Busy Guy

Erik is a very busy guy at the rehab program. It seems like if he is not in a therapy session a nurse is giving him drugs, he's eating, or he's totally passed out. I realized today just how intense this program is. Erik can't do therapy sessions for an entire hour yet, so he works for about 1/2 hour - takes 1/2 hour off (sleeps very hard) then he's back to work. It seems like just as soon as he is comfortable - someone is walking through the door to make him work again. If your planning on visiting, I would say the best time is after 6. If you can only come during the day, thats ok but you might have to dodge therapy sessions, and if he is not in therapy he is snoring, preparing for the next session.

During OT today Erik got dressed in his own comfy cozy clothes. He stood up and washed his face and brushed his teeth. During PT Erik pedaled a bike (while sitting in a wheelchair) for about 10 minutes after walking about 100' to the Therapy room. His head started hurting really bad and he had to go back to his room.
The Pain Management Doctor then came in and we discussed his pain for quite a while, and I believe that the pain medicine schedule that we came up with together will work much better for Erik. He is getting a lesser dosage, more often - which equals out to about the same amount he was already getting daily. The doctors listen to what Erik and I are telling them and act on it. The pain med. doctor actually explained what the drugs target and Erik and I were able to help pinpoint which drug is helping to relieve the pain in his head.
For lunch, the guys from my work brought Erik and I some yummy food from the detour cafe(I would recommend it if you haven't been). Erik was actually wheeled out to a table in a dining area and ate lunch with us. It was the first time since his accident that Erik got to eat at a table.
During Speech Therapy Erik was asked a bunch of questions while looking at images on paper. It was interesting to see what type of testing they do to figure out the cognitive problems that Erik is encountering. The speech therapist asked him a lot about the work he does to determine what he needs to do to get back to his job. Each day his neurons will work on making new connections in his head.
Erik really acts like his old self again. He is being sarcastic all of the time. He says some very witty things that I have a hard time picking up on. I am constantly saying, "what do you mean?" and he is able to make a clear connection between his comment and what we were discussing. I have also heard stories of visits that many of you have had with him and you have noticed the same thing. He is very aware of what is going on around him (that is when he is not totally passed out). Erik is working hard at things that are obviously very uncomfortable for him. He is working hard to get home.