glimmer of hope

Hi everyone. It has been a while since my last post but a lot has been happening. First when last I post I was frustrated with all in the medical field. Then came along Peter my myofascial/massage therapists. He has literally changed my life and my outlook on it. After a few months of just getting myofascial releases, we decided to start with some functional work in the gym. I will never forget the first day we started. Peter introduced boxing into my routine. It was tough. The goal was to start using my body with simple functional moves and to stop babying my hip. My knees and back and hip did not like it at first. I would constantly have to take breaks and have Peter work on a muscle that would complain. The following week we added in some ballroom dancing. I have to say that was so funny as I had lost all coordination since my surgery. We went from the cha cha to the stomp to the hustle. Boy if you saw me you would have cracked up. Dancing helped me to be more aware of my posture and coordination.
We started out with two days a week of boxing dancing to adding in some pool work in between. I even learn how to swim. In the beginning my knee would just ache after but the more I stucked with the boxing and dancing the better the knee was in the pool. I then purchased a bicycle and began riding on and off. Boy the euphoria from all these activities was better than any drug out there. For the first time I felt that I had control over my body again. I began to trust myself and not be so scared to move. Even my anxieties were minimal. They are still there but a lot less. They tend to pop up when a new movement is introduced. I also began doing jumping jacks(tough), skipping, light jogging and until just recently sprinting and leaping. Every time a new movement was introduced I would realize how much more work is needed.
Peter also added in some BMS work.For those of you that are not familiar with BMS, just google. It is a machine that shakes and assist the body in doing a isolated movement without pain. It stimulates the nerves in order to perform the movement. I am still having major issues with my nerves in my hip. I still find it difficult doing a leg extension. It seems that the signal to the leg is just not reaching and I have to concentrate on doing it. Also behind the left knee still gets swollen after my workout and myofascial theraphy.
Another part of my regiment that was introduced in July was some resistance and core training.
We use each other as resistance and we push, pull, rotate etc against each other. What that did was to help strengthen my legs, hip and calves muscle. It also made me aware of how weak my feet were from the ankle connections right to my arches. I saw a lot of improvements since. When I first started my left foot would just turn in and collapse. Now it hardly happens. And when it does it is because I am not aware of it and been lazy.
What I have learn so far is that nerve damage is so confusing. I have learn that I have to continue working on my limitations all the time. And if I take time off, it is like a reintroduction.
I am slowly getting my life back. I even jet skied in Key West on vacation. I rode around the whole island at top speed. I will admit I was a bit wary of any pain returning but I had no problem. And to add I rode twenty odd miles on my bike and had to walk up four flight of stairs to get to our room. But all in all it was my best vacation since my surgery.
The only negative thing I can add that has popped up recently is that my lower right back which has always been a problem since surgery has kind of acted up again but I notice that when I get in the pool and do my swimming it calms down. I feel that my body is realigning and that I am improving each day.
I do get impatient some days but I just have to keep remembering how far I have got since starting. So for those of you that have given up please give myofascial release theraphy a try, it is certainly working for me.
On my next post I will attach info on BMS machine and Myofascial Release Theraphy.