71 replies to this topic

[A trophy guy]

I ruptured my aorta in a car accident. This made it necessary for me to have emergency surgery to repair my ruptured, internally hemorraging aorta. In order to do this, they had to put a clamp on my aorta in order to stop the bleeding and sew it back up.

The (descending) aorta is the main artery which is connected to the heart, supplying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. While that clamp was on, my body, from the point of the clamp downward, was cuf-off from blood and oxygen. This included my spinal cord.

The clamp proved to be on long enough to kill most of the nerves controlling function at around the T10-T12 vertebrae (it was on for 62min). The majority of the sensation nerves ended up surviving, however, and I can feel everything.

My injury isn't at an exact vertebrae because it is ischemic in nature; or resulting from a loss of blood. It wasn't a blunt trauma injury like a fall or gunshot. I can wiggle my toes and move my quad muscles a bit (more so on my right leg than my left) but that is simply what nerve function I have left.

This occurred in late April of 2000.

[wheeliebear75]

When my Aunt came back from making an Easter pilgrimage to Israel with her church to visit "THE Holy Land" (she also had her birthday there) we went out to "celebrate" her safe return & belated birthday. In HINDSIGHT guess we should have gone somewhere ELSE to eat! A heavy sign fell off a wall & onto my head; it caused some pretty bad head injuries/TBI + dislocated (C2-3) (C6-7) (T2-3) (T6-8) (L1-3) but L2 actually broke & bone chips floated around in to my spinal column & scratched up the posterior side of it @ L2.....TBI & paraparesis/gross bilateral neurological deficit A.K.A. "partially paralyzed. If my mother hadn't already been a trained OT & therefore knew how important keeping my neck stable was I very easily could have been a high level quad so I'm grateful for THAT.....somehow it helps ME deal with the TBI a bit better. I think it's cause it's MY only way of (it could have been worse) scenario since oh so many people not knowing I also have a brain injury put their foot in their mouth by saying things like "Well at least you have your mind in tact.".....really?...guess again!

[style71]

motorcycle accident. Took cousin riding for first time....road curved...i leaned, cousin didnt....bike went straight hit a curb, flew off into steel post broke many many things that all healed except the good ol spinal cord..t8 complete. cousin is fine.

[Harry3082]

The Road Turned and I Didn't !

Of All places, it was on a road I knew like the back of my hand, and on the Turn that everyone in my Town called "Dead Mans Turn" because of So Many accidents that happen on it, Usually by out of Towners!

[justinw]

Motorcycle wreck. Hit a tree just right going about 35mph.

Edited by justinw, 11 November 2011 - 08:11 AM.

[Priscilla]

I was caught up in a motor vehicle accident 5 months ago. Unfortunately it was a 6-month old car with less than 6,000 miles on it. I had no clue it was defective. Damn Honda Civics! Something happened to the front end and by the time my mother in law realized it, it was way too late. She was not drinking, or talking on her cell phone, or texting. Just some freak accident! I was asleep in the passenger seat and woke up from a coma after two weeks in the trauma center.

She was fortunate enough to be released the next day with two broken arms, a cracked sternum and a mild concussion, I was hospitalized for four and a half months with a crushed pelvis, broken back, lacerated liver, broken left ankle, broken left forearm, blood on the brain and a ruptured bladder. My spinal cord swelled up on me between T11 and L3. I have not been the same since. I am fortunate to be walking with the aid of a walker, but who would think that a defective car could do all this?

[curbyi]

1998 New Years Eve, Sydney Australia strolling towards the opera house to watch the fireworks when i tripped and somehow managed to break my neck at C5/6 and crushing spinal cord.

Edited by curbyi, 11 November 2011 - 10:05 PM.

[Ratticis]

Priscilla, on 11 November 2011 - 08:02 PM, said:

I was caught up in a motor vehicle accident 5 months ago. Unfortunately it was a 6-month old car with less than 6,000 miles on it. I had no clue it was defective. Damn Honda Civics! Something happened to the front end and by the time my mother in law realized it, it was way too late. She was not drinking, or talking on her cell phone, or texting. Just some freak accident! I was asleep in the passenger seat and woke up from a coma after two weeks in the trauma center.

She was fortunate enough to be released the next day with two broken arms, a cracked sternum and a mild concussion, I was hospitalized for four and a half months with a crushed pelvis, broken back, lacerated liver, broken left ankle, broken left forearm, blood on the brain and a ruptured bladder. My spinal cord swelled up on me between T11 and L3. I have not been the same since. I am fortunate to be walking with the aid of a walker, but who would think that a defective car could do all this?

It's kinda creepy that just as I was reading this a comercial comes on TV claiming Honda's are the safest vehicles there are. Are you sure she wasn't drinking? I mean, why else would someone buy a honada?

[Vanessamaee]

I was a rodeo bullfighter. I second bull broke the latch while the first one was still out and got out unflanked. Charged out of the chute. Since I was working the other bull, I didnt have enough time to turn around, or else I wouldve gotten hit by the first bull. Second bull threw me about 30ft in the air. When I landed he stomped in between my shoulder blades and rolled me across the arena.

[attachment=12203:bull.jpg]

[attachment=12204:bull2.jpg]
The reason I look "large" here is due to the 5lb hard plastic protective vest I was wearing. It is also what docotors said saved my life.
Also if you can see the band around my hat, you might be able to see the pink stripes every third color, I made this by hand, and it was to honor my grandmother who passed away of breast cancer back on Christmas of '08. I also had pink show laces. My hat, unfortunatly, was never returned to me after my accident and I don't know who has it.

[attachment=12205:bull4.jpg]
The second bull

Edited by Vanessamaee, 14 November 2011 - 02:48 AM.

[WillieB]

I feel a sleep while driving. Now my friend is paralyzed. I wish I could've died instead of him being paralyzed.

[greybeard]

Vanessamaee, on 13 November 2011 - 06:34 PM, said:

I was a rodeo bullfighter. I second bull broke the latch while the first one was still out and got out unflanked. Charged out of the chute. Since I was working the other bull, I didnt have enough time to turn around, or else I wouldve gotten hit by the first bull. Second bull threw me about 30ft in the air. When I landed he stomped in between my shoulder blades and rolled me across the arena.

bull.jpg

bull2.jpg
The reason I look "large" here is due to the 5lb hard plastic protective vest I was wearing. It is also what docotors said saved my life.

bull4.jpg
The second bull

My! The things people do to get their jollies. Have to admire your pluck.

How did you prepare the second bull, by the way? Roasted, grilled, or in a pie?

[Vanessamaee]

greybeard, on 13 November 2011 - 10:38 PM, said:

Vanessamaee, on 13 November 2011 - 06:34 PM, said:

I was a rodeo bullfighter. I second bull broke the latch while the first one was still out and got out unflanked. Charged out of the chute. Since I was working the other bull, I didnt have enough time to turn around, or else I wouldve gotten hit by the first bull. Second bull threw me about 30ft in the air. When I landed he stomped in between my shoulder blades and rolled me across the arena.

bull.jpg

bull2.jpg
The reason I look "large" here is due to the 5lb hard plastic protective vest I was wearing. It is also what docotors said saved my life.

bull4.jpg
The second bull

My! The things people do to get their jollies. Have to admire your pluck.

How did you prepare the second bull, by the way? Roasted, grilled, or in a pie?

Grilled wouldve been perfect! They bucked him the next weekend and he came out of the chute and laid down on the rider crushing his pelvis. I heard they put him down, once a bull gets that agressive usually they are to dangerous to have around the others. I do love me some steak though (: