accident 3 weks ago...

karen31772 · 05-13-2004, 01:11 PM

HI... my injury occured 3 weeks ago when the ATV I was driving flipped while going uphill and landed on top of me. This caused a burst in my L3 disc. As well as 3 broken ribs. My injury is incomplete. I have some feeling in my thighs and full function from the waist up. From my knees down I have very little to no feeling. Just the pins and needles like if your foot was asleep.And if I touch my leg it feels like I've had a shot of novacane like they give you at the dentist. I have been here in Rehab. for the past 2 weeks and will continue to be here for 3 more the Drs. say. Thay have me in braces ( like the ones in Forrest Gump!!) and using a walker in physical therapy twice a day. I walk like frankenstein.,and it is very hard. Since I can't feel my legs I basically support myself with my arms.

They are all impressed with the progress I have been making,but I'm still very depressed. My bladder is fine and I have been going on my own for the past 5 days. Bowels ...we're still working on them, I hate the fact that I need someone to pull down my pants then pull them back up. I'm 32 years old and feel like my life is over. I was wondering what you guys think...will I ever be exactly as I was before that stupid accident? I feel like I'm going to be a burden to my husband and an embarassment to my 3 kids. How do I stop feeling like this???

05-13-2004, 05:13 PM

Hi Karen,

I don't have an SCI so I can't really be any help in that aspect, but I did want to wish you the best.

Sounds like you are making progress and working hard. I am sorry this has happened to you, and at the same time, I am also glad your injury was not complete. Probably a small consolation to you right now as you struggle so hard and endure so much. This is a very good place you have found. You'll find lots of support and answers to the many questions I'm sure you now have. I will let someone more qualified than me address your questions about how to deal with the feelings you are having. I'm sure many people here have dealt with the same type feelings.

By the way, what kind of ATV were you driving? I know that must have been a terrifying experience.

Hang in there and welcome to CareCure! Sorry you had to have a reason to visit this site, but since you do, I am glad you found it!

Take care,

Carol

woman from Europe · 05-13-2004, 05:39 PM

For me it sounds like you have a good chance to be in much better shape

Work hard and try not to think so much about anything else right now. It is the best advice I can give you. The bad thing about being an incomplete is that you do not know how far you can go and you are not going to know for a long time. So try not to worry for the future. Nobody knows the results of your exercise yet.

Good luck

TH 12 incomplete 12-12-69. I am still a walker but I do not know for how long time.

SCI-Nurse · 05-13-2004, 05:53 PM

With this much return so soon, it certainly predicts much more return for you. Keep up the work and don't give up hope...you are still very early in your injury recovery.

As for pulling your pants up/down, your OT should be showing you tricks for doing this. This is absolutely their job to have you independent in all aspects of your self-care prior to discharge from rehab. In fact at this point, this is more important than walking with braces (which can easily continue as an outpatient). You need to be setting your own program priorities at this point and insisting that the team work with you on these goals.

(KLD)

brian54806 · 05-13-2004, 06:35 PM

Good luck with your recovery,, before your accident did you feel like disabled people are a burden to their spouse and an embarassment to their kids ?

Clipper · 05-13-2004, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Karen31772:

I'm 32 years old and feel like my life is over. I was wondering what you guys think...will I ever be exactly as I was before that stupid accident? I feel like I'm going to be a burden to my husband and an embarassment to my 3 kids. How do I stop feeling like this???

By realizing that most people who suffer a spinal cord injury are far worse off than you. I try to never compare injuries or brush off the emotional pain someone else is experiencing, but sometimes you have to look beyond your current situation to realize that what you still have is far greater than what you have lost. I wish you well in your continued recovery. Keep your chin up.

karen31772 · 05-14-2004, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brian54806:

Good luck with your recovery,, before your accident did you feel like disabled people are a burden to their spouse and an embarassment to their kids ?

~~~No. I never even thought about it ,to be truthful.I never had a reason . I know ther are many people MUCH worse off than me,and I give them so much credit!For their strength...emotionally,physically. Maybe I'm just not that strong of a person because I just can't accept the fact that my life as I knew it has to change. I don't want to accept it and I cry every night because I want my "old life" back and I know it will never be the same again.

1 Fine Spine RN · 05-14-2004, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Karen31772:

Quote:

Originally posted by brian54806:
Good luck with your recovery,, before your accident did you feel like disabled people are a burden to their spouse and an embarassment to their kids ?

~~~No. I never even thought about it ,to be truthful.I never had a reason . I know ther are many people MUCH worse off than me,and I give them so much credit!For their strength...emotionally,physically. Maybe I'm just not that strong of a person because I just can't accept the fact that my life as I knew it has to change. I don't want to accept it and I cry every night because I want my "old life" back and I know it will never be the same again.

These are normal feelings and emotions so early in your recovery. It will take time for you to see that you will adapt and be able to work towards managing your situation...self care goes a long way in building self esteem, keep at it!

Hook up with some people here, they will reach back and remember those first days and help you...

Mary

If I can see it, then I can do it. If I believe it, there's nothing to it.

teesieme · 05-14-2004, 07:48 AM

Karen, you are doing well..."burden", ah what a word, it's context covers many areas and aspects in each of our lives at some point...I think back to a time just prior to my son's accident when I thought and spoke about this in a sense of myself getting old...
I never thought about the love others may have for me in my old age, I focused on the so called burdens I would place upon my son and those who would be caring for me or not~ (there I was thinking I was being "unselfish" in my thoughts about it when actually I've come to realize I was being very selfish after all)
Learned a tough lesson in this with my son's injury, he has never been a "burden" nor will he ever be, I love him, he is my son who "needed" me through his recovery and finding his way back into the world with whatever outcome is to be... he is alive, he is here and I thank God for that every single day!
You have a different life ahead of you whether or not you gain full recovery, my point of writing to you is that you have a family, they need you and I hope for you and them that you will find it in you to show your children that if it were them they would be worth every effort, every tear, every joy that comes as you regain your health and live your life to it's fullest throughout whatever losses may be otherwise..just as you are. ~Take care.

[This message was edited by teesieme on 05-14-04 at 12:42 PM.]

gvinton · 05-14-2004, 10:51 AM

Hi Karen.

My wife told me about your accident after hearing about it from another website you both frequent. I told her to give you the link to Carecure, I'm glad you found it...

You have a lot of recovery still ahead of you. Your injury is very incomplete.
The difference for me now and at 3 weeks is night and day. I understand wanting things to be the same as before, those were my exact thoughts in rehab. Things may never be exactly the same as before, but they may be closer than you think right now.

Rehab sucks. Being away from your family sucks. Time moves very slowly. Its tough to see progress day to day but your making it right now. Stay focused on maximizing your therapy and taking advantage of the return your getting. I also went through my "Forrest Gump" faze. I felt like a baby horse just being born and learning how to walk. It was very awkward but it was progress.

Good luck to you in your recovery, you're off to a great start. Let me know if you think I can help...

-George

05-13-2004, 01:11 PM	#1
karen31772 Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Beaver Falls,PA,15010 Posts: 2	accident 3 weks ago... HI... my injury occured 3 weeks ago when the ATV I was driving flipped while going uphill and landed on top of me. This caused a burst in my L3 disc. As well as 3 broken ribs. My injury is incomplete. I have some feeling in my thighs and full function from the waist up. From my knees down I have very little to no feeling. Just the pins and needles like if your foot was asleep.And if I touch my leg it feels like I've had a shot of novacane like they give you at the dentist. I have been here in Rehab. for the past 2 weeks and will continue to be here for 3 more the Drs. say. Thay have me in braces ( like the ones in Forrest Gump!!) and using a walker in physical therapy twice a day. I walk like frankenstein.,and it is very hard. Since I can't feel my legs I basically support myself with my arms. They are all impressed with the progress I have been making,but I'm still very depressed. My bladder is fine and I have been going on my own for the past 5 days. Bowels ...we're still working on them, I hate the fact that I need someone to pull down my pants then pull them back up. I'm 32 years old and feel like my life is over. I was wondering what you guys think...will I ever be exactly as I was before that stupid accident? I feel like I'm going to be a burden to my husband and an embarassment to my 3 kids. How do I stop feeling like this???

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05-13-2004, 05:13 PM	#2
Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Karen, I don't have an SCI so I can't really be any help in that aspect, but I did want to wish you the best. Sounds like you are making progress and working hard. I am sorry this has happened to you, and at the same time, I am also glad your injury was not complete. Probably a small consolation to you right now as you struggle so hard and endure so much. This is a very good place you have found. You'll find lots of support and answers to the many questions I'm sure you now have. I will let someone more qualified than me address your questions about how to deal with the feelings you are having. I'm sure many people here have dealt with the same type feelings. By the way, what kind of ATV were you driving? I know that must have been a terrifying experience. Hang in there and welcome to CareCure! Sorry you had to have a reason to visit this site, but since you do, I am glad you found it! Take care, Carol

05-13-2004, 05:39 PM	#3
woman from Europe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 6,546	For me it sounds like you have a good chance to be in much better shape Work hard and try not to think so much about anything else right now. It is the best advice I can give you. The bad thing about being an incomplete is that you do not know how far you can go and you are not going to know for a long time. So try not to worry for the future. Nobody knows the results of your exercise yet. Good luck TH 12 incomplete 12-12-69. I am still a walker but I do not know for how long time.

05-13-2004, 05:53 PM	#4
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,515	With this much return so soon, it certainly predicts much more return for you. Keep up the work and don't give up hope...you are still very early in your injury recovery. As for pulling your pants up/down, your OT should be showing you tricks for doing this. This is absolutely their job to have you independent in all aspects of your self-care prior to discharge from rehab. In fact at this point, this is more important than walking with braces (which can easily continue as an outpatient). You need to be setting your own program priorities at this point and insisting that the team work with you on these goals. (KLD)

05-13-2004, 06:35 PM	#5
brian54806 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: wi. Posts: 159	Good luck with your recovery,, before your accident did you feel like disabled people are a burden to their spouse and an embarassment to their kids ?

05-14-2004, 07:48 AM	#9
teesieme Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: back home in mn. Posts: 1,252	Karen, you are doing well..."burden", ah what a word, it's context covers many areas and aspects in each of our lives at some point...I think back to a time just prior to my son's accident when I thought and spoke about this in a sense of myself getting old... I never thought about the love others may have for me in my old age, I focused on the so called burdens I would place upon my son and those who would be caring for me or not~ (there I was thinking I was being "unselfish" in my thoughts about it when actually I've come to realize I was being very selfish after all) Learned a tough lesson in this with my son's injury, he has never been a "burden" nor will he ever be, I love him, he is my son who "needed" me through his recovery and finding his way back into the world with whatever outcome is to be... he is alive, he is here and I thank God for that every single day! You have a different life ahead of you whether or not you gain full recovery, my point of writing to you is that you have a family, they need you and I hope for you and them that you will find it in you to show your children that if it were them they would be worth every effort, every tear, every joy that comes as you regain your health and live your life to it's fullest throughout whatever losses may be otherwise..just as you are. ~Take care. [This message was edited by teesieme on 05-14-04 at 12:42 PM.]

05-14-2004, 10:51 AM	#10
gvinton Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 521	Hi Karen. My wife told me about your accident after hearing about it from another website you both frequent. I told her to give you the link to Carecure, I'm glad you found it... You have a lot of recovery still ahead of you. Your injury is very incomplete. The difference for me now and at 3 weeks is night and day. I understand wanting things to be the same as before, those were my exact thoughts in rehab. Things may never be exactly the same as before, but they may be closer than you think right now. Rehab sucks. Being away from your family sucks. Time moves very slowly. Its tough to see progress day to day but your making it right now. Stay focused on maximizing your therapy and taking advantage of the return your getting. I also went through my "Forrest Gump" faze. I felt like a baby horse just being born and learning how to walk. It was very awkward but it was progress. Good luck to you in your recovery, you're off to a great start. Let me know if you think I can help... -George