You Never Realize How Much You Need Your Triceps…Until You Can't
When I was first diagnosed with Late Onset Tay Sachs, I learned it causes weakness in your quadriceps and triceps. For the most part, the leg weakness is what I notice daily since it became harder to walk and get up from my seat. Over the years, the tricep weakness has become more apparent. You don’t even think about the daily activities where you use your triceps. I made a list of a few examples to give an idea of all the different tasks that use your triceps.
Pushing yourself up from your seat… or even better, the toilet seat
Reaching overhead into cabinets… for that favorite cup
Closing the trunk of the car… I always need an extra “umph”
Opening heavy doors… automatic doors are my favorite… especially when they work. Have you ever noticed how many push button doors are broken? You will start noticing this now when you are out in public. I’m just a girl trying to get inside the building, without a fall.
Washing your hair… then trying to brush it… then dry it… then style it. Let’s be real here, most days I air dry and am lucky if I can brush through it after washing it in the shower.
Pushing a shopping cart… What’s a cart? I do grocery pick ups mostly nowadays.
Using a rollator or wheelchair… these may help, but still use energy and my triceps. The rollator I have to push, so it makes my arms tired and the wheelchair I need help with.
Getting out of bed… not just waking up, the physical act of getting out of bed.
Rolling over in bed… this has become more challenging in the last year for me.
Buckling a seatbelt…. surprisingly tricky.
Lifting groceries… I may still only take one trip with the groceries, but they are hanging from every hook my rollator can handle.
Putting on a jacket or sweater… and then trying to take it off.
The next time you push yourself out of a chair or reach for something from the top shelf, take a second to appreciate your triceps. They're one of those muscles that quietly do their job without asking for recognition.
As for me, I will keep finding creative ways to adapt, celebrating the automatic doors that actually work, and reminding people that disability isn't always visible. Sometimes it's just me standing in front of a heavy door thinking, "Well... this is going to be interesting.” Some days I adapt, some days I ask for help, and some days I simply laugh at the situation (because if you've ever watched me wrestle a heavy door with a rollator, you know it's a sight).