Just a little side note: Methodist Hospital, in Indianapolis, Indiana set up the Spinal Cord Injury Unit in the United States back in the late 50's to rehab soldiers returning from the Korean War. So much has improved... since that day. Best Wishes In a message dated 8/28/2012 8:10:55 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Ugh! I hope it isn't memory problems. I don't need anymore complications at this time. When I first got out of the hospital, my doctor of physical medicine explained that I had far less mobility than I did prior SCI, but had gotten enough to be dangerous. He explained that my mind would remember how to move, but that my body wouldn't be able duplicate those movements. So I think that may explain the falling if I am moving, but not just sitting there. I get so embarrassed falling like that. I just remembered back in the hospital, I worked my butt off. First I stretched until I got a flutter of movement in my toe. Then I concentrated like mad to move my toe. Finally, I got some movement in both my legs. With braces (not yet hinged) I was able to stand for a few seconds until I was able to lift a leg. That day, my husband came to the hospital as he did neary every day and I asked the PT staff to take me back to the bars so I could show my husband how I took three steps. I remember trying not to cry, but my husband didn't care if the staff saw him cry. If I wasn't strong enough to walk, I sat and did repetition exercises. The PT and doctor had to ask me to slow down because I would end up having shaking muscles because I overused them. I even had OT write a note that I had developed carpel tunnel because I had overdone it with my hands. At the time, I couldn't figure out what happened to me and nobody had used the words "spinal cord inury." Of course, the first time I heard that in relation to my condition, it made total sense and I felt like a dork for not figuring it out. I am not saying that I got any mobility back because of my efforts. I just got lucky because I knew people with lesser injuries that didn't get any movement back. So again, I say that I can't take credit. I just got lucky. I have explained how I regained some mobility. In the hospital, my eight year old nephew was taking my walker back to my room as my husband pushed my wheelchair. My nephew was pushing the walker along the floor, but moving like he was Frankenstein's monster from those old movies. I asked why he was doing that and my husband explained that was how I looked when walking. (And to think that I used to be in dance and tumbling and then moved like a stiff legged movie monster.) I was shocked and very uncomfortable back then. Now, I can laugh, but not back then. Even now, when I come into our house, I have just a couple of steps to get up to the door, I grip the hand rail and pull like crazy. I look like Batman and Robin climbing buildings back in the old 60s series. (Not sure anyone remembers those episodes.) I know that I am quite lucky, but there are still days that I can't see it. It hurts losing so much. Candle "Scars remind of us where we’ve been, they don’t have to dictate where we are going." ~David Rossi of Criminal Minds *********************************************************************** From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 7:33 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] keep falling If you are not fainting and recovering, then you are have a lapse in memory. The cause, I'm not qualified to judge. I'm sure that your primary or neuro specialist is more qualified to advise you. Until that time, enjoy the ride and be most careful! Best Wishes
