somedayseattle: (Default)
Fueled by Ramen and cheap beer ([personal profile] somedayseattle) wrote2024-09-17 04:13 pm

not Jim Fixx just yet

At therapy today they strapped me into a device similar to this.
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Yep...The Verticalizer.

The concept is the machine should support your body while getting you in a vertical position. I’ve been on it several times. Being vertical feels very alien to me right now.
Elyse strapped me in today and using only the strength of my arms and what little gusto I have in my knees I was able to put myself unassisted to verticality. I was hanging onto the machine for dear life. My knees were screaming in pain. My back was on fire and what is left of my butt was clenched but yet there I stood. And then I did it.

My hands let go of the machine. For three solid seconds I stood straight up,
unassisted. I fucking stood up straight for three entire seconds!!!

I grabbed the machine, got back into a sitting position and cried for the next five minutes. I have not stood up straight and unencumbered since September of last year. I am still kind freaked out, overwhelmed and weepy. By sessions end, i stood on my own 3 times, the final being five seconds.

Fuck yeah me.
msconduct: (Default)

[personal profile] msconduct 2024-09-17 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
WOOHOO! Fantastic news! Go your amazing performing lower half!
greghousesgf: (pic#17096883)

[personal profile] greghousesgf 2024-09-18 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
hell yeah!
I had a PT session this morning and thought about you.
elainegrey: Inspired by Grypping/gripping beast styles from Nordic cultures (Default)

[personal profile] elainegrey 2024-09-18 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Yay YOU!
house_wren: glass birdie (Default)

[personal profile] house_wren 2024-09-18 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
I felt like crying after reading this. Not in a bad way. Go you!

Sometimes when people say, "Hi, how are you?" I struggle to give them an okay answer that is honest but is not tossing all my health issues into the conversation. So I say "Well, I'm vertical!" meaning that I am well enough to not be in bed. No one pays attention to my answer and the chat can move on without dwelling on my complaints.

When you get to "I'm vertical!" it is a real accomplishment.
meowmensteen: (Default)

[personal profile] meowmensteen 2024-09-18 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
That's amazing. There's a physical therapy place in the building I work in. I have a new respect for those people. They do some miracle work.