Frank's story
Frank Busch embraces hard work with determination and grit. This trait served the 62-year-old well when diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradicularoneuropathy (CIDP) -- a rare autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the protective covering insulating the nerves. CIDP presents itself as numbness, tingling and weakness in the arms and legs often causing difficulties with balance and coordination. Frank managed his symptoms with crutches for mobility along with wrist and ankle braces for additional support with daily activities.
Life went on without incident until Frank’s fiancé Susan returned home from church one Sunday and noticed his mouth and left eye were drooping. She immediately rushed him to the Emergency Department.
Doctors ruled out stroke but diagnosed him with a CIDP flare which caused the sudden weakness to Frank’s left side. The medical team spent the next five days giving Frank intravenous (IV) steroids which reduced the inflammation. With that under control, Frank was ready to tackle his increased weakness with inpatient rehabilitation but he was initially reluctant. “I had been walking with crutches for a year,” he said. “I had done rehab elsewhere previously – it was not consistent, and I didn’t get any better. I thought this was the same kind of place,” Frank said.
At the urging of Susan and the hospital team, Frank agreed to give Riverside Rehabilitation Hospital a try.
There, the physician-led interdisciplinary team assessed him and developed a recovery plan that would involve physical and occupational therapy. That’s because Frank was able to stand, but he needed assistance to walk, climb stairs, bathe and dress himself.
Physical therapy (PT) got to work building Frank’s physical strength and confidence in his ability to walk. For this, the therapy team used a BOSU ball – a half-domed resistance ball. With help, Frank would stand on the ball and try to maintain balance, a challenge that strengthened his core muscle group. Meantime, he also worked with a resistance band around his hips to help isolate, strengthen and stretch key leg muscles. As he progressed, Frank was able to tackle stairs and gradually progressed to getting in and out of a simulated car. As he worked on all of these activities, Frank gradually improved his overall endurance, balance, safety awareness and independence.
The gains motivated Frank to push himself, but he also credited his care team for that. “My therapists were awesome, they pushed me. They gave me the confidence to try harder and to do a little more each day,” Frank said.
Occupational therapists helped Frank increase his upper body control and coordination. He accomplished this by doing activities while standing -- organizing and sorting small objects and working on puzzles. These therapies improved his hand-eye coordination and challenged his balance and endurance. It prepared him for the activities he’d manage once he got home -- toileting, brushing his hair and teeth, bathing and dressing. “They even gave me a set of weights in my room, so at night I could pick them up and do exercises,” Frank said.
All his hard work paid off when his PT encouraged him to try walking without crutches. Frank was skeptical, but with his therapist close by saying, “I’ve got you,” Frank took 10 steps. It was a milestone for Frank who said, “I feel better than I have ever felt! The entire staff at the hospital has been great.”
Susan was by his side throughout his therapy sessions, and she participated in the hospital’s Care Partner Program to learn how to best help him when he was ready to return home.
In order for that, Frank had one more milestone to meet. He told his care team that he looked forward to walking his dogs once he returned home. To prepare him for the task, the team ushered in their four legged teammate, therapy dog Ada. Frank was thrilled to have her help with his final therapy sessions -- practicing dog walking before he returned home to his own dogs.
Following three weeks of successful therapy to build his strength and skills, Frank was ready to go home and looking forward to his first walk once back with Susan and their dogs. He also plans to continue building strength through home health services.