[Lucydog]

Hi,

I thought I should introduce myself before I do anymore postings so you all know who I am. My name is Lucy Im 34, I live in Northumberland, and Im T12/L1 incomplete. (medical opinion cant quite decide). I had my accident coming up to 4 years ago in bit of a bizarre way, arnt they all. Heres my story.

I was born with a congenital joint abnormality, which while nothing major, meant that I was very prone to falling over, dislocating joints and so on, but it didnt really make too much difference to me and I played sport pretty hard. 4 years ago, one bright early morning, I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs to get tea, only I didnt make it to the bottom in the usual way. Ours stairs were a bit narrow with a twist in them, I still dont know how I did it but my heal slipped off the step as I was putting my foot down, my ankle gave way, and I fell over one side and down the stairs. OUCH, bad enough, but we had an added extra hazard lurking at the bottom. We had an old cast iron fire grate sitting there which we used for decoration and throwing wet items such as wellies, umbrellas in, so I decided that I should land on my backside/lumbar region and impale myself upon it!!! Good eh? How bizarre is that!!

Seriously I was lucky in that I was incomplete, although at this point in my life I dont have a lot of use for my legs.I have actually gotten a lot worse since the initial injury. I can take a few steps and have a great selection of leg braces which are supposed to help me stand up, although I dont know what to do then. Sounds a bit Rooseveltish to me!! I drive a really fab RGK chair which is the best ever and Im their NO 1 fan. I also have tremendous amount of pain which no medication has resolved and is starting to make me quite depressed at times.

I used to be a pathologist but I found that you cant do pathology if you cant stand up. The NHS is seriously disability unfriendly. So Im studying law and work a few hours a week giving benefits advice and info on DLA claimants. Im happy to take on any battle as Ive had to do it myself!! Other than that I have a 2 year old son who is pretty good, and a really great husband who funnily enough is an occupational therapist. irony there I think.
Anyway I hope to converse with you all at some point and anyone who wants to chat, my personal e mail is Hershon@mail2oslo.com.
Take care of yourselves
Lucy.

[bluebutterflyrn]

Welcome Lucy Dog! Sorry to hear about your injury. As clumsy as I am I've been very lucky I haven't been hurt worse. I fell one time at a patient's house, when I was doing home health, off a six foot porch onto a metal ramp, tearing all the ligaments in my right shoulder and cracking my sternum. The bad part was it was in the middle of a thunderstorm, and my elderly patient couldn't get to the door, so I was laying on the ground soaking wet, breath knocked out of me. I finally made it to my car and managed to get out of there. (Jilly, the dark cloud was over me, literally! Ha! Ha!)
Anyway, welcome aboard. Look forward to hearing from you!

[Jilly]

Hi Lucy Welcome to the board

Blue Butterfly ........ Ouch!!!!!

[Joed]

Hi Lucy...and thanks for sharing your story. I found that the toes on my good foot were curling, reading about your fall...and that grate! Oh my! I can hardly stand to think about it at all.

I do hope you find good pain coverage soon. Don't give up the search...I know it can be very discouraging at times, but keep fighting that good fight.

~God Bless~

This post has been edited by Joed: 17 January 2006 - 06:56 PM

[keps]

I know I'm a bit late, but...welcome Lucy!

God, your accident sounds terrifically painful! I can't even FEEL my own backside, but reading your story makes me cringe!