October 5th 2023 – “Balance – what’s it do to an SCI?”

Oct 5th

The amount of sensation in my mid section, my tum, and organs is on fire this morning! There is so much activity it’s really hard to concentrate, really!

I had a thought about the sense of “balance” this past night, and would like to explore that. I realized that when I was working on pulling wheelies in the wheelchair, it activated parts of my stomach that had not been firing before! I feel like I have a really strong connection with my sense of balance, from using the slackline and balance boarding, to skating and biking and snowboarding. I feel as though my eyes and my (ears) vestibular system, are still sending my brain signals about balance, and how to regain the balance and compensate, but the signals may not be quite there yet for my musculoskeletal system fully? 2/3 isn’t too bad?!. Maybe doing this will help em? I was thinking of asking the PT’s today, and then also setting up the balance board in the room and doing it with someone?

My upper legs are really engaging, and the proprioception is really there with them! I feel like if I can send signals to them in any way, so like, working them out at PT for instance, is gonna help! I try to squeeze or lift them, which I need to continue to do!

The feeling of my brain being able to send a signal the equilibrioception is made possible by our eyes, our EARS, and nervous system, so like, if I have 2/3- half of the other one working, wouldn’t that help strengthen the weak one?!

Hmm 🧐 blood flow, blood flow….. that’s kinda the big ticket for my legs, maybe one of these days I can get em to soak in some water to help stimulate them, and get extra blood flowing? It really is related, to the amount of blood and oxygen I can move. I think that’s an important one for me to remember. If I’m having rib pain that makes it more difficult to breathe, make sure you take a moment to realize that! And make a quick adjustment, or maybe a pain pill.

WOW I CANT BELIEVE IT!! I did my Bowel Program just now!! I feel absolutely incredible with gaining that level of independence! I feel like a human again! It’s wild how the spinal cord injury takes away so many simple human operations. It doesn’t feel great losing so many.

Also, I could actually feel myself trying to “go”!! Which I am not sure what to make of that, but I gotta keep trying! Less and less I will need help with!