5 Month Post-Treatment Update (Sept. 22, 2009)

BIG CHANGES!

Four days after I arrived in China (19 April, '09) I had Jason snap some photos of the quadricep area of my legs (we took other photos as well, but this post is about my legs). Last night I took new photos, just curious whether exercising my brains out for the past five months has done anything. Man, was I surprised! As (hopefully) can be seen by the photos below, I have gained back 3.25" of muscle mass in each leg!


RIGHT LEG - 19 April, 2009

RIGHT LEG - 21, September, 2009



LEFT LEG - 19 April, 2009

LEFT LEG - 21 September, 2009

I believe a lot of this growth is due to my stem cell treatment. The treatment has given me the strength to exercise often and more vigorously, making it possible to use my exercycle nearly everyday for 30-45 minutes at a time.

Overall, I feel I am walking a bit stronger, but still struggle with standing up.

I am really working on strengthening my "core," and have added 80-100 sit ups to my workout routine. I use my large workout table with a long utility strap wrapped around it with a tightening device. Sitting upright on the table, I put the strap over my legs, just behind my knees, and tighten it so my legs don't bend. Then I use a sturdy, foam pillow propped at a 45 degree angle and bend forward and back. Of course, the "glute" work is a big part of the core, so I do those exercises 4-5 times a week. Still see my PT once a week. I'll keep you posted.

August 31 - CK Level On The Rise

Over this past week I had two separate CK tests from two separate labs taken. On August 20 my CK level was 260; On August 27 it was 316. Both of these numbers are a significant rise from the 74 I saw just before leaving China just over four months ago. The Aug. 27 number may be a bit off due to having exercised the day before the test. Still, the numbers are higher than I would like. What's odd, is I have slightly increased my exercycle from level 4 to level 5 (out of 8 levels). For now, I only do about 10 minutes at that level, but the increase is there.

Otherwise, I have noticed no significant changes and have maintained the exercise endurance and walking stability I seemed to have acquired from the China treatment.

August 17, 2009 - Nearly 4 Months Post-Treatment

Later this week will mark four months since my return from China, so here's an update:

No major changes. I still have not fallen while walking normally since returning from China. I have had a some falls but all of them are related to having tripped or stepped on something unexpectedly. My last fall was in my home about 10 days ago. I tried like hell to get up on my own for over an hour, but eventually had to ask my girlfriend Laurie, for assistance. However, Laurie recently had to move to a city about 3 hours away to take care of her grandmother. Since I had such a hard time getting up on my own the other day I bought an electric Hoyer lift for those times I expect I will fall and nobody will be around. So standing obviously remains a problem.

I still exercise daily for about an hour and a half. I am unable to strap myself into the Standing Frame, so I am no longer spending a half-hour doing that exercise.

Physical Therapy continues once a week. Last week I learned how to get up from a fall in my home using my coffee table. I had been doing it all wrong and this is why I was unable to get off the floor the other day.

Overall, I'm still not sure whether stem cell treatment has helped. With the exception of not falling while walking, I have not seen any "spectacular" results. I'll need another two months work and test or two before I can say one way or the other.

I'll keep you all posted.

July 14, 2009 - The Vimeo Video

The day before I left Hangzhou, China, the Beike Biotech staff took a patient-experience video of me. I learned just today it was posted on their Stem Cells China News site (http://www.stemcellschina.com/) some two weeks ago.
I recall it was an emotional day when the video was shot. I had just learned the good news that my CK level had dropped from 188 to 74 and, although it was a pleasant experience, I was looking forward to returning home after five weeks in a foreign country. I look terrible in the video, but I really felt great! Thank you all for your continued support.

Here is the link: http://vimeo.com/5369780

June 29, 2009

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post, and I know folks like updates so here's one for ya. My exercise routine can now easily cover 2 hours a day. I don't always do that much because frankly, after a day's work, I'm a bit spent. But a typical night will include:

Standing Frame: 30 minutes
Stretching and PT exercises: 30 minutes - 1 hour. The physical therapy work includes a lot of what is called "core" exercises, utilizing movements that work my glutes, hamstrings and abdominal muscles. I still see my PT once a week for about an hour
Exercycle: 30-45 minutes (currently on level 4 out of 8).
EMS: 30 minutes (Electrical Muscle Stimulator).

Results: Walking without falling has been my most impressive result so far. It was not uncommon for me to fall 1-2 times a week simply walking along - even while wearing my AFO's.
I suppose the ability to workout at all has also been a vast improvement. For 8 years prior to stem cell treatment, I never exercised, thinking 'why bother, the muscle is dead so what's the use'? Now I feel that my work is actually beginning to payoff. I am still careful not to over-work the muscles, however, and don't allow myself to reach exhaustion when exercising.

I'll keep you posted.

Russ

June 13, 2009

Here's a new video of me walking earlier today (on top), and one from May (below). I'm not seeing much difference, but you tell me.

Otherwise, I still feel good and have the energy, most days, to get an hour or more exercise in. Standing is still difficult - not much change there so no videos just yet. I'll keep posting good or bad.

Russ

June 10, 2009

Just wanted to post a couple of new photos of my standing frame today.

Otherwise, the most recent update is that I have had a handful of physical therapy treatments which are going very well. We are focusing on my hips, glutes and stretching.

I am also happy to report that I continue to fall less often and walking is becoming slightly easier. Standing is still an effort, however. I will do standing and walking videos later this week and get them on here by June 15 for your review.

Thanks for your continuing support and all your emails!