Hi Simon,
Hope you are doing well.
As to your question...one of the biggest things that helped me was the person I was before my accident - that competitive spirit that drove me to be the best at everything I did...and the support of family and friends...but...what truly made that spirit come bursting to the forefront, and brought me back to life, was seeing those in chairs leading successful lives. None of us have problems pointing out cracks in the system, but if you have a significant other, or are interested in someone/if you are doing ANYTHING to feel like you are contributing - going to school, working, umpiring 3rd base at the little league games, putting a smile on your neighbor's face when they're working in the yard, making sure that those who love you know your okay, anything - then you are most likely too busy to worry about the downside of life...just exactly the same as if you were able-bodied.
I know...if only it were that simple...just my take, hope it helps.
Best wishes on your conference.
Scott
Full Version: Life After A Spinal Cord Injury
Quadriplegic & Paraplegic Spinal Cord Injuries > Disabled Living & Spinal Cord Injuries > Spinal Cord Injury Health Issues > Life Following SCI - Lifestyle Issues & Self Image
Hey Simon,
What got me all right about my spinal cord injury was my life befor I was a very athetic and popular guy that everyone loved to hang out with. So when my injury happened I had alot of friends backing me up. So now im here almost 8 months post injury and goodness it dont fell that long and im still the guy everyone wants to hang out with. Ill soon be playing wheelchair basketball witch im execited to play for Lakeshore Foundation in Alabama. In all together my life is preety good I recently went parting something i was very scared to do but decided to try it any ways and it was so mch fun. So to me being in a wheelchair isnt the worst thing and life plus it saved me in alot of ways. School for one thing i was so close to flunkin know im doing asome in school so hey now i got something to be proud for
What got me all right about my spinal cord injury was my life befor I was a very athetic and popular guy that everyone loved to hang out with. So when my injury happened I had alot of friends backing me up. So now im here almost 8 months post injury and goodness it dont fell that long and im still the guy everyone wants to hang out with. Ill soon be playing wheelchair basketball witch im execited to play for Lakeshore Foundation in Alabama. In all together my life is preety good I recently went parting something i was very scared to do but decided to try it any ways and it was so mch fun. So to me being in a wheelchair isnt the worst thing and life plus it saved me in alot of ways. School for one thing i was so close to flunkin know im doing asome in school so hey now i got something to be proud for
Hi,
This is my first post so please bare with me. I have L3/L4 damage after an accident which caused by a huge disc bulge compressing the spinal nerves. I lost the use of both my legs and had surgery July 2006 I also have altered sensation in my fingers but they wanted to sort my legs out first (go figure!). My left leg is mostly back but has patchy feeling and lots of pain but my right leg is very weak with little sensation. I can walk with leg braces and crutches for short distances but use a wheelchair outside and for any distance longer than across the room. I used to be successful at work, have good friends and I have a fabulous husband so have managed to keep positive and work hard at rehab. I've had several setbacks resulting in further surgery and I finally got back to work in Feb 07 for a whole 3 days. On the 4th day I ended up in emergency surgery again and off work indefinately. My morale is pretty much the lowest it's ever been and it's been hard to keep thinking positively. To keep myself occupied i've :-
1. Taken up knitting (badly... I keep dropping the needles), the colour of the wool and the challenge of making something, and the concentration it needs has been a great distraction. It also helps try and keep my fingers loose.
2. I've taken up Archery again which I used to do a long time before my disability occured.
Anyone can try archery if they have at least one arm that works. It's great for focus.
3. I joined a local club called middle of the road which provides support, physio and company for people with disabilities every thursday. I resisted going until January this year but it has been alot
of help, and fun.
4. Tuesday morning watercolour class.... ok, my still lifes look more like modern art but it's something different!
5. I was unbelievably frustrated at not being able to get out on my own so I got an adapted motability car and a lightweight chair so I have some independance. Just taking myself to physio is exhausting but it an achievement and satisfying.
6. I used my NHS wheelchair prescription towards a kuschall compact wchair. It's given me a new lease of life, so manoverable and you hardly feel like you're in a chair at all. I got it in purple with some bright spoke guards so instead of filling me with dread everytime I see it it makes me smile and it's a talking point ! At least I can keep up with my friends now and the bonus is my feet don't get sore !!
At 34 it sometimes feels like I don't have a place in the world anymore and I get terribly upset but on the positive side it's a whole new world I have to explore. Sometimes it helps just to have a go. I still have days where I want to lock myself in and want the world to go away but now i've found this site I know i'm not on my own at that helps in itself so thankyou.
This is my first post so please bare with me. I have L3/L4 damage after an accident which caused by a huge disc bulge compressing the spinal nerves. I lost the use of both my legs and had surgery July 2006 I also have altered sensation in my fingers but they wanted to sort my legs out first (go figure!). My left leg is mostly back but has patchy feeling and lots of pain but my right leg is very weak with little sensation. I can walk with leg braces and crutches for short distances but use a wheelchair outside and for any distance longer than across the room. I used to be successful at work, have good friends and I have a fabulous husband so have managed to keep positive and work hard at rehab. I've had several setbacks resulting in further surgery and I finally got back to work in Feb 07 for a whole 3 days. On the 4th day I ended up in emergency surgery again and off work indefinately. My morale is pretty much the lowest it's ever been and it's been hard to keep thinking positively. To keep myself occupied i've :-
1. Taken up knitting (badly... I keep dropping the needles), the colour of the wool and the challenge of making something, and the concentration it needs has been a great distraction. It also helps try and keep my fingers loose.
2. I've taken up Archery again which I used to do a long time before my disability occured.
Anyone can try archery if they have at least one arm that works. It's great for focus.
3. I joined a local club called middle of the road which provides support, physio and company for people with disabilities every thursday. I resisted going until January this year but it has been alot
of help, and fun.
4. Tuesday morning watercolour class.... ok, my still lifes look more like modern art but it's something different!
5. I was unbelievably frustrated at not being able to get out on my own so I got an adapted motability car and a lightweight chair so I have some independance. Just taking myself to physio is exhausting but it an achievement and satisfying.
6. I used my NHS wheelchair prescription towards a kuschall compact wchair. It's given me a new lease of life, so manoverable and you hardly feel like you're in a chair at all. I got it in purple with some bright spoke guards so instead of filling me with dread everytime I see it it makes me smile and it's a talking point ! At least I can keep up with my friends now and the bonus is my feet don't get sore !!
At 34 it sometimes feels like I don't have a place in the world anymore and I get terribly upset but on the positive side it's a whole new world I have to explore. Sometimes it helps just to have a go. I still have days where I want to lock myself in and want the world to go away but now i've found this site I know i'm not on my own at that helps in itself so thankyou.
QUOTE (Lins @ May 16 2007, 08:55 PM) 
Hi,
This is my first post so please bare with me. I have L3/L4 damage after an accident which caused by a huge disc bulge compressing the spinal nerves. I lost the use of both my legs and had surgery July 2006 I also have altered sensation in my fingers but they wanted to sort my legs out first (go figure!). My left leg is mostly back but has patchy feeling and lots of pain but my right leg is very weak with little sensation. I can walk with leg braces and crutches for short distances but use a wheelchair outside and for any distance longer than across the room. I used to be successful at work, have good friends and I have a fabulous husband so have managed to keep positive and work hard at rehab. I've had several setbacks resulting in further surgery and I finally got back to work in Feb 07 for a whole 3 days. On the 4th day I ended up in emergency surgery again and off work indefinately. My morale is pretty much the lowest it's ever been and it's been hard to keep thinking positively. To keep myself occupied i've :-
1. Taken up knitting (badly... I keep dropping the needles), the colour of the wool and the challenge of making something, and the concentration it needs has been a great distraction. It also helps try and keep my fingers loose.
2. I've taken up Archery again which I used to do a long time before my disability occured.
Anyone can try archery if they have at least one arm that works. It's great for focus.
3. I joined a local club called middle of the road which provides support, physio and company for people with disabilities every thursday. I resisted going until January this year but it has been alot
of help, and fun.
4. Tuesday morning watercolour class.... ok, my still lifes look more like modern art but it's something different!
5. I was unbelievably frustrated at not being able to get out on my own so I got an adapted motability car and a lightweight chair so I have some independance. Just taking myself to physio is exhausting but it an achievement and satisfying.
6. I used my NHS wheelchair prescription towards a kuschall compact wchair. It's given me a new lease of life, so manoverable and you hardly feel like you're in a chair at all. I got it in purple with some bright spoke guards so instead of filling me with dread everytime I see it it makes me smile and it's a talking point ! At least I can keep up with my friends now and the bonus is my feet don't get sore !!
At 34 it sometimes feels like I don't have a place in the world anymore and I get terribly upset but on the positive side it's a whole new world I have to explore. Sometimes it helps just to have a go. I still have days where I want to lock myself in and want the world to go away but now i've found this site I know i'm not on my own at that helps in itself so thankyou.
This is my first post so please bare with me. I have L3/L4 damage after an accident which caused by a huge disc bulge compressing the spinal nerves. I lost the use of both my legs and had surgery July 2006 I also have altered sensation in my fingers but they wanted to sort my legs out first (go figure!). My left leg is mostly back but has patchy feeling and lots of pain but my right leg is very weak with little sensation. I can walk with leg braces and crutches for short distances but use a wheelchair outside and for any distance longer than across the room. I used to be successful at work, have good friends and I have a fabulous husband so have managed to keep positive and work hard at rehab. I've had several setbacks resulting in further surgery and I finally got back to work in Feb 07 for a whole 3 days. On the 4th day I ended up in emergency surgery again and off work indefinately. My morale is pretty much the lowest it's ever been and it's been hard to keep thinking positively. To keep myself occupied i've :-
1. Taken up knitting (badly... I keep dropping the needles), the colour of the wool and the challenge of making something, and the concentration it needs has been a great distraction. It also helps try and keep my fingers loose.
2. I've taken up Archery again which I used to do a long time before my disability occured.
Anyone can try archery if they have at least one arm that works. It's great for focus.
3. I joined a local club called middle of the road which provides support, physio and company for people with disabilities every thursday. I resisted going until January this year but it has been alot
of help, and fun.
4. Tuesday morning watercolour class.... ok, my still lifes look more like modern art but it's something different!
5. I was unbelievably frustrated at not being able to get out on my own so I got an adapted motability car and a lightweight chair so I have some independance. Just taking myself to physio is exhausting but it an achievement and satisfying.
6. I used my NHS wheelchair prescription towards a kuschall compact wchair. It's given me a new lease of life, so manoverable and you hardly feel like you're in a chair at all. I got it in purple with some bright spoke guards so instead of filling me with dread everytime I see it it makes me smile and it's a talking point ! At least I can keep up with my friends now and the bonus is my feet don't get sore !!
At 34 it sometimes feels like I don't have a place in the world anymore and I get terribly upset but on the positive side it's a whole new world I have to explore. Sometimes it helps just to have a go. I still have days where I want to lock myself in and want the world to go away but now i've found this site I know i'm not on my own at that helps in itself so thankyou.
Hi,
Just read your post and it rang a few bells with myself.I was born with spina bifida although I had no problems at all until I turned 21 when I noticed a weakness in my left leg at that time i was training as a nurse.It took sometime to discover what was up,then after some investigations the discovered a cyst at L3-L4 level.They operated and everything improved.It returned 13ys later and again they operated this time I was left using a crutch to aid my walking.
Then 2 yrs ago the cyst returned and after the op the got me up walking the length of the ward using a walking frame.I thought great two weeks of this and I'm home ,however next day when I woke up I was all for getting out of bed but my legs begged to differ and I had lost sensation from the top of my legs.
To my suprise I was not as upset as I thought I might be,probably because I feel that I have been Lucky to do the things that I have done up until now (esp since being diagnosed as sb at birth) so I feel I have no right to complain.
I have been fortunate that I have continued to work as a senior nurse although my job has changed in that I no longer have much in the way of patient contact to the degree I used to, but I realize that things have to change and the important things is how i adapt to meet these changes.
Remaining as independant as possible is the main challange but also realizing my own limits is just as important and the secret I find (for me) is finding the balance point between the two.
I was interested in your archery hobbie as it has been something I have been trying to find out about where I come from.
Sure theres days where it can frustrating and not so much fun,but hey I got days like that when I was able bodied too.I hope to get back to driving soon and open the world up a little.
I also start back at hydrotherapy soon ,which I find is excellent.
Anyway it was nice reading your post and I wish you well for the future
takecare
George
Interesting thread!!
I'm not sure how to respond to it. I've gone past it several times without giveing it much thought. Now, sitting here in the dark, alone, I've started to reflect a bit. What I'm about to write might not be in the inspirational tone one might expect, but here goes.
My first few months post injury were spent, as were most people's, in therapy and rehab. This I seemed to excell at. I healed quickly, learned what was expected of me, worked and exercised like one possessed of a " fire in the belly".
Then I came home, to a caring wife who went out of her way to be accomodating to my needs. I found a few problems with our house which we addressed with the help of the insurance company and a few local contracters. After a year of planning and construction my house is finally accessable.
Unfortunately, life hasn't proven to be so accessable, and not because of curbs or barriors. It seems to be my own mental barriors. I'm 60 years old, have no outstanding bills, and have been given disability status by Social Security, my company pension plan, and worker's comp.
I find that I no longer need to work for a living, and , in fact, will lose benifits if I return to work in any meaningful way. Sounds good doesn't it?
Not for me, it seems. I worked in the construction industry and enjoyed it emmensely. I was in good health and had no intention of retiring. My only other pastime was golf, where I played to a 12 handicap.
The things that have been using, for years, to measure my self worth have suddenly become beyond my reach. I feel lost. It is difficult for an old dog to learn new tricks, and this old dog is having a lot of difficulty.
I have always been a loner, and now, 2 1/2 years into this thing I find that my friends/aquaintances don't come around anymore. This doesn't bother me as much as one might think. It just leaves me with a lot of time on my hands.
I guess I should be happy that the sacrifices my wife and I made for so many years, saving against the possibility of some tragedy, were a good idea. I am, tho I wonder if need might be the push I need to get off my ass ( figuritively speaking) and do something with my life...or what's left of it.
All in all I can't say I'm unhappy........just not satisfied.....bored???
ed
I'm not sure how to respond to it. I've gone past it several times without giveing it much thought. Now, sitting here in the dark, alone, I've started to reflect a bit. What I'm about to write might not be in the inspirational tone one might expect, but here goes.
My first few months post injury were spent, as were most people's, in therapy and rehab. This I seemed to excell at. I healed quickly, learned what was expected of me, worked and exercised like one possessed of a " fire in the belly".
Then I came home, to a caring wife who went out of her way to be accomodating to my needs. I found a few problems with our house which we addressed with the help of the insurance company and a few local contracters. After a year of planning and construction my house is finally accessable.
Unfortunately, life hasn't proven to be so accessable, and not because of curbs or barriors. It seems to be my own mental barriors. I'm 60 years old, have no outstanding bills, and have been given disability status by Social Security, my company pension plan, and worker's comp.
I find that I no longer need to work for a living, and , in fact, will lose benifits if I return to work in any meaningful way. Sounds good doesn't it?
Not for me, it seems. I worked in the construction industry and enjoyed it emmensely. I was in good health and had no intention of retiring. My only other pastime was golf, where I played to a 12 handicap.
The things that have been using, for years, to measure my self worth have suddenly become beyond my reach. I feel lost. It is difficult for an old dog to learn new tricks, and this old dog is having a lot of difficulty.
I have always been a loner, and now, 2 1/2 years into this thing I find that my friends/aquaintances don't come around anymore. This doesn't bother me as much as one might think. It just leaves me with a lot of time on my hands.
I guess I should be happy that the sacrifices my wife and I made for so many years, saving against the possibility of some tragedy, were a good idea. I am, tho I wonder if need might be the push I need to get off my ass ( figuritively speaking) and do something with my life...or what's left of it.
All in all I can't say I'm unhappy........just not satisfied.....bored???
ed
QUOTE (edlee @ Jun 7 2007, 01:27 AM)
Interesting thread!!
I'm not sure how to respond to it. I've gone past it several times without giveing it much thought. Now, sitting here in the dark, alone, I've started to reflect a bit. What I'm about to write might not be in the inspirational tone one might expect, but here goes.
My first few months post injury were spent, as were most people's, in therapy and rehab. This I seemed to excell at. I healed quickly, learned what was expected of me, worked and exercised like one possessed of a " fire in the belly".
Then I came home, to a caring wife who went out of her way to be accomodating to my needs. I found a few problems with our house which we addressed with the help of the insurance company and a few local contracters. After a year of planning and construction my house is finally accessable.
Unfortunately, life hasn't proven to be so accessable, and not because of curbs or barriors. It seems to be my own mental barriors. I'm 60 years old, have no outstanding bills, and have been given disability status by Social Security, my company pension plan, and worker's comp.
I find that I no longer need to work for a living, and , in fact, will lose benifits if I return to work in any meaningful way. Sounds good doesn't it?
Not for me, it seems. I worked in the construction industry and enjoyed it emmensely. I was in good health and had no intention of retiring. My only other pastime was golf, where I played to a 12 handicap.
The things that have been using, for years, to measure my self worth have suddenly become beyond my reach. I feel lost. It is difficult for an old dog to learn new tricks, and this old dog is having a lot of difficulty.
I have always been a loner, and now, 2 1/2 years into this thing I find that my friends/aquaintances don't come around anymore. This doesn't bother me as much as one might think. It just leaves me with a lot of time on my hands.
I guess I should be happy that the sacrifices my wife and I made for so many years, saving against the possibility of some tragedy, were a good idea. I am, tho I wonder if need might be the push I need to get off my ass ( figuritively speaking) and do something with my life...or what's left of it.
All in all I can't say I'm unhappy........just not satisfied.....bored???
ed
I'm not sure how to respond to it. I've gone past it several times without giveing it much thought. Now, sitting here in the dark, alone, I've started to reflect a bit. What I'm about to write might not be in the inspirational tone one might expect, but here goes.
My first few months post injury were spent, as were most people's, in therapy and rehab. This I seemed to excell at. I healed quickly, learned what was expected of me, worked and exercised like one possessed of a " fire in the belly".
Then I came home, to a caring wife who went out of her way to be accomodating to my needs. I found a few problems with our house which we addressed with the help of the insurance company and a few local contracters. After a year of planning and construction my house is finally accessable.
Unfortunately, life hasn't proven to be so accessable, and not because of curbs or barriors. It seems to be my own mental barriors. I'm 60 years old, have no outstanding bills, and have been given disability status by Social Security, my company pension plan, and worker's comp.
I find that I no longer need to work for a living, and , in fact, will lose benifits if I return to work in any meaningful way. Sounds good doesn't it?
Not for me, it seems. I worked in the construction industry and enjoyed it emmensely. I was in good health and had no intention of retiring. My only other pastime was golf, where I played to a 12 handicap.
The things that have been using, for years, to measure my self worth have suddenly become beyond my reach. I feel lost. It is difficult for an old dog to learn new tricks, and this old dog is having a lot of difficulty.
I have always been a loner, and now, 2 1/2 years into this thing I find that my friends/aquaintances don't come around anymore. This doesn't bother me as much as one might think. It just leaves me with a lot of time on my hands.
I guess I should be happy that the sacrifices my wife and I made for so many years, saving against the possibility of some tragedy, were a good idea. I am, tho I wonder if need might be the push I need to get off my ass ( figuritively speaking) and do something with my life...or what's left of it.
All in all I can't say I'm unhappy........just not satisfied.....bored???
ed
Hi ed,
Hope you dont mind me replying to your post.I can see where your coming from and I'm not one to give advice and can only say this.
I used to rockclimb and teach martial arts before training as a psychiatric nurse ,I ve always enjoyed traveling and seeing places.Since becoming a wheelchair user I have looked upon the things I can no longer do as hobbies that I have completed and that is now time to find new interests .I still love the idea of travel and plan to someday do a usa coast to coast drive,but that is just a goal to aim at.Yes there are limits that I never had before but how do I know what these are unless I push them a little.
As for the age thing , 60 is not old these days.I am 46 which is not that far behind.
George
QUOTE (edlee @ Jun 7 2007, 12:27 PM)
Interesting thread!!
..... I'm 60 years old, have no outstanding bills, and have been given disability status by Social Security, my company pension plan, and worker's comp.....
..... I'm 60 years old, have no outstanding bills, and have been given disability status by Social Security, my company pension plan, and worker's comp.....
Ed, your situation (age, no longer needing to work, etc) is very similar to mine. I stopped working, apart from the occasional freelance contract, six years ago. Like you I found my contact with friends dropped off. They can visit me but not so easy for me to access their places.
It's been a pretty exciting time delving into the interests I previously didn't find time to do. But also I went through a period of feeling guilty that I wasn't at work and frustrated I couldn't find the big thing I wanted to do. But I was confident I was headed in a new and exciting direction.
I began to look at and appreciate the little things in life. Getting into photography helped teach me to see beauty in the little picture, the differences in light and so on. Just sitting in the garden and noticing what was around me became an adventure. I began to notice kids playing. It was all about allowing my focus of awareness to gradually change.
Increasingly, I've realised I love my own company and new interests have effortlessly popped out of nowhere. For the first time in my life I'm into classical music. Also, jazz is beginning to make sense. I wasn't expecting this. It's just happening.
Maybe it's that I've created all this free, empty space around me and finally it's filling with new and exciting things.
I have what I think is one fantastic rule for myself. I don't make myself do anything. No discipline. Fantastic. Everything essential still gets done cos I like doing it. I like looking after myself.
As some old geezer said, given time, good things happen.
I'm 50. Been injured for 2 years.
Played basketball for years -- even a little college ball. Tore up my knee. Had to give it up.
Got my doctorate in Mathematics. Taught in college. Didn't get tenure. Had to give it up.
Was a serious rock climber for 25 years. Took a fall. Broke my back and was paralyzed. Had to give it up.
Sometimes I feel like the man in Peter Gabriel's song "Don't Give Up":
In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose
But there's also the counsel given in the refrain:
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Don't give up
You know its never been easy
Don't give up
cause I believe there's a place
There's a place where we belong
Maybe it's the life journey to death that matters.
Played basketball for years -- even a little college ball. Tore up my knee. Had to give it up.
Got my doctorate in Mathematics. Taught in college. Didn't get tenure. Had to give it up.
Was a serious rock climber for 25 years. Took a fall. Broke my back and was paralyzed. Had to give it up.
Sometimes I feel like the man in Peter Gabriel's song "Don't Give Up":
In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose
But there's also the counsel given in the refrain:
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Don't give up
You know its never been easy
Don't give up
cause I believe there's a place
There's a place where we belong
Maybe it's the life journey to death that matters.
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