L1 incomplete

[Munchkin]

My injury is not new, I damaged my back when I was 14. I am now 27!!

But I am new to the forum and chatting to people in the same position as me.

I don't really know what I did to my back. I was only 14 at the time. I was told it was at T12 and L1 and was what they call incomplete.

After a long stay in hospital I was left with very few problems really.

I have good movement but the feeling is not so good. I have numb patches and also patches with pins and needles all the time. Is this common? To have good movement but numb patches and pins and needles?

I can walk with leg splints and crutches to aid my balance but I do have a wheelchaire (Quickie Argon) for when I need to go out and walk more than a few paces.

The pain is the most annoying part. I get a horrible ache in my lower back, not a sharp pain more of a stiff ache which wakes me at night. I can't remember the last time I slept through a night.

I try and avoid pain medication if I can.

Anyway thats about it really. Don't know what else to put. Look forward to 'chatting' to you all.

[Coleen]

Hi, Welcome, hope you find the help you're looking for here. Personally, I'd rather be fishing or kayaking (or both) but can't seem to do those things yet, so here I am.

[twink]

MUnchkin,
We have a lot in common! I am also 27 with a t-12/l-1 inury that is incomplete. I walk with canes and leg braces but use a wheelchair for long distances.

I don't ever experience back pain, but I do have leg pain quite often. It is always behind my knees and it feels like I am being poked with hot needles or that I am being zapped with electricity. I also try to avoid pain medication but sometimes it is just necessary, especially if I have to sleep through the night because I have to work the next day.

[PeanutsLucy]

You were 14 and don't know what happened?

You were left with "very few" problems?

Your profile is blank.

Excuse me if you're legit -- but this is setting off more red flags in my brain than I can count.

[Munchkin]

Originally Posted by PeanutsLucy

You were 14 and don't know what happened?

You were left with "very few" problems?

Your profile is blank.

Excuse me if you're legit -- but this is setting off more red flags in my brain than I can count.

I will fill my profile in after posting this.

When I say I don't know what happened, I mean I don't know the ins and outs of my injury. I know how it happened, I fell off a trampoline.

I was treated in a spinal unit for 5 weeks and then I went home to the care of my parents, physio and OT.

Shortly after my accident my family fell apart and I have not had contact with my parents since I was 16.

I mean I do not know much about the medical side of my injury. I never needed surgery just had scans and xrays while I was in hospital and another few since I left to check for any scare tissue.

I have never had any interest in reading my medical file, I am what I am. I cannot change the injury, I would not understand much of my medical notes as I have no interest in medicine.

Sorry if I caused any confusion.

[Coleen]

Those darn trampolines!

[gcblarsen]

Welcome. Sounds like you are lucky with how incomplete your injury is. Sorry about your family. Hopefully it wasn't because of the injury that your family fell apart.

[Jawaid]

Well Come dear. I am too 29 and with L1 injury.

Jawaid