Last OT Visit

Friday was Bob's last home visit with the Occupational Therapist. This is the first time that he actually used all the visits allotted by the insurance company. Usually, therapists discharge him sooner than we expect because, they say, his progress is too slow or they just sort of give up on him.

I must say, this OT was the best we've had so far. She taught me how to stretch Bob's neck muscles, perform gentle traction on his spine, how to position him in bed, and how to perform isometric exercises with Bob pushing his head back into my hands. She said she's noticed a definite increase in his neck muscle strength from when we started working with her.

Oh! And she taught me how to tip that wheelchair backward, which is great for washing his hair at the sink. That trick alone is worth its weight in gold.

Bob's new hand splint.

She also left him with this hand splint. The previous OT said he did not need a splint, that a splint was only for ease in cleaning his hand... This OT said it would help his pain at night by keeping his paralyzed hand from clenching. And she's right! It does help with his pain. We use it now, every night.

She also wants us to follow up with more OT at an Outpatient Rehab facility. I told her that would nice--if the both doctor and insurance would approve it. In fact, I'd love to get him back into Outpatient PT as well. But I explained to her how much trouble we've been having getting any kind of therapy for Bob, that his primary care doctor has been a big stumbling block in that respect. So, she wrote up a very formal looking "Progress Summary" addressed to Bob's primary care doc and ended it by recommending BOTH OT and PT at an Outpatient Facility.  Then, she wrote up another one, this one not addressed to anyone in particular, so if the primary care doctor doesn't write the script, I can take it to another doctor...

We'll see if this works! I really think it's what Bob needs right now, as he seems to be losing a lot of strength all around. Bob has an appointment with his primary care doctor next week, so I'll take the paperwork with us. Wish me luck! And cross your fingers that the doctor and insurance will approve!