January Blessings and Prosthetic Education

 My January goals continue. My current focus is getting ready for my prosthetic arm/hand and to increases my stamina and energy so that I can eventually successfully return to work.


Things are coming together. My twice a week muscle training is paying off and the date for life with a prosthetic has been set for February 1, 2018.  Then I begin the work of the actual learning to use the hand and arm. I have been told that I will need one month of full-time training to get the hang of it.  I am also being referred to an occupational therapist to learn how to get dressed with the prosthetic.

Here a few snapshots from my time spent at muscle training:

Myoboy Traning Tool

The Myoboy training tool  is used for measuring muscle strength and what I was first introduced to. The coloured lights measure the amount of signal that my muscle is sending.







The electrode in the picture is placed on my back and once it is in place, I get to practice flexing that unique muscle. A sensor is placed on my back and another on my pectoral muscle on my front.

Temporarily placed electrode for muscle training

Below is a picture of the computer game that I play.  The object of the game is to drive a car and jump through gates without crashing.  Next week, I will focus on driving two cars, one for each electrode that I am hooked to.

Game for muscle training

 And finally! My new prosthetic  is coming together.  The electrodes are now implanted into the shoulder and this is what I wore for training this week.

My new shoulder and arm coming together

A prosthetic is actually a combination of both art and science that I see as a blessing for me.  Oh, just to have a useful left appendage. 

One of my doctors told me on Friday that I need to start giving myself credit for everything that I have accomplished so far.  Perhaps, it was her way of telling me to remember how far I have come.  I do maintain that it is not me but my faith in God that has gotten me this far.  The journey is not over but I am hopeful.  Today, I will pause and think about what has been accomplished and thank the Lord for being with me on this journey.

Hebrews13:5 "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

I hope you all have a safe and blessed week.  I better go work on the increased energy part of my goals now. :)