Leslee
04-12-2025
Learning to Move Again: My First Week of Physical & Occupational Therapy in Neuro Rehab
I’ve done physical therapy before—after an ACL replacement and again after a thumb joint surgery. Both were helpful, but neither came close to the intensity or importance of the therapy I needed to regain leg mobility after this neuro injury. And nothing prepared me for how structured, regulated, and safety-first the neuro rehab unit would be.
In neuro rehab, falling is enemy number one. Because of that, the safety rules are serious. I had a fall-risk wristband, a sign on my door, and an alarm on my bed in case I tried to breach the perimeter. Only trained medical staff and therapists were allowed to help me until my husband and daughter were officially “passed off” and taught how to help me safely. So that meant bathroom trips, getting into bed, and showering were assisted by caring strangers, which was hard.
“Call before you fall” became my new motto… mostly because they posted it everywhere along with "waddle this way" to remind patients how to move without...falling.
Making Rehab More Comfortable
Once I was finally free from the cords, tubes, and medical spaghetti that come with the ICU, I got to wear actual clothes, which felt miraculous.
Loose tees, soft sweats, light sweaters, and gentle fabrics made all the difference. In my case, the entire lower region—affectionately known as the hoohah zone—plus my thighs, belly, and lower back were extremely sensitive. When my husband brought scratchy underwear, I cried. My daughter quickly upgraded me to soft, seamless panties. Spouses everywhere: take notes. Did I mention I was also allowed to have fresh flowers too? HUGE shout out to everyone who sent me flowers because they make me so so happy.
Other lifesavers:
- Extra-large heating pad. I have the VAAGHANM Heating Pad and use it every single day.
- Ice packs (yes… sometimes for the hoohah; it's just facts). The FlexiKold Gel Packs don't hurt my skin so I prefer them.
- Soft, comfy grippy socks. Someone gifted me the Bulinlulu Fuzzy socks and they have saved my life.
- Slip-on shoes—my daughter brought me Kiziks, which are currently my favorite invention on earth
If you’ve never worn hospital socks, picture something scratchy, shapeless, and the color of sadness. Bring your own grippy socks if you can.
What Helped During Physical Therapy
Some things were predictable, like stretch bands, dumbbells, and water bottles with handles. But some things surprised me by actually making me feel more stable:
Weighted ankle cuffs & weighted vests
These torture devices disguised as exercise tools helped me feel more grounded and balanced. My therapist Katie, lovingly dubbed "The Mistress of Pain," started me with small weights (1.5 lbs each foot) and gleefully added more each day. We got the Sportneer ankle weights to continue PT at home and you can visibly see the difference in how smooth my walking becomes.
Katie's words while she meted out torment still echo in my head: “You’re stronger than you think you are.” I may or may not have muttered something innappropriate under my breath in response, but she wasn’t wrong.
Other essential PT tools: tissues for runny noses and possibly tears, a small towel (because PT made me sweat like a butcher), funny t-shirts (morale boosters for me and the therapists), and a water bottle with a handle to hang off my walker. Just today, however, my water bottle fell off my walker, and I decided that an attachable bottle holder would be a good idea.
What Occupational Therapy Looked Like
If PT helps you move, OT helps you live. Occupational therapy taught me (and is still teaching me) how to do everyday tasks again, including getting to the toilet safely, showering, navigating kitchen tasks, doing laundry, and practicing everyday movements with new workarounds.
OT also included using tools that made independence possible: reacher (grabber), long-handled back scrubber, long shoehorn, slip-on shoes (again, bless you Kiziks).
Necessities for Independence at Home: Grab bars, shower chair, suction cup bath mats, shower caddy placed within arm's reach, hand-held shower, and again, my giant heating pad and ice packs for daily recovery.
I tried to advocate for step stools with handles, but my keepers have banned me from any step stool usage for the duration.
The Walkers, Canes & All the Gear
Mobility devices are great! I started with the classic metal walker with two wheels. Eventually I graduated to a four-wheeled burgundy walker with a seat. Insurance actually paid for that one, and I still use it downstairs. We bought a second one for regular use, a Nova Petite Walker, which fits me and my doorways better.
The second walker is smaller, purple, and has a clip for my equally groovy purple cane (which I'm still practicing on, and not quite ready to use in the wild). Speaking of canes, there are endless choices. I’m still liking my metal one, but my husband is working on decorating my dad’s old wooden cane with Celtic etchings for the day I’m ready. That will be a good day.
Insurance: The Reality Check
I want to share this honestly because it matters. My doctors and therapists recommended two to four weeks of inpatient neuro rehab. That’s how long it typically takes to regain a meaningful level of strength, mobility, and safety. Insurance gave me one week. One week. We will be writing a separate blog diving deeper into health insurance, rehab access, and the gaps that so many families face. For now, I’ll simply say this: I’m grateful for the week I had and the insurance I luckily have. Most people need a lot more.
Finding Joy & Sanity Along the Way
Healing isn’t just exercises; it’s also mental and emotional survival. In the evenings, if I could keep my eyes open after a hard day of PT, I had several things given to me for fun and distraction. I had a crystal advent calendar (you can get advent calendars that are themeless and/or filled with all kinds of stuff), craft kits, books, and treats (chocolate ice cream with M&Ms was my favorite). Some days, these small joys made all the difference.
What Helped You? Recovery takes a whole toolbox of things, from practical to comforting to just fun. I’d love to hear what helped you get through recovery or illness. Share your experiences, recommendations, or funny stories by clicking the button below or in the comments. We’re in this together, one awkward, wobbly, determined step at a time.
Community is Critical to Recovery and We Welcome All Supporters.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing:
- Weekly progress updates
- What the PT process really looks like
- Tools and equipment that genuinely help
- Honest discussions about pain, fear, and progress
- Adaptive strength training for seniors
- Caregiving insights for families navigating medical trauma
If you’d like to follow along with Leslees recovery, learn, or simply support our family during this time, you can hit the link or join our email list below.
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