My wife Deb is still recovering from the dive accident she had last July.  She is walking again and can function somewhat normally - however she still has neuropathy from the waist down.  She walks pretty much by memory as she doesn't really feel her feet touch the ground...uneven terrain is difficult for her, and her muscles are not fully responsive. Her muscles and joints have become stiff as she is not able to be as active as normal.

The prognosis is still positive - but the recovery of her nerve function is a lengthy process and may take another year or more.  She is in good spirits and has never become depressed about this - she is thankful that she can walk again and has the potential for a nearly full recovery.


We have taken one hour long ride on the motorcycle recently, and we are planning on taking a 2 day overnight motorcycle trip with another couple sometime this summer.  We will soon be riding on some longer rides in preparation to make sure she can sit on the bike for the overnight trip. (She doesn't like riding on cool or windy days so we have not been able to take any long rides yet this year).

Dang, Dave, I just figured she was back to 100% a long time ago. I had no idea you could follow the guidelines and still get so injured. I'm very sorry for the both of you.
Would a stationary bike be good for her? Exercise without risk? Or is that risky?

Apparently she's in better shape than I was thinking.
I was thinking a stationary bike would be a step up.

 Dave I have seen this diagnosis and post-event recovery in the past when I worked in a medical center.  I am not a credentialed provider in rehabilitative therapy.

 That being said I have witnessed tai chi, in conjunction with prescribed physical therapy, work well for providing measurable improvements with balance, gait, and dexterity of the lower extremities.  

 It may be beneficial as it can be practiced in the home, (I recommend human instruction over video) and by design focuses on core movement and deliberate extremity movement over muscle gain that often times translates into improvements upon repetitive/random action.

Dave......
It sounds like your wife is very self motivating, which is such a good thing, a wonderful asset and tool to have in battling her condition.....
Not sure if I have ever shared this before, but I have a physical condition from a botched back surgery that left my right leg with nerve damage.
Golly, this was almost 40 years ago, and I have been living with it since.
Its common name is called "drop foot" as I have no ability to raise my right foot upward utilizing the ankle joint, and to some effect, the knee even, tho that really isn't the primary function of the knee.
I can't tell whats under my foot, if its cold, hot, level, or what....
I had to have toe nail roots removed because they would not grow properly, often growing the nail back into my skin, getting bad infections, etc.
My leg muscles have all experienced atrophy, and this is what she will really needs to focus on.    
When one muscle doesn't do its job, another will try to do it, and that will cause a domino effect and throw out the "balance" of what the bodies mind functions is telling it to do.....
Yes, it can do amazing reprogramming, as evidenced by examples of people born without a limb, say hands, and they become very adapt at using their feet, to do functions the hands are suppose to do....AMAZING!
I have been in braces, etc, to help me walk, but I feel those just exacerbate the atrophy issues, and rarely use them. I need to be very careful of where I am walking, as tripping is a very real threat and danger...I ALWAYS use hand rails on stairs for example.

Anyway, sorry for the long wind.....

I have found the best therapy is to be diligent about working these muscles out with weights and stretching, tho atrophy will come, that you can't stop, but you can postpone lots of it until you get too old, unable, etc, to keep up the routine.
It sounds like she is getting good advice, as the "core" is a major component to keeping the body functioning to its fullest ability.....
It is like working the cause (muscles) in reverse, from where the "injury"  is rooted....not sure if that makes sense  

Well golly, you two keep up the good spirits, that is prolly the greatest factor of all  

Happy Easter!  

Thank You for letting us know how she is doing. I'm just stunned to learn that even going by all the intelligent rules for safe diving, one can have such an event and the repercussions can be so long lasting and debilitating. If you think it would be something she would want to hear, I wish you would tell her she has a few people who don't even know her really pulling for her. And I know it's not easy on you, seeing her struggle. My best to both of you.

Oh gee Dave...... I didn't know it made her blind too   ..........