SDR Recovery Day 7: When Recovery Starts to Feel Normal

Quick Stats

Age: 3 years old
Diagnosis: Right Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
Procedure: Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)
Post-Op Day: 7
Pain: None
Appetite: Normal
Mobility: Walking independently throughout the day
Sleep: Good
Mood: Happy and energetic
Nerve Sensations: Resolved

Today was our first Sunday at Children’s Health Plano.

Sundays are considered the “off day” for therapy, which means there are no scheduled PT or OT sessions and staffing is much more limited.

But recovery doesn’t take Sundays off.

So neither did we.

Instead of structured therapy sessions, we spent the day doing what has become one of Amri’s favorite activities: exploring.

We walked.

A lot.

We checked out the playroom, played with toys, wandered the halls, and even made a trip to the playground.

It was hot.

Very hot.

But that didn’t stop us.

One thing we’ve learned throughout this entire journey is that therapy doesn’t always have to happen inside a therapy gym.

Sometimes therapy looks like climbing on a playground.

Sometimes it looks like chasing toys across a playroom.

And sometimes it looks like convincing a 3-year-old that walking to get frozen yogurt is a great idea.

Speaking of frozen yogurt, one of today’s highlights was discovering the frozen yogurt vending machine.

That may have been Amri’s favorite therapy activity of the day.

Although there were no formal therapy sessions, we continued working on some of the skills we’ve been practicing all week.

One of our current goals is encouraging more equal weight-bearing while standing.

Before surgery, Amri naturally favored his left side.

Now we’re working on helping him shift weight more evenly between both legs during play and everyday activities.

We’re also continuing to work on what we call “tall legs”—encouraging him to fully straighten and extend through his hips and knees while standing and moving.

The best part?

Most of the time he doesn’t even realize he’s doing therapy.

He’s just playing.

And that’s exactly how we like it.

One thing that really stood out today was how much more energy he seems to have.

In fact, he may actually have more energy now than he did before surgery.

It’s hard not to wonder if some of that is because his body is no longer fighting against constant spasticity.

Whatever the reason, he spent a large portion of the day on his feet.

And he wanted to keep moving.

Walking continues to improve every day.

His gait looks better.

His confidence looks better.

His balance is improving.

We’re seeing more heel-to-toe walking and less of the inward turning that we used to notice before surgery.

We still occasionally remind him to pay attention to what his right foot is doing, but increasingly he’s making those corrections on his own.

Perhaps the most exciting update from today is what didn’t happen.

No pain.

No back pain.

No itching.

No Tylenol.

No Motrin.

No Benadryl.

Nothing.

Just one happy little boy enjoying his day.

When we think back to the first few days after surgery—the pain, the itching, the sleepless nights, the tears—it’s honestly hard to believe how much has changed in just one week.

Tomorrow the full rehab team arrives.

We’ll meet with the PM&R physician and officially begin the next phase of inpatient rehabilitation.

But today wasn’t about therapy goals or medical appointments.

Today was about being a kid.

And after everything he’s been through this week, that felt like the biggest victory of all.

Current Status

• Walking independently throughout the day
• No wheelchair use
• No walker use
• Improved gait and balance
• More heel-to-toe walking
• Less inward turning of right foot
• Working on equal weight-bearing
• Practicing “tall legs” during play
• No pain medication needed
• No itching complaints
• No Benadryl needed
• Increased energy levels
• Ready to begin full inpatient rehab Monday