A Light-hearted Look at Stroke Rehab
Every once in a while, someone shares something with us that touches our hearts. This one was such a delight we wanted to share it with you.
Jay is a stroke survivor undergoing treatment at the First Teaching Hospital in Tianjin, China. Here is his light-hearted look at his first week of therapy.
Hey Friends,
Finished up a little early today. Went to gym where the evil twins [my physical therapists] are still trying to get me in to the pretzel hold with no luck. My arm & leg are much more flexible than they were at the 1st of the week, but the pretzel hold is still a long way off.
Acupuncture was good, but it’s hard to believe that the doctors can put 75-85 needles in you in a matter of three minutes. I started having feeling in my affected foot yesterday. The feeling was pain but any feeling is good feeling. That means the affected area is waking up, and the pain means she isn’t a morning person and is pissed. When Dr. Bian was manipulating one of the needles in my affected arm, she asked if I felt an electricity. I think the clue was when my arm left my body and my eyes bulged like Wile E. Coyote.
Cupping was next. Cupping appears to be a medical term for getting a hickey on all the major acupuncture points. It does feel good though and really seems to be working. That was followed by a herbal wrap with heat and the delightful socks thru a leaky septic tank drink! Actually, it’s not that bad anymore. I mean, I wouldn’t chose it over a beer but it’s drinkable and as they say it “does a body good”. Based on childhood memories of bad tasting medicine that cured, this stuff must be awesome!
Had an herbal soak and a massage. Now please understand, the therapist that gives the massage isn’t there for a nice, relaxing rub-down. I think my right thumb and my right pinkie exchanged locations for a while this afternoon. After they coaxed me off the ceiling, I had another acupuncture session and was finished.
Please don’t take my raving as serious. It is a way to entertain myself and hopefully you. I’m very lucky and blessed to be here. The people are top-notch and laugh easily, the food is outstanding and I’m having a blast.
Hope this e-mail finds everyone well.Love to all,J
Jay is a stroke survivor undergoing treatment at the First Teaching Hospital in Tianjin, China. Here is his light-hearted look at his first week of therapy.
Hey Friends,
Finished up a little early today. Went to gym where the evil twins [my physical therapists] are still trying to get me in to the pretzel hold with no luck. My arm & leg are much more flexible than they were at the 1st of the week, but the pretzel hold is still a long way off.
Acupuncture was good, but it’s hard to believe that the doctors can put 75-85 needles in you in a matter of three minutes. I started having feeling in my affected foot yesterday. The feeling was pain but any feeling is good feeling. That means the affected area is waking up, and the pain means she isn’t a morning person and is pissed. When Dr. Bian was manipulating one of the needles in my affected arm, she asked if I felt an electricity. I think the clue was when my arm left my body and my eyes bulged like Wile E. Coyote.
Cupping was next. Cupping appears to be a medical term for getting a hickey on all the major acupuncture points. It does feel good though and really seems to be working. That was followed by a herbal wrap with heat and the delightful socks thru a leaky septic tank drink! Actually, it’s not that bad anymore. I mean, I wouldn’t chose it over a beer but it’s drinkable and as they say it “does a body good”. Based on childhood memories of bad tasting medicine that cured, this stuff must be awesome!
Had an herbal soak and a massage. Now please understand, the therapist that gives the massage isn’t there for a nice, relaxing rub-down. I think my right thumb and my right pinkie exchanged locations for a while this afternoon. After they coaxed me off the ceiling, I had another acupuncture session and was finished.
Please don’t take my raving as serious. It is a way to entertain myself and hopefully you. I’m very lucky and blessed to be here. The people are top-notch and laugh easily, the food is outstanding and I’m having a blast.
Hope this e-mail finds everyone well.Love to all,J
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