4 replies to this topic

[sister123]

My brother, age 53, was at work July 20, when a wall of bricks fell onto him when he was in a lift bucket. They have diagnosed him a complete c6 spinal injury.

He says he does feel a pressure on some parts of his lower extreemeties when touched at times, but technically he is paralyzed trunk down. His lungs are really weak and keeping his chest clear requires lots of work. He is home now after just being released from st Johns Mercy Rehab in Chesterfield Missouri. Workers comp has been great providing all the best in care and equiipment since he has arrived home. He has therapy at home every day and next week he will be going to an outpatient therapy center.

What more can we expect....what more should we be expecting.....this is all new to us. We are hoping he will eventually walk again but what I read about c6 injuries it doesn't sound positive. But what I read it also sounds like every case is totally different.

[Kwag_Myers]

Sorry to hear about your brother, but welcome to the forum. Basically, every injury is unique unto itself so it's a wait-and-see thing. You really won't know what to expect for a while, maybe a month or more. The most important thing is to celebrate the victories, no matter how small they seem. To your brother it's a major accomplishment. Avoid expectations, they only lead to disappointment. Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

[sister123]

Yeh, that is what I understand. Expect nothing and cheer the victories. Everything so far has been favorable. We are so thankful that he has as much arm and hand use as he does.

I think our biggest surprise was how much care he would need at home. A homemaker, a nurse, therapists,bathers.....but he accepts them all well. Actually, he accepts the help from them much better than he does from family. With family, he feels he is an imposition. With the other help, I guess he got used to it in the hospitals and he is more comfortable with them doing it. Is this common?

I am sure I will be wandering here for answers often, not necessarily posting alot, because I have found I can learn alot from reading. Thanks so much for your prompt response. We are from South Central Illinois.

Edited by sister123, 22 November 2009 - 01:19 AM.

[Kwag_Myers]

sister123, on Nov 21 2009, 08:16 PM, said:

...Actually, he accepts the help from them much better than he does from family. With family, he feels he is an imposition. With the other help, I guess he got used to it in the hospitals and he is more comfortable with them doing it. Is this common?

For some people it's easier to give than to receive. My wife and I are blessed to have both family and church family who are always ready and willing to help. Yet, it's hard for both of us to pick up the phone and ask when we need it. I'd say your brother is probably a giving person and is used to helping everyone else. It's a big adjustment.

[sister123]

Exactly! You don't know him but you have have hit the nail right on the head. Amazing.

And when he talks of his injuring to his caregivers and they push him for his feelings he just tells them that he is glad it did not happen to one of his younger co-workers, or to an innocent passerby. When asked about how it affects his family, his answer is that he just wants life for his wife to be normal again. Well, we all know that their normal has changed but I am not sure that he has quite figured that out yet.

Their new van came did come late last week and he finally did get out of the house for the 1st time. Thats a huge step. And he will begin outpatient therapy next week and thats a step towards integrating into the community again. He still feels people are looking at him. And really, he is a 30 pound lighter, but he looks normal, except he is in a chair. I just wish we could get him to understand that. Getting into the community should help as people treat him normally, I would think.

One last thought. He does not have a problem discussing his injuries with the heathcare workers but with family, he gets disgusted and just closes his eyes. Guess family is where his normalcy belongs!