30 replies to this topic

[leonhub]

Hello,

This is my first post., I am keen to get some comments from people who have been through the same injury as I have suffered.

I had a snowboard accident, jump that landed badly - burst fracture of the L1 - has been fused to my T12, and looks good, 9 weeks since operation and accident.


I really want to know I will be ok?...I know all spinal chord injuries are different from person to person and nobody can say for sure, but would like to hear other peoples stories to hopefully give me some positive examples of recovery.

Thanks
Leon

[Ratticis]

Send me $3000 and I can garentee you'll walk again . . .

[Snakeye]

Ratt-fellow that was a downright rude response but it made me laugh so hard my false teeth fell out....damn boy..

[Tetracyclone]

Me too, RatMan. That was pure E-Dog. Leon, be patient and people will respond with more sincerity. Also, search through old threads. There are a million encouraging stories buried in this site.

Welcome.

[Ratticis]

Sorry, here's the hand hoplding ass kissing responce;

Sorry to hear about your problems. Every injury is different, unfortunitly there is no way of knowing for sure, keep your chin up, hope for the best, bla bla bla.

Now seriously, you said yourself that you know this, so do you really expect a bunch of people in a web forum to be able to garentee one way or another? I mean, ya, I wish we could all wake up tommorow perfectly healthy, but odds are, it ain't gunna happen. Now, had you asked what to expect in terms of dealing with your new found gimpyness, my responce might have been different. But to ask "Am I gunna walk?" is ridiculous. Anyway, good luck, and welcome.

[leonhub]

Well thanks for the compassionate response!!

Great welcome!!

This isnt some kind of question about a restaurant review or something...sorry if my question was dumb naive or whatever...you of all people should understand?....more fool me !

[pistol_pete]

Hi Leon,
welcome to the forum. It sucks that you even have to be here.
I think Ratticis was referring to the question in your title 'Will I ever walk again', the gist of his response was no one knows, early days. If you get anything back and it turns out your injury is incomplete then work hard at it, you may have decent odds of regaining function.

As to your other question'Will I be OK", well of course you will. If worst comes to worst and you never take another step in your life, you will still be OK.
You'll be fine, great even. it's just that you'll have an awesome life sitting on your arse a lot.
ASk many people here and they'll tell you that their lives actually changed for the better, because it forced them to evaluate and make improvements.

I used to be physical but now I'm using my brain a lot more, something I should have been doing years ago, before my injury.
After the initial shock, try not to descend into a poor me mindset. Start now to figure out how to live your best in a chair, and if you recover then all good, you'll probably come out of it a better person.

Welcome to the world of SCI, the parking is excellent.

[leonhub]

Ok if my title is dumb and question also a little immature, but I am not the same level of injury as you guys...I am literally at the start - where did people get so bitter that it warrants such a reply?.

It seems to me that in such a forum, you are either here for help or advice or in a position to give it?...its more important than some hierarchy based on how long you have been paralyzed and to what level...surely that kind of stuff isnt helpful?

anyway.,,,hope some genuine good comes from putting myself out there!

Shame on some people..

[pistol_pete]

leonhub, on 20 May 2011 - 02:21 AM, said:

Ok if my title is dumb and question also a little immature, but I am not the same level of injury as you guys...I am literally at the start - where did people get so bitter that it warrants such a reply?.

It seems to me that in such a forum, you are either here for help or advice or in a position to give it?...its more important than some hierarchy based on how long you have been paralyzed and to what level...surely that kind of stuff isnt helpful?

anyway.,,,hope some genuine good comes from putting myself out there!

Shame on some people..

Calm down dude.
I never said your question was dumb or immature.
I didn't think my reply was bitter. I was trying to be positive for you. telling you that things are shitty right now but theres hope and life will go on.
I can't be specific about the prognosis of your injury so I'm just trying to be positive. I'm a big boofy aussie bloke, so caring words and agony aunt wisdom you won't get from me, this is as good as I get. usually I get on the forum to have a laugh and take the piss as inoffensively as possible. I guess the humour comes with time. I know you're not laughing much right now, so perhaps I'm being inappropriate.

you wanted to know if you would be Ok and I'm telling you that you will be OK.
I'm T4 complete and I'm OK, I'm f*@king awesome and I've got nothing below my ever expanding man tits.

Sorry if I sounded bitter.
There are a few L1's around here I think, hopefully they'll speak up soon.

maybe my "welcome...the parking is excellent' comment was flippant. But if I've learnt one thing about all this is you've got to keep your sense of humour or you will NOT be OK.

Edited by pistol_pete, 20 May 2011 - 03:24 AM.

[wheeliebear75]

Eh pay them no mind....especially Ratti....ever seen Bill Engval? "I'm just a GUY!"....yup that's Ratti.....open mouth, bend over & grab foot & insert into mouth.....but he's lovable in his own bitter-sweet way.

As Pete said it is hard to give definitive answers AND those of us who have "been there done that" "I got the T-shirt" whether we were able to get some function back or not it behooved us mentally to be prepared for that possibility that we wouldn't walk again & try figuring out what to do to get our lives back on track from a seated position....this way IF we gained the ability to walk again FAB....if not we didn't have to go back to square one because we had our hopes in walking again set so high that we had our minds set that this would be temporary only to have our world come crashing down a 2nd time when it doesn't work out. In a nutshell hope for the best plan for the worst.

I've got a crushed spine & have neurological problems from L2 down. Yes Hell sounds like a fun amusement park ride in comparison to what the initial reaction/feelings about hearing a Dr. or social worker tell you "You might not be able to walk again.", but there is also a mental recovery process & just like survivors of other types can help eachother out in the same respect we try to help those new to SCI.

This forum has people of all levels of injuries with all types of abilities or lack thereof. We're all individuals & as such some of us will naturally come off sounding a bit more brazen than others but I assure you no-one meant to sound callus or push you away. Please stick around for a while & meet a few more members & feel free to post again.

[greybeard]

Hi Leon. Welcome to the forum. You will find it is sometimes better to ask specific questions. There is an enormous number of people here - all with different experiences, and you will be sure to get a variety of responses. Just ask away.

[pistol_pete]

http://www.abc.net.a.../20/3222084.htm

See Leon. Hope springs eternal.
In case you haven't seen the news yet.
with your level injury you are the perfect candidate.

[airart1]

this is true, pistol, they just said this morning that if u are new injury you should sign up as soon as possible, the sooner the better, the guy this morning on fox had feeling in his legs but no motor function, he was t-12 i think they said, but he had gotten his bowels and bladder function and his sexual function back already.......great for new injuries.......just that in itself is an amazing helpful great achievement within itself.......oh an welcome leon, what does your doctor tell you first and are you doing therapy, i did it for 18 months 3 times a week......work hard and hopefully you will gain some of your function........be positive...........

[mellowgator]

hi leon,

welcome to the forum.

are you a complete or incomplete injury? if you're cord is still connected you may be able to walk again. most of return comes back in the first year after the cord swelling goes down. are you able to move any of your lower extremitis yet? if so this is a good sign that there could be more to come.



mellowgator

Edited by mellowgator, 20 May 2011 - 05:34 PM.

[Soryfam]

Welcome! I wish I had a crystal ball and could tell you for sure you'll walk again, but mine has a big old chip in it and isn't too accurate. With your level and type of injury I think you have a good chance of walking again. I went from paralyzed from the waist down to walking with a cane. It took about 6 months to get there. More recently I've had some complicatios and find I have to use the chair sometimes. Hopefully these issues will be resolved and I'll be back to using the cane.
Just like in life, there are all kinds of characters here. I don't think anyone is out to hurt anyone, we just all approach situations differently.
Good luck to you.

Sandy

[dom]

leonhub, on 20 May 2011 - 02:21 AM, said:

Ok if my title is dumb and question also a little immature, but I am not the same level of injury as you guys...I am literally at the start - where did people get so bitter that it warrants such a reply?.

It seems to me that in such a forum, you are either here for help or advice or in a position to give it?...its more important than some hierarchy based on how long you have been paralyzed and to what level...surely that kind of stuff isnt helpful?

anyway.,,,hope some genuine good comes from putting myself out there!

Shame on some people..

Hi leon i am L1 burst fracture also when i had my accident i could still move my legs and can walk now albeit not great,best of luck and let us know the outcome after a year or so

[leonhub]

Sorry Pistol - I was meaning to reply to Ratticus - I wasnt directing at you apologies - this is how new I am I dont even know how to reply!

Its hard, I am sorry if I come off as pitying myself and asking stupid questions, I know my title was not the best - I am so early into this and I am not finding it easy to say the least, the guilt I feel for leaving my wife and kids to pick up after my stupidity is immense, had I known the seriousness of my brash attitude to snowboarding off the jump I did I would have never even picked up a board!!...but whats done is done, If only I had a chrystal ball!

Again apologies, I will pick myself up and try not to be too sensitive!

Thanks for the advice.

pistol_pete, on 20 May 2011 - 03:12 AM, said:

leonhub, on 20 May 2011 - 02:21 AM, said:

Ok if my title is dumb and question also a little immature, but I am not the same level of injury as you guys...I am literally at the start - where did people get so bitter that it warrants such a reply?.

It seems to me that in such a forum, you are either here for help or advice or in a position to give it?...its more important than some hierarchy based on how long you have been paralyzed and to what level...surely that kind of stuff isnt helpful?

anyway.,,,hope some genuine good comes from putting myself out there!

Shame on some people..

Calm down dude.
I never said your question was dumb or immature.
I didn't think my reply was bitter. I was trying to be positive for you. telling you that things are shitty right now but theres hope and life will go on.
I can't be specific about the prognosis of your injury so I'm just trying to be positive. I'm a big boofy aussie bloke, so caring words and agony aunt wisdom you won't get from me, this is as good as I get. usually I get on the forum to have a laugh and take the piss as inoffensively as possible. I guess the humour comes with time. I know you're not laughing much right now, so perhaps I'm being inappropriate.

you wanted to know if you would be Ok and I'm telling you that you will be OK.
I'm T4 complete and I'm OK, I'm f*@king awesome and I've got nothing below my ever expanding man tits.

Sorry if I sounded bitter.
There are a few L1's around here I think, hopefully they'll speak up soon.

maybe my "welcome...the parking is excellent' comment was flippant. But if I've learnt one thing about all this is you've got to keep your sense of humour or you will NOT be OK.

[Ratticis]

Sorry if stating the obvious "we don't know" is some how bitter. But I think Pete hit the nail on the head, no matter the outcome, yes you will be alright. So again, good luck and welcome aboard. Get well soon. (And the parking is pretty sweet)

[airart1]

parking sucks in tenn. ratt, they give blue tags to anyone!

[Ratticis]

Ya, the abuse of parking sucks

[wheeliebear75]

My mom in her infinite wisdom has several sayings that are universal truths: Hindsight is 20/20.

At least you fared better than Sonny Bono? And there are several here who STILL hit the slopes.

[leonhub]

Hi Mellowgator.

I am incomplete.

Thanks

mellowgator, on 20 May 2011 - 05:33 PM, said:

hi leon,

welcome to the forum.

are you a complete or incomplete injury? if you're cord is still connected you may be able to walk again. most of return comes back in the first year after the cord swelling goes down. are you able to move any of your lower extremitis yet? if so this is a good sign that there could be more to come.



mellowgator

[wheeliebear75]

Well then since you're an incomplete you've got a chance of walking again. BUT "plan for the worst hope for the best"....CHANCE does NOT = will sorry to say. AND even those who eventually end up being able to walk without any walkers, crutches, canes or braces they still tend to have an odd gait ,poor balance, & requires more energy + can be quite painful.

When you say "leaving my wife & kids to pick up after my stupidity is immense" are you speaking of the finances & the logistics of having the house made accessible etc. OR are you saying that the problems are all emotional? Because if they're emotions than counseling can help.

You can't do anything to change the past....short of a time machine.....all we can do is try & make the most of it. Change or improve what you CAN, be grateful for what you have, & try to do as best you can with what you don't; the best way to live to a HAPPY ripe old age is to have a positive "glass is 1/2 full" outlook & to be able to adapt to changes good or bad (studies of centenarians showed).

[leonhub]

Hi there - when did you manage to start walking?

I can walk now with a walker or crutches....but not on my own, how did your return of movement start to come back? and when?

I can feel and move most of my legs down to my knee and then its kind of numb and pins and needles my ankles just dont move, so have drop foot in both feet, think thats the technical name?

Thanks

[quote name='dom' timestamp='1305916582' post='229594']
[quote name='leonhub' timestamp='1305858108' post='229400']
Ok if my title is dumb and question also a little immature, but I am not the same level of injury as you guys...I am literally at the start - where did people get so bitter that it warrants such a reply?.

It seems to me that in such a forum, you are either here for help or advice or in a position to give it?...its more important than some hierarchy based on how long you have been paralyzed and to what level...surely that kind of stuff isnt helpful?

anyway.,,,hope some genuine good comes from putting myself out there!

Shame on some people..
[/quote]
Hi leon i am L1 burst fracture also when i had my accident i could still move my legs and can walk now albeit not great,best of luck and let us know the outcome after a year or so
[/quote]

Hi, thanks

I guess I feel bad about my accident because being in rehab for the time I was I was away from home and business so left my wife dealing with it all,
but I have given myself a break since then.



quote name='wheeliebear75' timestamp='1306139472' post='230273']
Well then since you're an incomplete you've got a chance of walking again. BUT "plan for the worst hope for the best"....CHANCE does NOT = will sorry to say. AND even those who eventually end up being able to walk without any walkers, crutches, canes or braces they still tend to have an odd gait ,poor balance, & requires more energy + can be quite painful.

When you say "leaving my wife & kids to pick up after my stupidity is immense" are you speaking of the finances & the logistics of having the house made accessible etc. OR are you saying that the problems are all emotional? Because if they're emotions than counseling can help.

You can't do anything to change the past....short of a time machine.....all we can do is try & make the most of it. Change or improve what you CAN, be grateful for what you have, & try to do as best you can with what you don't; the best way to live to a HAPPY ripe old age is to have a positive "glass is 1/2 full" outlook & to be able to adapt to changes good or bad (studies of centenarians showed).
[/quote]

I actually thought the comment about sending cash was funny!...

[quote name='Ratticis' timestamp='1305930021' post='229655']
Sorry if stating the obvious "we don't know" is some how bitter. But I think Pete hit the nail on the head, no matter the outcome, yes you will be alright. So again, good luck and welcome aboard. Get well soon. (And the parking is pretty sweet)
[/quote]

[wheeliebear75]

Well the "walking" didn't just happen ONE DAY....it was a slow TOUGH progression from 1st walking with a walker but having my feet moved for me, to moving them on my own using my hips, then went from walker to forearm crutches with quad cane tips then regular tips. Tried canes but those don't seem to help me enough not even with the quad canes. And after a number of years "walking" with aids I'm back to w/c because of additional nerve damage thanks to MY stubbornness.....Children's Hospital's PT told me when I was "done" they told me & my mom that although I'd come along way & CAN "walk" that for longer distances I should use the chair & use the crutching it around for shorter distances.....well I was bound & determined to NOT use it unless I just couldn't drag my legs.....I was bound & determined to stay upright. Hindsight is 20/20 I should have listened to the EXPERTS, had I done what they said I wouldn't be in so much pain now & might have been able to still crutch it around the house better than I am now.

[madhouse73]

Hi

Ignore the arse biters but they do mean well .I had the same sort of introduction but i bit back, and have found that people on here are a good source of help and advice even the grumpy snappy ones.

The will you walk again is the question that no one can tell you and yet it is the one that most of us have asked at some point.
I am in a wheelchair but am learning that infact it is not all bad and I will be ok and it is just a new kind of normal.And am now planning on getting back to canoeing on white water .Does not mean life stops .But it is early stages for you i cried a lot and ye sthrew my toys out the pram to .But take one day at a time

[dangerousdave]

Well L-hub, as you can see from the replies you have to be more informative
No info - no serious reply
Such a open question as yours proves you are not informed about your issue
So when you have spoken to your med team, come back and ask again
As for ratty's cheap cure - beware - it hasn't worked for him

You sound incomplete and for such hard word and dedication for 2 years will give you back all your gonna get
So do the weights, the parralel bars, the swimming and pool work - good luck

Edited by dangerousdave, 09 June 2011 - 01:51 PM.

[Ginny]

Hi Leon, I'm from Wisconsin, too and was injured in a tornado last summer, 'up north'. I have an L1 and L5 with CES. I'm 10 months post injury and can walk with two canes. In fact, I put the wheelchair away about four months ago.

You have started walking pretty quickly and that's a good sign. You probably don't feel your legs and feet the same and that's because of the nerve damage caused by the SCI. In my case, and I hope in yours also, that has improved. The fronts of my legs have a lot more sensation than the backs. My ankles and feet were pretty numb for a while but are starting to come around.

It is true that no two people are alike in their recoveries. However, I can say that if you work your PT hard, keep positive, look for improvements, you will find them. As difficult as it is to be this early on in a spinal injury, it also means that you have a long span of time in which anything could happen.

I wish you the best and would love to hear how things go for you as time goes on. Keep us posted.

[Solidus]

Leon - I'm with you. A damn rude and awful first response to your open question in your post but with perhaps a slightly naive, on the whole, subject. But shame on that Ratt, or is that Rat with a silent T?

[Parachute]

leonhub, on 19 May 2011 - 10:26 PM, said:

Hello,

This is my first post., I am keen to get some comments from people who have been through the same injury as I have suffered.

I had a snowboard accident, jump that landed badly - burst fracture of the L1 - has been fused to my T12, and looks good, 9 weeks since operation and accident.


I really want to know I will be ok?...I know all spinal chord injuries are different from person to person and nobody can say for sure, but would like to hear other peoples stories to hopefully give me some positive examples of recovery.

Thanks
Leon

Hi leonhub

I had my accident playing rugby. The injury was not as bad as yours. I have a compression. I have had no surgery. I am a very good walker? However, I am not the same as before my injury.

What do you call ok? I have slight bladder problems but a bigger problem with bowels. I have Movical every night and have done for two years. Did you wake up this morning a know that one day you will walk again. If you look at me, you would not know that I have a spinal cord injury. How are you at the moment? Are you in a chir only? Do you use a standing frame? To walk is not a thing which happens over night.

I think you need to set yourself goals leading up to walking. Things such as bowels and bladder. Standing in a frame is a massive thing. The longer that you can stand in a frame the stronger your legs may become. Expect dizziness when you first stand, if you do? What is your aim at the end of the day. Do you have people to assist you with exercising? What are you doing today? Watch Youtube. On there are loads of spinal cord injured people of every type doing exercises. Maybe at the end of the sessions, you may get some ideas.

If you are asking me if YOU will walk again, I do not know. When you ask, will you be ok as in the same as before your injury, well the answer is no. How can you be the same with all of the scare tissue that you have and broken bone? However, this does not mean you will not walk.

Anyone that has scare tissue can not be the same again, including myself. But we can always push ourselves as much as we can, in order to make some achievements.


Parachute