Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with rehabilitation

Am I the pack leader?

nitsuj — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:42:04 -0800

Am I the pack leader? We got a new dog -- a rescue from the pound -- and he's a wild one. Over the last month or so, I think we've done a pretty good job taming him: two walks daily, time out in the yard, discipline and rules, and, of course, lots of affection.

When I first started our daily walks, he was constantly pulling on the leash. Now, I've got him to a point where I can walk him with a loose leash 90% of the time, but he's still at least a few steps ahead of me, sniffing the ground. When I tighten the reigns to keep him closer and attempt to either be in front of (or at least beside) him, then he's tight on the leash probably 90% of the time.

In the house, I feel I am leading him and he acts accordingly. He normally doesn't get wild or run around like a bucking bronco as he did before. He responds to commands, knows his boundaries (and is breaking those boundaries less and less each day), and is generally a well-adjusted dog considering what he was only a month ago.

But those walks -- that's where I lose confidence.

Since he is physically leading me on those walks, is he seeing himself as the pack leader? If so, what can I do to reverse that, as I feel it is while in the house? Any other tips or tricks for this situation?

Thanks!

Punk Leather Jacket Rehabilitation

lekvar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:46:11 -0800

Back in the day, I had a black leather motorcycle jacket painted up in the usual punk style: Big back patch, studs, spikes, chains, the works. I'm older now, and I'd like to keep the jacket while getting rid of the youthful excess that covers it. How do I rehabilitate my old leather jacket? The spikes, chains, and studs aren't the problem, as they come out/off pretty easily. I can deal with the scars their extraction will leave.

The bigger issue is the paint. The back patch is spray enamel and acrylic, and there are enamel bits over the rest of the jacket. The two options I see are stripping off the entire outer covering and starting over or simply painting over the whole thing. I see some potential problems with either option: Acrylic paint doesn't strip off without a major fight, but it's lumpy enough to show through any over-coat I might apply.

I'm sure there has to be a solution, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to see it. I'd like this jacket to slide, semi-gracefully, into middle age with me, scars and all.

Long question short: Have you ever rehabilitated a leather jacket, and if so, how? Any input cheerfully accepted.

The best urban rehab projects

amusem — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:06:50 -0800

Seeking success stories of land decontamination and rehabilitation in urban areas. I'm having a hard time with my search. I'm not familiar with this field.

In other words : Fairly recent examples of industrial urban wastelands that have been reclaimed and transformed into lively neighborhoods, parks, campuses, etc.

Examples from the US or Europe if possible.

Thank you !

How to make a career out of canine behavioral rehab?

Ufez Jones — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:20:15 -0800

Say I wanted to make an earnest stab at shifting my career path to becoming a canine behaviorist/trainer/rehabilitator. What would my best options be for training/certification and what jobs could I expect to find afterwards? Quick and dirty background info: I have a BBA from a well-respected (though not elite) University. Corporate life just isn't for me. However, the only college credits I have in any kind of science are a freshman level physics course.

A few years back, after a round of layoffs, I turned volunteer time at an SPCA into a four year career doing in-home pet-sitting/dog walking. I've spent countless hours caring for dogs (and other animals, obvs) of various breeds, sizes and temperaments. I've been nipped, bitten, clawed, jumped on, growled at, run away from and punched in the junk and none of it fazes me.

Doing some recent soul-searching, I truly believe I can finally find a passion and lifetime mission doing rehabilitative therapy for dogs that have been abused or neglected.

So what are my best options for certification/training? A second bachelor's degree in animal behavioral science? A program like Jean Donaldson's SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers? Or just grunt it out in the lower-rankings of a local rescue org and work my way up?

And for those best options, what can I expect job-wise upon completion?

I'm aware that many folks get into this field via Law Enforcement or Military training, but at my age and given my personality, those would be really far-reaching options.

yikes! a life of crime is starting to sound like an option

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:53:47 -0800

I need ideas and inspirational stories on finding a new way to make a living. I used to work in computer programming, but I hurt my back and can no longer sit for very long (up to 45 minutes at a time, and altogether no more than 3-4 hours a day) or do anything that strains my back (no heavy lifting or bending). My neck was also hurt, and I cannot hold my head bent forward and frequently use a neck brace. The long hours of a programming job are out of the question and I need new ideas on how to earn a living.

So far nothing I have come up with is enough to pay the bills. Not many people need a part-time programmer and the pay is low. I did some part time writing and editing but I had problems sitting and the pay was too low. I tried a part time job at a library, but couldn't do the bending involved with putting books back. I love research and have thought of returning to academia, but even if I found a way to finance and sit it out, I no longer feel connected to the field I studied years ago.

I'm 39 years old and a woman (though don't be gender based with ideas. I have no problem doing a "guy's job"). I'm an introverted analytical thinker who loves problem solving.

Any idea that comes to mind is welcome, including ideas totally unrelated to anything I've done. I'd love to hear stories about people who found a new way to make a living. Anything that can spark an idea or hope would be great.

throwaway email account: badback.towork@gmail.com

Please help me help my long distance, long term bedbound father

razzman — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:21:10 -0800

My Dad, now 70, suffered a massive stroke around 2 and a half years ago. He is quadriplegic and his wakefulness is limited. I need help to improve the quality of his life. Lots more info inside My Dad, now 70, suffered a massive stroke around 2 and a half years ago. He had the stroke on holiday in France and was in a coma for around 3 weeks, he was air ambulanced to the UK during this period. Against all odds he slowly, slowly came round but as expected he was left severely disabled.
At first he couldn’t move anything, gradually he could open his eyes for a while longer each day, then he slowly was able to move his limbs ever so slightly. He was also able to nod and shake his head slightly to indicate yes and no.
Within six months he was able to talk, a lot of the time very difficult to understand but it was a great bonus.
They actually had just retired to Cyprus before this happened, so they went back to Cyprus and my mum now looks after him with two live-in home helps.
The facilities and expertise available in Cyprus are pretty minimal and gradually he has lost much of the ability he had regained after his stroke mostly due to spasticity probably. He does have physio 4 times a week but this is limited to range of motion really. He also has speech therapy once a week.
I dread every day, getting the call, telling me worst. In part this is because I still think there are things that can be done to help him.
At the most basic level I really need some advice on long term care for someone bed bound – he does get out into a wheel chair once a day for around an hour which is all he can handle at the moment. But I worry about his heart, circulation, being laid in bed all day, under stimulated, much of the time he is in a half awake, half asleep type state. I really need to help him as I know he would have done for me, even if it’s just small steps to improving his quality of life.
I've looked on message boards such as strokenet and while they have been some help the majority of strokes seem so much milder.
With me being in the UK though and not in a position to emigrate I could do with some practical advice on how I can help. This could be in the form of resources available on the internet, your own personal knowledge and advice, anything really. I know I’ve covered a broad range of issues here, but really any advice no matter how small is appreciated.
Due to the health system in Cyprus much of this is do-it-yourself, though we can pay for any treatment required.
I feel like everybody has given up on him and we’re just waiting for the inevitable.
I want to give him every chance he can get.
Even more info: He is peg fed, he had a tracheostomy but breaths unaided now, he recently started having epileptic fits, he can communicate still but is becoming less clear. He was able to wipe his face to an extent 9 months after his stroke but this ability has disappeared.

Help righty stroke victim regain mobility on left side!

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:04:21 -0800

STROKE filter: Need items to purchase/exercises to help right-handed stroke victim regain mobility on left side, please! A very close person to me had an early stroke in her 50s. She is right handed, it affected her left side. Things like wii, arts and crafts, etc. have been recommended.

What can I buy for her that truly can make a difference that is between $0-$1000? Anything from a knitting needle to a wii, to whatever, I don't care what you suggest if you believe in it, I love this woman and want her to get better.

What are some exercises that I can suggest?

What can I do?

Those with experience, I'd really appreciate your stories, both of success and failure. This is rather new to me and I'm very sad.

My hamstring won't heal!

schroedinger — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:30:51 -0800

I pulled my hamstring in June, right where the top of the ham hits the inner glute--not quite in the crotch but almost there. It wasn't bad, but I decided to take time off to let it heal. But no matter how much time I take off, as soon as I start working out again it starts hurting again! What do I do? After pulling it in June, I took a month off. One medium-intensity capoeira class later and the pain is back. I take another three or four weeks off and begin working out again. And sure enough, after the end of a set of lunges during my fourth workout back my hamstring is hurting again!

Now I don't know whether this is a tear or a pull. It provides some discomfort when I'm sitting or walking around, but nothing terrible--though I have a high pain tolerance so that may be masking the injury. Icing isn't very effective because there's a lot of flesh between the ice and the actual injury. Does anyone have any recommendations for rehabilitation? This has ruined my entire workout schedule for the summer and I don't want this to continue into the fall as well.

What happens after a fracture heals?

tim_in_oz — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:39:03 -0800

I broke my leg. What happens when the cast comes off? I broke the fibula, about 30mm above the lateral malleolus (the sticky outy ankle bone). It was as a result of a martial arts accident, where I was thrown very powerfully by an instructor. My foot stayed planted on the floor, while my upper body rotated. The injury mechanism would have been similar to a downhill ski-er having their foot rotated in a fall when their bindings didn't release.

X-rays at the time and a week after showed that all the bits were pretty much in the right spot, and as a result the orthopaedic surgeon decided not to operate, but to treat it conservatively ie plaster and rest. She said at the time that there was nothing about the fracture as an injury or me as a patient that gave her any reason to think that it wouldn't heal fully.

I'm at week four of six weeks in a fibreglass cast. What I want to know is what to expect in terms of mobility, pain etc when the cast comes off. FWIW, I'm male, 35, 140 lbs and otherwise quite fit.

12 year old thief. Help us teach her the error of her ways.

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 20:48:55 -0800

How do you get through to a 12 year old girl that stealing is seriously not a good idea? We just discovered our daughter has been taking money from her mothers purse for some undetermined amount of time. Today, she took a large amount, and my wife missed it. Subsequent questioning and a search of her room revealed a stash of cash much larger than can be accounted for from babysitting jobs/allowance. When confronted, she initially lied, but later admitted taking it. We have already grounded her, removed privleges, and she has written her mother a letter of apology. This is not the first time she taken things without permission, but it certainly is the most serious offense. We want to get through to her in no uncertain terms that theft is a bad idea. Anybody have any suggestions for some creative rehabilitation techniques?

Spinal surgery - personal experiences requested

Space Kitty — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 14:57:51 -0800

Grade 4 Spondylolisthesis: your experiences, please. My 22 year old daughter was diagnosed with grade 4 spondylolisthesis today. She's going to need surgery, including fusing the (5th?) vertebra, inserting hardware and possible bone grafting. She's getting an MRI next week and I'm satisfied with both her doctor and her course of treatment.

What we're looking for is first hand experience from anyone who has had this diagnosis, or spinal surgery in general. What was your experience? How was your recovery? Is there anything you wish you knew before the surgery, or wish you would have done differently?

We've done quite a bit of googling, but I'm hoping for more specific, personal stories. (Please email any horror stories to me privately, I'll be sharing this link with her and she's worried enough as it is.)

Good wishes are also gratefully accepted.