Going to Physiotherapy...

[fajrdrako]

Yesterday I remembered to take my camera with me when I went to physiotherapy at the Riverside Hospital. I thought you might like to see the place I've been talking about, and spending so much time; I thought I'd like to have a photographic record of it.

Now, usually when I've been there, it's been sunny and beautiful, but as luck would have it, yesterday was an overcast day. It got worse. Today is rainy, too. That's weather for you.

1. The Para Transpo bus picks me up. That's the front of my apartment building there; if you had x-ray vision and could see further, you'd be looking right into my apartment. As it is, you get a reflection of the house across the street.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. The Para Transpo bus, seen from the outside - here it is, stopping at the Riverside Hospital, outside the front doors. Imagine all that bus, just for me! I had to share it with two people and a wheelchair going back, though.
   
   
   
   
   
3. The entrance to the hospital, showing some of the parkland behind it, leaving to the Rideau River. There'd be people sitting there reading newspapers or drinking coffee or waiting for someone to pick them up, except it was starting to rain.
   
   
   
   
   
4. The interior of the cafeteria, just inside the front doors. Nice view while drinking coffee and munching toast.
   
   
   
   
   
5. The long hallway that leads straight to rehab. That's the front doors at the far end. Picture me lurching on my crutches all the way down this hallway! Along the route, there are traps: craft sales, and people selling lottery tickets to raise money for the hospital. On my second day there, I bought an apron with dolphins on it. Yesterday, I bought a really nice red and black Chinese handbag, just before taking this picture. I took the photo while standing outside the rehab department.
   
   
   
   
   
6. The rehab waiting room, beyond which you can see the physiotherapy facilities - bright-lit because the windows there overlook the park and the river.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Right inside the doorway of the rehab waiting room, there's a quilted hanging with a picture of a panda. How could I resist taking a photo?
   
   
   
   
   
8. I asked Debbie if I could take her picture, and she said none of her clients had ever asked her that before. I said I wanted a record of the goddess of rehab. She obliged.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Then she took a picture of me. Note the crutches, the Boot, the pathetic demeanour, the absence of my usual gazelle-like grace.
   
   
   

Comments

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Keep at it! Someday soon, you'll be free of those awkward items, and walking on your own two feet again.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - and I look forward to that day, I tell you.

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing these. It's good to see the places that you've been writing about. :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What a nice icon!

You're welcome. I thought you might get a kick out of seeing the places, and I enjoy having the pictures.

[ceindreadh.livejournal.com]

Is there any particular reason they gave you crutches like that as opposed to the ones with the handle and the arm cuff?

I mean, those ones are the ones I've seen on (US) TV most of the time, but I've only ever seen the elbow crutches (http://www.mobility-company.co.uk/images/prod81.jpg/) used.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Is there any particular reason they gave you crutches like that as opposed to the ones with the handle and the arm cuff?

They didn't give me anything. They suggested a walker, and gave me instructions on using them in the hospitale. I then rented a walker. I did wonder, and asked the doctor, if there was a reason they suggested a walker not crutches. He said it was a matter of personal preference. At the time, I felt more stable with the walker.

But then my friend Gord brought me his old crutches for use and I soon discovered that I liked them better - the walker was making my wrist hurt (I think it was slightly damaged when I fell, anyway), and the crutches, though more difficult in some ways, were more manoeverable. So I've kept the crutches.

I've seen elbow crutches like in your link, but not having gone crutch-shopping, I don't know what kinds are better than others.

[ceindreadh.livejournal.com]

I've seen elbow crutches like in your link, but not having gone crutch-shopping, I don't know what kinds are better than others.
The main advantage I found with them was if say I needed to open a door or something, I was able to let go of the crutch handle, but the cuff would prevent it from falling on the ground.
That and the fact that I was able to shorten them considerably which made them easier to strap to the crossbar of my bike.

But the best thing about the ones you have...is that you're well on your way to not needing them any more!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

if say I needed to open a door or something, I was able to let go of the crutch handle, but the cuff would prevent it from falling on the ground.

Yes, that would be a big advantage. What to do with the crutches when not walking is always a problem - and they're always falling about and almost hitting people.

When I go outdoors now, I use the cane, not the crutches. It still falls but it's smaller.

the best thing about the ones you have...is that you're well on your way to not needing them any more!

Yes! Oh happy day. I've been moving around today without crutches or the cane. My foot gets tired fast, and I'm limping, but it works. What a thrill.

[gillo]

The Boot is a thing of awesomeness. You are clearly part Cyberwoman...

Interesting to see the places - and you, complete with all your limb ancilliaries...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You are clearly part Cyberwoman...

Eee, how scary! Exterminate! Er, I mean... Upgrade!

Interesting to see the places - and you, complete with all your limb ancilliaries...

Hoping to take more pictures, now I'm moving around more.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Yay, a fellow Debbie! We are a happy, pose-y bunch...

You look quite happy. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It has been true, in my experience, that people named Debbie are terrific people. Really.

Pose-y, too, for sure.

Happy? Yeah, I was happy. I like physio. I like being about to use The Foot in ways it was meant to be used. The goofy grin comes easily to me.

Besides, I'm sort of camera-phobic, so I overreact...

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

I'm camera-phobic too. But often my photos don't turn out so good.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

often my photos don't turn out so good.

I don't usually like to look at my own photos. I'm trying to get over that. It's one of many things I'm trying to change in my own life - why be self-conscious, or vain, when I don't have to be? I look as I look, and I don't scare the horses, and I don't need to live up to my own desire to look like Cheryl Tiegs or anyone else whose looks I admire. Character is all, dammit.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

haha :) That's right. I love photos of myself when *I* take them. For me it's a control issue. I'm not prepared when other people take them. Sometimes it works out, but usually it's the photos that aren't posed, the action shots, like in NYC.

I would be a terrible celebrity!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I would be a terrible celebrity!

Me too! I'd be one of those reclusive, secretive types who only goes out at night, protected by bodyguards.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Me too! We could hide together.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Holding our collars over our faces.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Now that's a good photo.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

"the absence of my usual gazelle-like grace."

I totally giggled :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

[g]

Just you wait - I'll be back to my self, or better than ever in... weeks! months! years!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Okay, picture one:

The house across the street, seen in reflection: is that the house of the two people who came to your rescue the day you fell?

And, are you aware that you took a picture of yourself, too, in the driver's rearview mirror? So cool!

Picture seven: totally fitting! Was this there every day, or only on the day you brought your camera?

Picture eight: Debbie! Finally! Tell her she looks totally cool and competent and all that other good stuff!

Picture nine: You do NOT look pathetic! Maybe a little self-conscious because you hate getting photographed, but... stop, just stop that.

And I'd say the gazelle-like grace is quite in evidence. I see wisps of smoke from that last run on the stationary bike! And, be honest, how many people could navigate with a belt-bag, a one-shoulder bag, a bound-up foot, and two crutches? Much less be able to stop now and then and shoot photos? I ask you. You're magnificent, and don't you try to say otherwise. (I'm still high from the tale of the kitchen, here. hee)

Thanks for the photos! And thanks for showing one of you! You look... balanced.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

is that the house of the two people who came to your rescue the day you fell?

No. Not sure which one they live in, but it wasn't that one, I'm pretty sure. They're further down the street.

are you aware that you took a picture of yourself, too, in the driver's rearview mirror?Was this there every day, or only on the day you brought your camera?


It's been there all along.

Tell her she looks totally cool and competent and all that other good stuff!

I will when I see her again. She's cruising in Alaska right now.

Maybe a little self-conscious because you hate getting photographed, but...

Yup.

I see wisps of smoke from that last run on the stationary bike!

For sure. I nearly wore it out.

I'm glad you think I look balanced. I hope so!

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

pathetic demeanour?

Absolutely not.

Physiotherapists are wonderful, and deserve all the praise/recognition you can give them.