Hi Mr. Dangerwood (Steve): I have the curved back and pain to go with it. If you don't mind a story with some "what I did try" parts, keep reading. Otherwise, skip to the end.
I was injured at 16 and was 5'11" at the time -- long legs but a lot of trunk height, too. They knew I wasn't done growing in height and scoliosis would become a problem so, before I even left rehab, I was fitted for a trunk brace... turtleshell-style thing that I put on in bed and velcroed the front to. It became a quick problem because it kept riding up under my armpits as I'd move and shift in my chair. I found a way to attach a strap to the bottom of the back half that could be threaded down between my seat and chair back and then buckled (or tied, velcroed, something) to the frame of my chair to keep it from moving up. It was pretty successful. I never fell or lost my balance using it (lol)... I could take a pretty solid gut punch from certain kids at school and watch them hurt their hands, too!! (bigger LMAO!) Anyway, after a year or two it was just too much of a pain in the ass to do this every day and it restricted my movement enough to make certain tasks impossible that could have led to more independence. I gave it up. We tried a special, custom formed chair back that kept me straight but it also kept me from moving to reach things. I forget what it was called but it was made with some type of mixture poured into an opening in the chair back while someone held me in a correct, straight position. It foamed up, filled in around my sides, and turned solid in a matter of minutes. But because it filled the sides I could no longer lean to the side to reach for light switches or lean over to pick things up, etc. I used it a while but it, too, was just something I couldn't get accustomed to after several months. SO... Now I curve. A big ole S-shaped curve. And I'm a "hooker" ... I hook an arm around one push handle while driving or doing other things to keep from falling. I'm told almost all us "hookers" have curved backs. There's one low curve to the right so I found a camera bag and filled it with things I occasionally (but rarely) need like my wallet, a box of emergency meds in case I get stuck without somewhere, and a few other fill ins. I just stuff that between my low side and the armrest of my chair each morning. I have an old 8-10" chain from a biker/trucker-type wallet attached to it that I clip to my belt loop. That way if I do pull it out for some reason, at least I'll know I won't drop it! For pain, besides the side camera bag, the only thing that helps me is continuously moving... pushing my back from one side to the other, stretching sideways and WAY, WAY FAR forwards while holding the push handles behind me with my wrists (I don't have the triceps to push back up if I fall forward or the strength for external rotation to help push myself back up. So my leaning forward looks more like an "approved" CIA interrogation stress position.) I find that even when it hurts to move, moving hurts even more if I haven't kept moving! Staying limber and not allowing myself to stiffen up has been my best medicine. Next best is the drugs... unfortunately. I've gone as low on baclofen and valium as I can. Any lower and I spasm enough to move my "just perfect" seating position and I'm not spasm-free enough to drive safely. The less tight, spasm-free back and legs helps with pain. My back also gives me a sciatica-type pain in one or both legs. I take neurontin (gabapentin) for that -- again, just enough to take the edge off. And finally, dilaudid (hydromorphone) for the pains that the others don't seem to help at all. Best of luck to you! I know how much the pain thing sucks!! (And I hate the idea of more drugs!) Best regards, Tod ---- Steve Crowder <[email protected]> wrote: > Bobbie, are you incomplete or a complete injury? How many years post and on > what level C./4? Do you deal with pain? Mine is through the roof! > > Look forward to hearing back from you, Nick > Www.SurvivingParalysis.com > [email protected] > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] ; [email protected] > Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 4:19 PM > Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Scoliosis > > > In a post Does anyone else out there have scoliosis -- curvature of the > spine? > > I do > > > Bobbie Humphreys C-5,6.7 motocross jumping accident in 1973 at 17 > Married to Sweet Pete Living in Parsippany, New Jersey
