Sufferer Spinal Cord Injury

[Esterio]

Hi JJ
I'm sorry to hear you are feeling sick. It is really good of you to reply to the many threads you do that I read and appreciate your comments very much. Having friends here to talk with is powerful for me and I do not feel alone while I am here. when I am here I know there are others here who do really care how I am. The outside world is a scary place. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Peace ,love and :hug: to you.

 

[WanderingSoul]

I like to believe in Karma as well. I also hope justice can make it happen. I'm still trying to get used to opening up about this stuff. I have met with therapist here and there but an hour is only ever enough to get started. And then it's I recommend anti-depressants for you. I'm starting to think the forum is better than the therapist for the sole fact I can take some time to organize my thoughts and not feel so rushed about blurting out my stresses before the hour is gone. That's just me though. My legs get me only so far and it is something I don't ever want to have to get used to.

Thank you for any words of support you offer. It's kind of you to do so. I not feeling to well either as it's the second day in a row my pain has flared up and just kept me awake. I have so many plans to restart my life, but these obstacles keep getting in my way. I don't know how I can be reliable anymore like this. I need to figure out how to survive. I hope you find the strength you need to navigate your troubles into clear days. My auto-immune disorder is also a humbling experience and I understand when you need to lay down, you better listen to your body and do it.

The world can be frightening to some people. It's a shame how things are in some places. You can't change the world, but you can change your piece of it and share it with only those you trust. This may sound funny but I just saw a short documentary on this painter Bob Ross. I had forgotten about him. When I was a little kid growing up in the 80's. He used to have all the kids mesmerized over happy little trees he would paint. Happy little clouds. Find that peace any day you can.

 

[Esterio]

Hi Labourgrunt
Thanks for the thread. I have been getting lots of knowledge from it. I to feel that My PTSD forums have done a lot more for me than any therapy or medication have done for me so far. I get a lot out of the forums when I am reading and replying. there is no pressure with time running out and you can edit and get out the words you need to. Thanks
Peace be safe

 

[WanderingSoul]

Well I have an appointment coming up this month at another hospital with a new orthopedist just to have yet another opinion on the procedure and what parts will be used. The last doctors I had talked to had told me that I would pretty much end up fusing everything over time below my c2. And because of my age, the parts will wear and need to be replaced. I may have said that already. I'll share what I can after I find out what they want to do. Until then I need to keep focusing on willing my body to heal if at all possible. I made myself crawl about my apartment when it first happened until I got my ass up to walk again. I was even in a car crash leaving physical therapy one day which was another curve ball life wanted to throw at me. 'How are you feeling?' they asked me once I woke up in the hospital. Fine, I'm tough. They had me in a neck brace though. Pain sure can humble you.

 

[Esterio]

Well I have an appointment coming up this month at another hospital with a new orthopedist just to h...

hi there Laborgrunt Thanks for the post.
They told me the same thing before they started the first surgery. I met a guy at the clinic and he was On his fourth level being done over 10 years. I had the first level done c5 and c6 and I was worse off. The scheduled the next one and did the c4 to c5 they fused and plated. So now I have plates and the recovery was faster and better. I have good use of my arms again and feeling in them most of the time. Then they sent me for an MRI during fallow up and the doctor showed me how c3 was fusing itself to c4 and it looked pretty straight C3 was showing signs that is too would fuse straight to c2. they told me why it happened but I don't remember. I know they have told me that I am doing good My surgeries were in 2002 and 2003 and my neck is holding up. I still suffer lots of pain sometimes it gets bad but it does pass. I had learned how to put my neck and body into neutral to help the pain. I am not doing well doing that at this time I cannot shut my brain off. I use a lot of heat packs on my neck and I ware a dickie on my neck all the time to keep my neck warm even in the summer. Cold on my neck is bad for me. I hope if you have the surgeries that you have as good of luck as i have.
Peace be safe

 

[WanderingSoul]

Hi there Esterio

They say there is also a spur in my neck that locks up when I turn my head. It makes me dizzy at times. So they want to shave that down, there's only so much bone they can remove from the neck the doctor said. So that one surgery which may not restore motion will mean I will need many others. The rest is all arthritis around stress fractures. Cervical decompression down to my tailbone while laying down does wonders for me anyway. I also used a magnetic neck warmer I found online for $15. It works fairly well. Very effective in the winter. I have been looking at neck braces to help me sit up for longer so maybe I can try and get more done. But I'm not sure about those. The interesting thing was my arms when this first happened. I woke up unable to feel my arms and everything else hurt. I had to flail my arms back and forth until the feeling returned into them. Everything else in my body hurt from my spine. Especially my legs. Pain shot right up my tailbone into my neck if I would try to bend. But I was able to pull myself around with my arms. I had trouble lifting my arms up over my head throughout physical therapy. Cold packs don't help me at all. A tens unit on my joints like knees, elbows or ankles helps ease some pain as the doctors have said I have atrophy from being in this state. The doctors had mentioned new materials to me for spine surgery. So when I go in I'm asking about more information on that. If there is any helpful thing I could mention again it is the tens unit. It will help keep fluid moving through your joints if you aren't able to go for a walk or get up for that matter. It is worth it having one.

 

[Esterio]

When they did my neck they ground down lots of bone spures during both surgeries. They told me I had lots of what they called cervical spoundalosus (arthritis). My arms were the first things to go no feeling in my hands and arms needed help with almost everything. Then it went down my back and all the way to my toes they are stone cold and hurt when they are not numb. I fell and now I have trouble with sciatica nerve now too so now some days are crapy. I try to walk as much as I can. We have some nice level trails to walk on. So I go a couple of times a week for walks.
My arms don't go over my head without pain so I try to not do that. Instructions from doctor are if it hurts you don't do that.
I have had a tens unit for years. I turned it up too much and hurt myself. I have not used it since. I live alone and it is hard to get the pads right in the right spot on my own my arms don't go there.
My surgeon was a Nero surgeon most of my problems are pinched nerves.
Did you have a head injury you talked about compression in your spine. That is what did my neck and my back and the chiropractor said I can look forward to problems in my hip knees and ankles from that hit in the top of the head.
Another guy I know had all levels in his neck done at once he was up and walking along way everyday with in two weeks and had the hard collar off in three weeks he had a good out come. He still has as much rotation as me I have about 30% to the right and 25% to the left. If I have to go again I am going to ask them to do that to me. He was all compression damage too. I was 12 weeks in in a hard collar the first time and 7 weeks the next time. When I saw the surgeon last he told me when I can't get out of bed anymore give him a call and he will scedule another surgery.
Peace be safe

 

[Deleted member 37085]

I wish both you @Laborgrunt and Esterio a good day and am sorry for your struggles with spinal cord injuries, etc. It's so good that y'all have one another to help talk and share with about your struggles and your victories regarding same. I know nothing about this subject so I will stay out of conversation and y'all are helping each other and this is good. :) JJ

 

[WanderingSoul]

I was in shock with the first injury. So I was always unsure how extensive it was. Most of the bone spurs from what I understood have seem to be the usual result of excessive wear and tear. A bit more progressed than someone my age. But I guess thats expected when you worked labor. Drilling can mess you up if your not careful. But anyway. One of the spurs is internal of my c2. It's starting to crumble as one doctor put it. They would have to open up my neck and go in through the front to attempt to shave it away, and then fuse a support in there. Which would change the way my entire spine supports itself. I would need to do something with every vertebrae they put it. Neurosurgeons won't consider operating on me for insurance reasons. I still bring updates to one of my neurologists for study. I'm just looking forward to going in for another opinion soon. I just spent a day and a half trying to take the pressure off my neck. Thanks JJ, you are a big help and it's always good to hear from you. Esterio too.

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Anytime, and whenever you want to talk, I'm here @Laborgrunt! JJ :hug:

 

[Deleted member 37085]

So @Laborgrunt what do you do in your day to fill it? Just wondering, perhaps you may give me some ideas? JJ

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Geez @Laborgrunt I feel so guilty yet unable to see until this moment your 5/4 post to me about what I do in a day to fill it. So here goes: I love music so music (all genres except heavy metal, rap) I love it all, so music must be playing and when I'm feeling sad, or hyper-vigilant, and over-sensitive I love to put on rain Cd and listen to the rain.

I like to make jewelry (part Cherokee) and I am a beader, have lots of beads and my dining room is where I make necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and in order to do so I have to stay completely aware and focused on beading and this is a very good way to get away from thinking too much about past, present, and future @Laborgrunt.

I also walk in my neighborhood most mornings (not every) and a mile to two miles is what I walk even though there's residual pain in back, neck, knee, and feet from serious 5/5/12 car/bicycle crash. So I force myself to walk in pain and walking helps the pain to lessen and ease up (also a heating pad, and lidacaine creme) darn that man running his stop sign and mowing me down on my bicycle on that beautiful sunny Saturday morning, darn him to h***!

I love to read yet not so great at full retaining information lol, and I read a lot, also like to surf internet and learn about natural healing methods regarding health and well-being.

On Tuesdays and Fridays I go and work out on several exercise machines, and am taking tai chi on Tuesdays. And also on Fridays I attend a writing class and would like to learn how to be a more effective writer someday. Each week is grocery day usually on Thursdays and I love my place and am very happy in my place so I love to clean it and decorate and rest and lounge around here and put my TV/Cable headphones (one in bedroom and one in living room) and watch TV in stereo, oh Yeah! Enough for now, how about you, what do you do to fill up your days @Laborgrunt.

Please accept my apology for I just accidentally ran across your post above asking me about how I fill my days. I am so sorry that I did not answer sooner, and do not know why I wasn't aware your post was here for me to answer.

Look forward to hearing from you, and I sure hope your still around in this forum @Laborgrunt, for I enjoyed posting and talking with you. Jade