Continuous improvement

My name is Péter Somlai, and I turned 50 last year – 2021. In the summer of 1990, I suffered a serious, life-threatening road accident and spent almost three months in a deep coma in the accident surgery department of the Veszprém hospital. I came to my senses in November, after which I was transported to the rehabilitation institute in Budapest. Interestingly, the actual rehabilitation only started in December, when I returned home. Here I would like to thank my parents again, who also asked a physiotherapist and a speech therapist to “make something happen”, to make something happen, because my situation did not promise much good.

If you think about it, Dóri wasn't even born in the year of my accident – atheists, skip the next part of the sentence – and it was only in God's plans that we would work together from the summer of 2021. And with what result? That's what the next article is about!

In May, we started Dóri's special Arni exercises, which mainly meant strengthening my limbs affected by paralysis. We achieved significant results in the first few months, when my right side, which was most affected by paralysis, started to behave "well". I first noticed when swimming that the "knocking" in my right hip appeared much less frequently. My swimming also became more harmonious, the distance and the joy I felt from it both increased.

This was the first, most striking success.

As a result of the accident, my balance also became unstable. At first, I did not undertake independent walks because I was unable to change position even for a few minutes. Dóri and I tried to improve my balance in addition to correcting my awkward right side. Dóri showed me special exercises for this, and, unbelievably, her predictions came true. I was also able to take my dog for a walk, who welcomed this change with great joy.

I already mentioned that the “shutdown” affected every part of my body, but my right side was the worst. I think it’s important to mention something else about my hip:

My rheumatologist doctor expressed the opinion years ago - when she heard my hip knocking - that she thought I had 10 years until surgery. We moved this part separately in the exercise, and these ten years did not decrease over time, but remained unchanged.

"Getting my right knee to work" was also successful, mainly relieving the strain on my left side - and thus significantly reducing my pain.

I have now become capable of doing small housework, I help my parents, for example, by doing the small shopping myself. It also happens – unfortunately not very often due to my laziness – that I prepare dinner for myself. I often go to the nearby bakery, and – because of my elderly parents – I am also a frequent guest at the pharmacy…

In addition to the weekly session, I also do the exercises that Dóri recommends at home. I love working with her, and as incredible as it may seem, the sometimes physically difficult exercises are a mental relief that I can hope for improvement in the near future...