10 replies to this topic

[Vienna]

Hi,

One of my friends who I have been close with for many years recently suffered a T12 injury due to a car accident. She has been told the injury is complete but we're not sure what to expect at this point.

Looking for any advice to help her through this difficult time and returning to school (she is 15).

Thank you.

[Snakeye]

Welcome...Perhaps she should join the forum as well...

[Smileyblue]

Welcome to the forum.. You'll find much information and advice on here.. As Snakeye said, try to encourage your friend to join.. It makes a huge difference to be able to share with people in your same/similar situation.. ;-)

[Tetracyclone]

Look around old thread and you will find more than you could even want to know about what others have experienced. You came to the right place. Many complete injuries end up reclassified. Doctors don't really have any good way of knowing what to expect. You just wait, work, and see. She can do a lot, probably, at T 12.

[jcala]

Hi Vienna,

You are already helping your friend by asking questions and looking for information. A spinal cord injury is tough at any age, let alone 15. It's hard to see your friend going through what she is. I know I lost a lot of my friends when my accident happened because they "didn't know what to say." Truth is, there is no right or wrong thing to say. She needs someone who can listen to her and maybe even be a shoulder to cry on when she needs one. The best thing you can do for her is to not feel sorry for her and to help her focus on what she can and will do instead of what she can't do. At her injury level there is so much she can still do. She may not see that right now, but in time she will. Each challenge she overcomes will make her a stronger person. Having a good friend to go through this with her will help her more than you know. Stay positive and let us know how she's doing.

Jeannine

[Vienna]

Hi all--thanks for your comments. She has returned to school and will be on this account sometime soon.

[Simba]

Welcome to the forum

Hope you both find the information you need here. Good to hear she has gone back to school already.

Best of luck.

[Edinburgh Colin]

Welcome, have a look around the different forums and threads for information and then start asking us questions and we will try to help. Also if you can get her to join or even just read the stuff in here it help to educate her and hopefully raise her spirits a little.

Again welcome to both of you.

[Vienna]

Thank you. Sorry for the short responses, still taking it all in. Good thing I found you guys!

[wonkywalker]

Vienna, on 15 March 2011 - 02:10 AM, said:

Hi,

One of my friends who I have been close with for many years recently suffered a T12 injury due to a car accident. She has been told the injury is complete but we're not sure what to expect at this point.

Looking for any advice to help her through this difficult time and returning to school (she is 15).

Thank you.

Hi there. Im new too but I had a T10-T12 injury . Im not sure as to the extent of your friends injury.I do know from my own experience this level CAN affect functioning of lower limbs/bowel/bladder etc as it can be around this level(or slightly lower) where the spinal cord ends and all the nerves supplying the adbominal structures fan out(like a horse tail).the exact position of injury will affect her functioning. The most important thing that I learnt was to get the right help from both neurology and neurosurgeons.Parhaps you could ask her parents what they hae been told so that you know what your friend is facing? A secound opinion can be really supportive and useful if there are any queries and unanswered questions.
i had a T10-T12 injury 3 years ago. It does take time for the body to deal with and the symptoms can improve a bit once the inflammation reduces and the medicines kick in. She is likely to be really scared as the symptoms are frightening .you can get painful spasms etc which might mean she is irritated and grumpy.Stick with it as its not you but the injury Im really glad that you are looking out for her as she will need alot of positive support. If you can find out what to expect then you can make a decision as to whether you can help her at school by keeping copies of notes etc and deciding whether she needs to keep up with some homework. Its very difficult to know how to support her as injuries are very indiidualised as it depends whether the spinal cord is damaged.If it is then your friend may face a longish recovery period and school may have to be prosponed . If she is able to go back to school this year then it would be brilliant if you could keep notes for her..photocopy your homework assignemnts etc and file them so she doesnt get too behind, in key subjects. She will need alot of emotional support.I assume she is in hospital? Can you bring her in her ipod,magazines and nice smelly things.Its really important to keep your dignity when recovering. I had friends who came in and,with agreement from medical/nursing staff washed my hair,shaved my legs(you cant reach them and if you go into the pool for hydrotherapy it can be embarassing..) did my nails,did a make over and sent me funny letters etc. It really kept my moral up and i really looked forward to their visits . Find out from her parents as much as you can as to what her recovery may entail..they will have the info to support her. Good luck. You sound like a good friend

[wonkywalker]

Vienna, on 15 March 2011 - 02:10 AM, said:

Hi,

One of my friends who I have been close with for many years recently suffered a T12 injury due to a car accident. She has been told the injury is complete but we're not sure what to expect at this point.

Looking for any advice to help her through this difficult time and returning to school (she is 15).

Thank you.

Hi there. Im new too but I had a T10-T12 injury . Im not sure as to the extent of your friends injury.I do know from my own experience this level CAN affect functioning of lower limbs/bowel/bladder etc as it can be around this level(or slightly lower) where the spinal cord ends and all the nerves supplying the adbominal structures fan out(like a horse tail).the exact position of injury will affect her functioning. The most important thing that I learnt was to get the right help from both neurology and neurosurgeons.Parhaps you could ask her parents what they hae been told so that you know what your friend is facing? A secound opinion can be really supportive and useful if there are any queries and unanswered questions.
i had a T10-T12 injury 3 years ago. It does take time for the body to deal with and the symptoms can improve a bit once the inflammation reduces and the medicines kick in. She is likely to be really scared as the symptoms are frightening .you can get painful spasms etc which might mean she is irritated and grumpy.Stick with it as its not you but the injury Im really glad that you are looking out for her as she will need alot of positive support. If you can find out what to expect then you can make a decision as to whether you can help her at school by keeping copies of notes etc and deciding whether she needs to keep up with some homework. Its very difficult to know how to support her as injuries are very indiidualised as it depends whether the spinal cord is damaged.If it is then your friend may face a longish recovery period and school may have to be prosponed . If she is able to go back to school this year then it would be brilliant if you could keep notes for her..photocopy your homework assignemnts etc and file them so she doesnt get too behind, in key subjects. She will need alot of emotional support.I assume she is in hospital? Can you bring her in her ipod,magazines and nice smelly things.Its really important to keep your dignity when recovering. I had friends who came in and,with agreement from medical/nursing staff washed my hair,shaved my legs(you cant reach them and if you go into the pool for hydrotherapy it can be embarassing..) did my nails,did a make over and sent me funny letters etc. It really kept my moral up and i really looked forward to their visits . Find out from her parents as much as you can as to what her recovery may entail..they will have the info to support her. Good luck. You sound like a good friend

Vienna, on 15 March 2011 - 02:10 AM, said:

Hi,

One of my friends who I have been close with for many years recently suffered a T12 injury due to a car accident. She has been told the injury is complete but we're not sure what to expect at this point.

Looking for any advice to help her through this difficult time and returning to school (she is 15).

Thank you.

Hi there. Im new too but I had a T10-T12 injury . Im not sure as to the extent of your friends injury.I do know from my own experience this level CAN affect functioning of lower limbs/bowel/bladder etc as it can be around this level(or slightly lower) where the spinal cord ends and all the nerves supplying the adbominal structures fan out(like a horse tail).the exact position of injury will affect her functioning. The most important thing that I learnt was to get the right help from both neurology and neurosurgeons.Parhaps you could ask her parents what they hae been told so that you know what your friend is facing? A secound opinion can be really supportive and useful if there are any queries and unanswered questions.
i had a T10-T12 injury 3 years ago. It does take time for the body to deal with and the symptoms can improve a bit once the inflammation reduces and the medicines kick in. She is likely to be really scared as the symptoms are frightening .you can get painful spasms etc which might mean she is irritated and grumpy.Stick with it as its not you but the injury Im really glad that you are looking out for her as she will need alot of positive support. If you can find out what to expect then you can make a decision as to whether you can help her at school by keeping copies of notes etc and deciding whether she needs to keep up with some homework. Its very difficult to know how to support her as injuries are very indiidualised as it depends whether the spinal cord is damaged.If it is then your friend may face a longish recovery period and school may have to be prosponed . If she is able to go back to school this year then it would be brilliant if you could keep notes for her..photocopy your homework assignemnts etc and file them so she doesnt get too behind, in key subjects. She will need alot of emotional support.I assume she is in hospital? Can you bring her in her ipod,magazines and nice smelly things.Its really important to keep your dignity when recovering. I had friends who came in and,with agreement from medical/nursing staff washed my hair,shaved my legs(you cant reach them and if you go into the pool for hydrotherapy it can be embarassing..) did my nails,did a make over and sent me funny letters etc. It really kept my moral up and i really looked forward to their visits . Find out from her parents as much as you can as to what her recovery may entail..they will have the info to support her. Good luck. You sound like a good friend