As you know, if you’ve been reading this blog for the past 8.5 years, I have paralysis down the left side of my body. The worst of which is in my left hand,which was closed into a fist. Several months ago, thanks to some out of the box thinking, along with the muscle relaxant flexoril,which I’ve been taking for years now, I discovered a way to keep my fingers more open . It’s even allowed me to wash between the fingers. It’s not the brace they tried in the hospital. It’s not even medical in nature. It’s something my cat Graham loves to play with more than any other toy. You see, Graham has simple taste and loves a ball to chase, but not a tennis ball or a baseball. No,Graham is addicted to small, soft balls made of foam.
We started buying them for him about 6 months after he came into our lives, and we have amassed around 50 of the darned things,when I decided to try stuffing one under the fingers of my hand and was surprised to find that it was firmer than it seemed, which is what gives it the magic touch,gently forcing my fingers open. It’s at the point where I have a ball in my hand constantly, even while sleeping. The only time I’m without one is during bath time. I’m coming up on the 9 year anniversary of the stroke and am finally able to do the exercise that the physio therapist in the hospital wanted me to do on day one… both palms together with fingers interlaced, moving my wrists back and forth. It probably doesn’t seem like a big thing to anyone else, but for me it’s a HUGE improvement.
That *is* a huge deal! Yay!
I knew you’d be the first to understand that. Brain tumor understands brain damage ❤️😘
That’s great news. Guess you never really know what’ll work. Glad to hear your cat’s toy is helping you to improve. 😊🐱🐾
Gotta keep thinking outside the box