Organizing My Purse is a Vital Shopping Strategy

Trying to find something in my purse by digging around with one hand is awful.  Organizing my purse reduces frustration when I go shopping.  Every woman organizes her purse differently so my examples are intended to help stroke survivors realize a purse does not have to be a buzz kill.

I put my car key on a green wrist coil to make it easy to retrieve.  I grab the wrist coil instead of searching for the key.  I made the mistake of setting the key down to pick up an object on my car seat and then locking and shutting the door.  Seeing my car key on the dashboard was awful.  The AAA car service unlocked my car after I waited for an hour.  When I made this mistake a 2nd time I knew I needed the sensory cue of the coil around my wrist to tell me I have my car key before I get out of my car.                                                                                                My house key is on a straight flexible coil that is hooked on my purse.  All I have to do is pull on the coil to make my house key slip out my purse.   

I can handle credit cards quickly because I keep them in a zippered compartment that holds only a driver's license, one credit card, an ATM card, and a library card.  While sitting in the parking lot I place the card I need vertically so it stands out from the other cards which are horizontal.  Cards go back in this zippered compartment in a flash.  Less frequently used cards like my health insurance card are in another compartment.    homeafterstroke.blogspot.com

Hand Use Able-bodied Adults Take for Granted

When my hand was flaccid I had to put objects in my mouth or squeeze them between my thighs to hold objects still.  When I was able-bodied I never noticed the dozens of times each day I reached out to hold an object still so the other hand could manipulate it.  For example, it is awful to be unable to open the milk after I get out cereal, a bowl, and a spoon.  After rehab, my affected hand can hold the milk container still so it does not spin around when I remove the cap. 

My affected right arm can reach for and hold a lint trap so my sound left hand can clean the lint trap.  . 

I am grateful that my OTs, NeuroMove, and Saeboflex helped me change my hand from completely flaccid to being useful every day. homeafterstroke.blogspot.com

Reducing Spasticity Without Needles

Many stroke survivors suffer with painful muscle spasticity.  

For example, the photo shows that spasticity can force stroke survivors to point their toes every time they straighten their knee to take a step.  Spasticity has been treated with Botox shots and repeatedly sticking needles into the painful area (needling).  

Researchers found a less painful way to treat spasticity (1).          Both the experimental group (n=25) and control group (n=25) got 30 minutes of exercise followed by 30 minutes of wearing a TENS unit that provided relaxing muscle stimulation.  The experimental group then had their ankles taped in the bent position to stop them from pointing their foot.  The tape was replaced every day.  Treatment was given 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

After treatment both groups showed reduced ankle spasticity and faster gait.  However, the group that also had their ankle taped improved significantly more (p < 0.05).  Creating a less painful way to treat a painful condition would be my preference.  homeafterstroke.blogspot.com

1. Tae-Sung In, Jin-Wae Jung, Kyoung-Sim Jung, Hwi-Young Cho. Effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with taping for stroke rehabilitation.  Biomed Research International. 2021; Article ID 9912094. doi:10.1155/2021/99112094.

Kalamazoo

After living alone for 18 years with a stroke I am tired of dealing with home and yard maintenence, parking my car on the street which forces me to deal with snow, struggling to get groceries up my front steps, and cooking one-handed.  In September I was going to visit an independent living site I like in Kalamazoo after the summer road repairs on I-80 were finished.  I like the information I got from the website and the sales rep, but independent living is too expensive to buy into sight unseen.  

When the delta variant sent covid cases soaring I canceled my visit.  I know the odds of catching break-thru covid are low after my 2 vaccine shots.  However, I am afraid to be alone 750 miles from home with covid.  I could be too sick to drive myself home.  Do Uber drivers deliver to the front desk of a hotel?  Would hotels allow me to quarantine with them?

Another sign that this is not a good time to visit is that the facility posted an activity schedule for May, June, and July, but not August.***  Kalamazoo county currently has twice as many new covid cases as my county which has 100,000 more people.  With the covid surge and potentially bad winter weather, my visit is delayed until spring.  homeafterstroke.blogspot.com

*** The activity schedule for September was finally published.  YEAH!