Aug 24 2016 - Exercises and crutching

21:45
I am in a very lackadaisical mood. I don't know why, and I can't blame drugs.

 I am doing a good series of exercises for all stump muscles and range of movement of the stump. Trying to get the stump muscles and skin stretched so not to cause pressure on the sore spot.
My brother mentioned shoulder exercises to strengthen my shoulder so I could use the crutches better. I used some old weights laying around and did five sets of right shoulder exercises. Then I tried the left side. I couldn't even do one set. My left arm and shoulder are so weak. I was shocked.
At first I thought I must have had a small stroke, and didn't know it. Then I started noticing how many actions around the house use my right arm. The toilet grab bars use the right arm. The bed brace for getting in and out of bed is also right arm. I don't ever seem to use the left arm. Now I have added shoulder exercises to my daily routines.

I have been trying to "invent" a way of getting the silicone liner on without pain.
My latest invention is a string of round beads on a piece of wire. The two ends of the wire are held together with a rubber band. I put the liner against the stump end, then insert the beads against the inside of the liner. When I pull the liner, it rolls over the beads. It causes much less pain, but still not near zero pain.
Next I want to make a tube, of PVC that the liner is stretched over, and when the liner/tube is put over the stump, the tube takes all the strain, and the liner is then slid off the tube onto the stump.
So today I went shopping for a 185mm PVC pipe. All PVC pipes are 160mm or 200mm. One plumbing place gave me  great deal in 1 meter of 160mm PVC pipe. I bought it, even though it is a bit to tight. The only 200mm pipe was sold in 4 meter lengths. R600. Shriek!

I got very tired crutching around. I was being very gentile on my shoulder, and that was hard work.
I went to a hamburger place for lunch, and just sat in the car. The hassle of crutching into the restaurant was not worth the getting to eat. I finally just drove away.
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