The 2nd month

Well...today is 4 weeks that I've had the halo of love off of my head. So, what can I do now that I couldn't do before?

- Drink beer out of a can instead of a longneck
- Take a shower
- Sleep in a bed
- CHANGE MY SHIRT!!!
- Take a shower
- Drive
- Shave
- Take a shower
- Swing a golf club
- Take a shower

What can I still NOT do?

- Turn my head all the way
- Ride my motorcycle (ever)
- Start the lawn mower (darn)
- Lift heavy objects (5 - 10 lbs)
- Skydive
- SCUBA
- Powerlift
- Yoga
- Rock out to Milli Vanilli
- Squat more than 250lbs
- Rugby
- Disobey Workers Comp rules
- Watch The View
- Watch the Saints in the Super Bowl

As you can see, there are still LOTS of things I can't do, but each day I can do more and more. Rehab absolutely STILL sucks, but whatcha gonna do? I try to do my own rehab by swinging the golf clubs for a few minutes in the front yard once or twice a week, but the weather has been so crappy in North Texas, I haven't really been able to do that.

Princess Kylie's birthday party is this weekend. It's a fairy / elf / super hero party. Not sure what type of Fairy I should be? Squiggy?

Have a great weekend.

I Love Rehab

So, I've been in rehab for a few weeks now and all this time I've saying to myself, "Self, this isn't great, but it's not as bad as I thought it'd be". Well, I had another conversation with self today and it went like this, "Self, this COMPLETELY sucks", and I've been saying that all day.

Here's the long and short of it. Because of the way I fell, one of my vertebrae were pushed forward. To "align" it, they had to pull my neck forward and put it in traction in the halo. Now my head sits way in front of my shoulders (reminds me of a very old woman with osteoperosis). Today, while in therapy, they decided that I was "strong" enough to start working on moving my head back on top of my shoulders. That's right, they're going to try to reposition my head!!! So, I'm doing all these stretches, isometric resistance training, chin tucks...all this stuff to get my head back over my shoulders. Let me tell you, after one day, I'm not sure that I wouldn't mind looking like a little old lady. I haven't even had a day to get sore yet and I already feel like crap. Stay tuned for tomorrow's report.

That's all for today. Everyone enjoy the nice weather!!!

Simpler times

I found this picture today on my computer. Ahh, the good old days.

Gettin buff

No, it doesn't mean naked. Physical therapy is making me BUFF. I've been working out with what must amount to 5 ounces of resistance. If I keep this up, I'm going to have to buy new clothes because I'm going to have the neck of a linebacker and the arms of Hulk Hogan.

I've been driving the car for a couple of days. Nothing big, taking Kylie to school, going to therapy, that's about it. They don't mind me driving, walking around and all that stuff, but I've been told to lift nothing heavier than "a gallon of milk". So much for me emptying the groceries. Therapy lasts another month or so and then I have to get re-evaluated to see if we can get workers comp to pay for more. Not holding my breath there...

Still trying to figure out if I'll ever get 100% of my range of motion back, strength...back. I can't imagine I won't have some lifelong lingering effects (even if it is only my huge biceps).

My "workouts" have left me a little sore, but no worse for the wear.

Scars for life

My head looks like I've been shot with a shotgun. I used my handy dandy camera phone to take a pic of the back of my head where the halo was bolted. Everyone told me it was a pretty big gouge, but I didn't believe them. I'll let you be the judge...

Man, I'm tired

Wow, carrying around this big noggin with such a little neck makes for a long day. To quote one of the greatest poets in American History, Classy Freddie Blassie would have called me a "Pencil Neck Geek", and Mike Meyers as the dad in the movie "So I married an axe murderer" would have told me that my head looked like Sputnik. Anyway, I don't care. I'm completely exhausted by 4 pm, but I'm not carrying $2700 worth of titanium bolted to my head anymore, so I'm happy.

Had a great new years celebration, but I was probably the first to go to bed, not even sure if I saw the new year ring in or not.

Will be making appointment to see a physical therapist this week. If I wasn't hurting before, I'm sure I will after...

Have a great new year!!!