Putting compression socks on someone else is like a challenging family game at Christmas.
Rules
The recipient of the sock cannot bend or twist any direction. They cannot cross ankles, knees or legs. They can only point and flex their foot. The sock assistant must be cautious. No ripping the sock fabric. No catching or bending a toe. Yes, to getting the sock stretched over the heel and up the leg. The Direct Aim is to get sock on recipient without pain or suffering on either part. The Indirect Aim is for bonding, hysterical laughter, and a sprinkling of colorful language.
Blessings
I was blessed to spend 5 days with my parents before, during and after my mom’s hip replacement surgery. The compression socks were but one part of our bonding.
What were the other parts? Finagling a rope system on the headboard post for independence getting into and out of bed was an engineering adventure. Building a secure foundation under furniture cushions to restrict hip to 90 degrees or more was another puzzle. (Hey, that one involved tv stands from the 1970’s! They are the exact size to fit under chair cushions!) Stuffing ice packs down the hip holster was almost as interesting as retrieving the sunken packs after they did their job. Creating a record keeping tool for the medications that first week was something. Meds plus pain really challenges one’s memory. But through it all, blessings were plentiful.
We celebrated Halloween with the trick-or-treaters parading downstairs. We hooked my computer up to the tv and watched some excellent movies. We enjoyed shakes every night just like growing up.
Dad and I shared many moments, too. We installed towel racks and grab bars—at curious angles because construction is not our first language. We giggled while cooking in the kitchen. “Hey, did you crack the next egg?” “No, I’m making the coffee. You’re the short order cook.” “Well, who’s buttering the toast?” And we served mom her food in the family room.
Through it all, there were moments of hilarity mixed with deep love and concern for one another.
Why am I sharing?
Well, the Brain Gym® program addresses all of our systems from physical to emotional, from lymphatic to ecology, and more. Helping someone through a medical event offers many educational opportunities. Here are a few:
- Why drink water? To hydrate the body and the mind; to flush out the toxins from anesthesia and pain medications; to help awaken the digestive system after surgery; to (fill in the blank). Sipping Water is one the 26 Brain Gym® Movements.
- Why point and flex your feet? To stimulate the lymphatic system; to keep the circulation moving from the feet up; to reset the Tendon Guard Reflex after the trauma of surgery; to (fill in the blank). The Footflex is one of the 26 Brain Gym® movements.
- Why breathe in that plastic tube? To oxygenate the entire body; to breathe deeply; to (fill in the blank). Belly Breathing is one of the 26 Brain Gym® movements.
Put on the compression socks. Play the games. Laugh. Look for the connections between life events.
