Living with Cerebral Palsy

Wimp

I must confess that there are days that I am truly a wimp at heart. I skipped church today, in favor of a good dose of the generic form of Ben-Gay.

I actually woke up in the middle of the night hoping that it would be snowing, and I would have an excuse to not go out. I knew that I was going to dread pulling myself in/out of the shower, dressing, driving, and well you get the idea.

Bicep Tendonitis

Last year, the doctor diagnosed me with bicep tendonitis. Basically, my arms are starting to complain about being used as substitutes for my legs all of these years. I can’t blame them. I would be a bit grumpy too. After all, my arms have helped me live a good life, despite my disabilities, and I have asked a lot of them.

Unfortunately, although the actual problem is the tendons in my bicep, it makes my shoulder hurt where the tendons attach. Plus, it is my left shoulder and I am left handed, so it makes it especially challenging to live with cerebral palsy, when it flares up. I don’t even want to lift myself into the wheelchair to go to the restroom, even though I must. I am such a baby.

The Wonders of Heat

When my tendonitis flares, it can cause me to have a stiff neck and it eventually makes my entire arm ache. But, I have discovered two wonders of heat that help me a lot.

I get this deep heating creme, like Ben-Gay, and I rub it into my shoulder. The heat is almost instantaneous and wonderful! But, the odor is really strong. It’s a good thing I like Wintergreen mints, because that is what I smell like.

Then, there is my rice sock. A friend of mine at church gave me this wonderful idea. I can never find the heating pad, plus I am nervous about falling asleep with an electrical appliance plugged in and resting on my skin. I don’t want it to get too hot; and, if the pets lay against it, it might present a hazard. Thus, enter the sock.

Take an ordinary sock, fill it with uncooked rice, and tie off the end. Put the rice sock in the microwave for a minute and a half, and you have an instant heating pad to drape over your shoulder, around your neck, or wherever. Amazingly, the heat lasts for an hour or more. In fact, it feel so good, I think I might sew a bunch of rice in a pillow case one of these days. I think that would feel awesome on an achy day.

So, now you know. I am probably wimpier than you. I probably should have worked through the pain and gone to church. But, I decided I’d rather smell like Ben-Gay in private, and not make anyone pass out from my odorous emanations.

So, how was your Sunday? Do you have any other great pain remedies for those extra little aches and pains of living with cerebral palsy?

As you know, I am always looking for interesting articles, encouraging you to share your stories, and looking for other helpful sites to add to my blogroll that you might find helpful as you live with cerebral palsy.

Well, I just got a primo assignment today. I am going to be writing a few articles for a brand new website about disability and disability information. It will not be strictly about living with cerebral palsy; but, it should have helpful information for you.

Give Me a Day or Two

It takes me a bit to work on content, especially if a client has given me the topics. It’s not quite like writing for this blog. But, he wants it written in a conversational first person manner, and it is about stuff I know. So, give me a day or two, and I will give you more information.

I wasn’t sure I would get the assignment, because this man knows he can go to article writing sites and hire someone cheaper. But, I worked for him a long time ago, when I was first starting out. I guess he liked my work.

Neither him or his wife are disabled. I will have to ask him how he came to be interested in helping the disabled. I will have to let you know.

You can Help Too

You can actually help me improve my site too. If you know of another site for people living with cerebral palsy or other disabilities that has helped you in the past, let me know. I will check them out. I would be happy to add them to my blog roll as well. After all, this is a site for all of us. At least, I want it to be.

Yesterday’s post about the behind-the-scenes aspects of Living with Cerebral Palsy got me to thinking about the magic of door-to-door. Have you experienced it lately?

The Drudgery!

As many of you know firsthand, the winter months are less than favorable for people with disabilities, especially if you live in an area that really gets cold and snowy. Oftentimes, you are stuck in the house, because it’s simply too difficult or too dangerous to go outside.

Naturally, it makes it really hard to do some of the activities that are absolutely necessary, and most people take for granted – like shopping

Personally, I am not much of a shopper, even in good weather. Many of the shelves are too high or the racks are too close together. Other shoppers are so intent on their own agendas, they don’t see those of us that aren’t at their eye level. (I have had people almost sit on my lap, because they have walked right into me.)

For me, shopping is not a fun experience. It’s a means to an end. The only time I really like to shop is when I am with a friend, and we spend more time visiting than spending. Generally, people will see my friends and save themselves the embarrassment of walking into me.

The Anticipation!

On the other hand, I LOVE shopping, when it’s door-to-door. If I had more money, UPS would probably be delivering me a package at least once a week.

For example, I had a package delivered to my mailbox this week. Because my computer is always on my lap, or sitting on the table by my chair, the power chord goes through a lot more motion than normal. (It doesn’t help when the dog and cat jump on the chair to cuddle, while I am working.) Anyway, I often need to find a replacement.

Last time the power chord started acting weird, the weather was good, so I went to a local store that specializes in computer parts. It cost me $85 to replace the chord.

A few weeks ago, the replacement chord started cutting in and out. I knew it was just a matter of time, before my power pack would be drained and my source of income would be lifeless. But, the weather is not nice, and I didn’t have $85 bucks to spare.

So, I taped cardboard around the old chord to eliminate motion, and hoped that it would last, until I could get a different one.

Long story short, I found a universal chord online. With a $10 discount, my new chord that works just fine, thank you, cost me $21.98; and, the post office delivered it to my home.

Now, if I could just get the mail to deliver milk, butter, eggs, yogurt, cheese . . .

Does shopping online make it a little easier for you to live with cerebral palsy?

Okay. So, my day at the office is really tough. Some days, I even have to get dressed!

Really, this is my office and almost everything else I need every day. I know it doesn’t look really neat; but, it works for me. I have my computer, rolling drawers with a ton of stuff in them, stuff to drink, reading material, maybe even a snack or a craft.

I have it all arranged to minimize how often I have to get up and down. I even have a pillow and a throw, if I want to rest.

Aren’t I spoiled?

Do you have a favorite place in your house that makes it just a little more convenient to live with cerebral palsy?

Sometimes, when your are living with a disability like cerebral palsy, the simple pleasure of life are few and far between. Taking a shower, getting dressed, eating, and all of the other basic necessities of life take just that much longer. Then, lack of ability steals chances for some of the joys that other people take for granted.

But, a couple of weeks ago, I was given the opportunity for one of those simple pleasures that many people take for granted or do out of simple obligation-walking the dog.

When I was on my crutches, walking a dog was impossible. I walked slow. If the dog decided to pull just a little too hard, I was down and unable to get back up. So, the best I could do was fence in a yard and hope the dog ran back and forth.

Then, for my graduation present from college (to myself) I got a little puppy. He loves to run! My kids think he is stupid. (they love their cats) But, I know better. He knew how to run under my wheelchair if I opened the door. He learned to dig under the fence and go for a run. I would get in the car, chase him down, and offer him a ride to get back home. But, I could never take him for a walk.
That all changed two weeks ago, when a friend gave me a used electric wheelchair. Still other friends bought a new battery for it. I feel like I have a new lease on life!

Now, I get the leash out and the dog turns circles in the kitchen! He doesn’t try to get out the door. My mother lives on the same block. We go for visits. I can go into her garden and actually off-road into the grass up and down hills. Last week my son and I walked the dog to the park. We actually met a herd of antelope (Only in Wyoming! What can I say?)

I can get a glass of tea and actually make it to the table beside my chair. I ask my son a lot less to fetch or carry something for me. He likes that!

So, what disability aid makes it just a little bit easier to live with cerebral palsy? What is a simple pleasure that you enjoy?