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As several others have posted, everyone
had such good information and answers to questions posted here that I seldom
post because everything I would say has already been said! This is a good thing. I had such fantastic rehab people, who
were very realistic about the amount of function that I would probably have as
a return, but gave me so much support and information that was available 16
years ago that I have had very successful and satisfying Quad life of 16 years.
That is not to say that I wouldn't in a heartbeat return to my life before this. Sure, I would love to have more function,
at least one arm available to scratch my nose, get a drink, feed myself, push
the covers down or pull them up, hug my grandkids, and the list goes on. But I
have so much more than many do on this list. I have my family, my three
youngest grandchildren live 400 ft. away and are in and out all day long, and
my daughter and son-in-law freely let the children stay here when they want to.
I thoroughly enjoy watching them grow up, the granddaughter is now three, and
the two boys are seven and eight. I was amazed when I joined this list to
find out that the feelings I had below my line of injury actually have a name –neuropathic
pain. When I was in rehab I had talked to the doctors about the different
feelings I had, legs being cold, legs being hot, pins and needles, the constant
tingling as if my legs were just waking up, and maybe worst of all the feeling
in my one arm as if I hit my crazy bone. They said these things would probably
get better as time went on. They didn't, but then I didn't see a spinal cord
injury doctor for the next 15 years. For 10 years I had no health insurance,
and I was not eligible for disability because I had not worked enough quarters
in the last five years for Social Security. So therefore I had virtually no
medical follow-up. I went to a clinic and got what little medication I needed,
and when something severe happened I went to the ER, and luckily was only
hospitalized once in the 10 years. However, because of the lack of spinal
cord injury follow-up, I never took more than Tylenol for any pain. I never
thought of using any other method than intermittent catheterization. I was not
eligible for any form of pt or ot, so I just kept doing the exercises they had
me on when I left rehab. And evidently it worked, as I have been remarkably
healthy. Now that I have insurance again, I have been to the This list provides invaluable information
to new and old quadriplegics -- age wise and injury wise. I really enjoy the
spirited debates and hope that no one feels that their opinions are not
important. Keep it up everybody, we all need to learn one new thing every day,
and this list often offers that one new thing for me. Regarding the pain test -- I didn't do so
well! Got three of 10 by guessing for the most part. But it was certainly
interesting. You guys and girls are the greatest!! Joan C4/5 complete 1990 |
