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Post by RyooT on Nov 19, 2012 23:02:19 GMT -5
1. I have spent a large portion of my life doing physical work, and have kept my body in good shape, which helps. 2. I make full use of my right arm as a stabilizer during lifting and "two-handed" activies. It's actually quite helpful. 3. I've pretty much mastered the use of compensatory movement techniques. When you have a disability long enough, you figure these things out. 4. Transfers are tough, but I do fine with them. Lifting another person is the most difficult kind of lift you can do. You have to be very careful. It took a lot of practice, but I'm able to do it safely. 5. The loss of my right arm is actually helpful sometimes in therapy. My patients really feel like I understand what they're going through. It also helps me think of creative ways to adapt. I have been adapting all my life, and now I can use that well-practiced skill to help others. I'm curious - do you wear a prosthesis, particularly when you work? |
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Post by lookingfor on Nov 19, 2012 23:41:30 GMT -5
Of course Emma! I seriously cannot wait!(and yes, I do like exclamation points!)
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Post by Dee Dee on Nov 20, 2012 0:13:03 GMT -5
Hi and welcome RueTheDay. I am wondering how you are working as a physical therapist without the use of your right hand? Can you tell us something about that? Hi DeeDee. I'll try to avoid giving a really long answer to that. To help keep things shorter, I'll make a list: 1. I have spent a large portion of my life doing physical work, and have kept my body in good shape, which helps. 2. I make full use of my right arm as a stabilizer during lifting and "two-handed" activies. It's actually quite helpful. 3. I've pretty much mastered the use of compensatory movement techniques. When you have a disability long enough, you figure these things out. 4. Transfers are tough, but I do fine with them. Lifting another person is the most difficult kind of lift you can do. You have to be very careful. It took a lot of practice, but I'm able to do it safely. 5. The loss of my right arm is actually helpful sometimes in therapy. My patients really feel like I understand what they're going through. It also helps me think of creative ways to adapt. I have been adapting all my life, and now I can use that well-practiced skill to help others. Thank you for explaining RueTheDay. It makes good sense to me, and I like the part about your patients feeling understood by you and the fact that you can identify with them in some ways  |
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ruetheday
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An analyst and a therapist
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Post by ruetheday on Nov 20, 2012 3:06:10 GMT -5
My pleasure. I try to be resourceful, and use everything I can as an advantage.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2012 21:14:49 GMT -5
Hi Rue,
I'm a little confused...maybe I'm just getting too much sun... I thought you spoke earlier that your condition was congenital...but in reading your other posts you mention a ''loss of limb'' and ''my amputation'' Can you shed some light on that for me? I'm shocked and dismayed that my compadre Marineamp hasn't inquired yet.
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ruetheday
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Post by ruetheday on Nov 20, 2012 21:29:40 GMT -5
Hi Rue, I'm a little confused...maybe I'm just getting too much sun... I thought you spoke earlier that your condition was congenital...but in reading your other posts you mention a ''loss of limb'' and ''my amputation'' Can you shed some light on that for me? I'm shocked and dismayed that my compadre Marineamp hasn't inquired yet. Hey looknohands. Believe it or not, this is the "short" answer. I could write books about this topic. I'm using terms that are generally employed in medicine/healthcare. Congenital absense tends to be "lumped in" with traumatic amputation, even though there are some important differences. (Different joint physiology, different outcomes, different preferences for prosthesis use, and so on.) I think this is done for convenience. Both congenital absence and traumatic amputation relate to the complete absence of a body part, and treatment is generally the same (prosthetics etc). So, calling my condition an amputation might not be entirely accurate from some perspectives, but it fits the language that is usually used in medicine. As for the "loss" of my hand, that term could be technically true or untrue, depending on your perspective. I never actually had a hand to lose, because it never developed. You could say that the lack of "normal" development consitutes a "loss" though. The main reason I use terms like "amputation" and "loss" is that I'm lazy. They're short, easy to say, and commonly-used words. Most people don't know what "congenital absense" is, but "amputation" is a familiar term. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2012 21:43:33 GMT -5
Great explanation...thank you!
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ruetheday
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Post by ruetheday on Nov 20, 2012 21:45:02 GMT -5
Another concern might be that "loss" isn't politically correct, because it sounds negative. A term that often gets advocated for is "limb difference".
My response is that I don't care about politally correct language. I'd rather have a free-flowing and casual attitude about it, without worrying about being extra careful or sensitive with my words. Most of my friends with congenital disabilities (but not all of them) seem to feel the same way. We don't think it's a big deal, so we don't "walk on eggshells" around each other. It's just a part of life.
Also, "loss" is not always a negative word. If a serial killer is chasing you through the woods, most people would feel very relieved to "lose" the killer. The word itself is less important than the context that it is used in.
I'm happy overall, and have learned to deal with my "difference". It is what is is. I do have to admit, given the option of having a hand, I would take it. But... I don't have that option, so I have learned to accept the way I am.
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Post by Ximena on Nov 23, 2012 17:48:13 GMT -5
Sorry I'm late to welcome you, Rue. Seem like a cool guy. Hope you're enjoying yourself so far.  |
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ruetheday
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An analyst and a therapist
Posts: 155
Gender: Male
Dev Status: Disabled Male
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Post by ruetheday on Nov 23, 2012 18:23:13 GMT -5
Sorry I'm late to welcome you, Rue. Seem like a cool guy. Hope you're enjoying yourself so far. Thank you, I am. |
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