I've been C5 quad since 10/1/2001. My wonderful wife
of 30 years has been my primary caregiver during this
time. I've had a syrnix at C2 and have been afraid to have
surgery to drain it., because this would be surgery number
4 or 5 on that same area. To complicate things even more
I'm a achondroplasia dwarf with a very narrow spinal column
and with all the previous surgeries I have a lot scar tissue built
up in that area The doctor has basically told me that the end
result of the surgery would leave me in the same situation,
and possibly on a vent, but could/would/should relieve the pressure on
my spinal cord.
My wife has been my primary caregiver and has done a great
job during this time, She also works on average 35 hours a
week and while she's at work her sister stays with me. Her sister
has been very helpful to my wife since she also does most of
the cooking and cleaning too. My numbness and pain has put
a lot more pressure on my spinal cord in the last six months primarily because
the syrnix has increased in size and because of this I have had more pain,
numbness and have lost the ability to clean myself or feed myself. Since I
weigh about 160 and my wife and sister-in-law probably weigh about 110mI have
become a handful for both of them. My wife wears out very easy just giving me
a shower. My sister-in-law also puts me to bed and does a few range motion
exercises, but because she has has surgery in her liver a year ago, she tires
quickly.
I'd like to know what other quads do when they have an itch that they can't
reach in the middle of the night. With my shot arms this happens regularly. I
hate to wake my spouse when my legs hurt or I get one of those itches
.
David
David
