crutches I put my right foot down without putting any weight on it.