Give thanks to “the village people”
Helping people with Parkinson’s disease live well longer takes a village working tirelessly towards a single goal. This Thanksgiving, on behalf of the millions whose lives have been touched by … Continue reading
Who says physical therapy can’t be fun?
My physical therapist suggested we have a “play date” at my house so she could evaluate how well I was mastering my virtual reality-based sports games and home exercises. As … Continue reading
Achieving new personal bests in Walk-A-Thon rekindled my inner spirit
Achieving new “personal bests” in speed and distance for the 2014 APDA Midwest Chapter Walk-a-Thon sparked a flame that rekindled my inner spirit. This annual event is one of my … Continue reading
Walking to the beat
As much as I resisted using a walking aid, it was love at first try for my aluminum walking sticks, which are the perfect complement to my bionic knees. I … Continue reading
“Your Stamina Sucks”
“Sheryl’s stamina sucks.” These were the exact words my physical therapist wrote on my reevaluation form. She drew a grumpy face for added emphasis. “I hope that’s a new medical … Continue reading
Lame excuses for not exercising
According to the National Health Research Institute in Taiwan just “15 minutes of exercise a day, or about 90 minutes a week, can add years to your life.” Now they … Continue reading
Keep fighting the good fight
Early in my journey with Parkinson’s, I drafted a list of potential motor and non-motor symptoms that I feared most. I designated the top three – dementia, hallucinations, and dyskinesia … Continue reading
Parkinson’s means always having to say, “I’m sorry”
Parkinson’s disease means always having to say, “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry I spilled my drink. I’m sorry I dropped my napkin. I’m sorry I don’t remember, I fell, I had … Continue reading
We teach doctors how to treat us
Dr. Phil used to say, “We teach people how to treat us.” Nowhere is this more true than in the medical community. Against my better judgment, I recently gave up … Continue reading
Hairy toes
“Did you always have hair growing on top of your big toe?” my physical therapist asked while performing electro acupuncture on my leg. “Are we talking about a few wispy … Continue reading
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back…
I recently had my final post surgical exam and was cleared to resume normal activities, which for me means shopping, shopping, and more shopping. I wasted no time putting my … Continue reading
Cruisin’ on two bionic knees
Today was my first day back at outpatient therapy after having my right knee totally replaced two weeks ago. I strode into the building on my own power …. no … Continue reading
Choosing the right physical therapist is key to our success
It is only one week post-surgery and already I am transitioning from home to outpatient physical therapy (PT), exceeding everyone’s expectations. Now I must decide where to go for therapy. … Continue reading
