[QUAD-L] new to group with lots of questions

[karan alexander]

Hi, I was walking with my children 2 yrs ago & was struck by a teen who 
went off the road & struck me as I was bent over.  I am c4, 5 & 6 
incomplete with feeling to the toes, just very altered sensation.  I was 
in the hospital for almost 1 yr.  I use a manual chair & to amazement, I 
have bladder sensation & bowels.  Although I have my share of spasms (I 
take 10mg ditropn b.i.d), leakages at night and my bowels respond every 
2-3 days with no added help.  Pre-accident was normally every day.  I 
have lots of tone/spasticity in L. leg & am considering baclofen pump. 
I only take 20mg now of baclofen which does nothing.  Any higher dose 
tires me & liver function tests go abnormal.  I am hooked on 25mcg 
fentanyl patches q48 hrs and still have pain.  I refuse to add more 
meds.  I do not ever sleep for more than an hr. every night.  Waking in 
the a.m. is horrible - never used to be.  I want to wean off fentanyl. 
Since I transfer to toilet with the transfer board (lots of work), I 
would love to find pants that help b/c I can't pull them up under me. 
This injury has caused our world to turn upside down & some days it is 
so overwhelming.  My kids keep me going & God's healing.  I feel like 
I'm the only mom in the world  going thru this.  At the time of the 
accident, I was 5wks from grad. college (RN). Since then, I graduated & 
passed boards.  Now what???? I LOVE nursing & it's not easy to find it 
from a w/c.  If I am assisted to stand, I can hold a walker for 5-10 
mins & a few steps - left leg hinders advancing it so dr. wants me to 
consider pump.  I have great use of my dominant hand & arm, left fingers 
are closed.  Anyway, I could go on forever, so thanks for listening.