29 replies to this topic

[KK*]

I just made a year on July 5th but actually got out of the hospital October 8th 2010. I have made progress but I have nothing or no one to compare it to. Spasms, UTIs, Weight control, Bowel program and as you all know, the list goes on.

[mitch]

im 3 1/2yrs post trust me it does get better and easier for all the things u mentioned. keep positive and work hard at improving yourself, im still improving to this day

[wheeliebear75]

Mitch is right. I'm now 21yrs post & it does get easier overall....though you'll still have your good days & bad days & maybe a few more of the bad ones than the average person....but still the hill does even out after a while.

[The_Wheel_Life]

For me, it took 2-3 years for everything to get settled down. Does it get easier? Yes. Definitely. Will it eventually be a cake walk? Nope. Eventually, it will just seem like "normal life." Just be sure to take care of yourself. Make sure you don't let yourself become susceptible to pressure ulcers. Things will get easier.

[sh1wn]

Well, it either gets easier or you just get more used to the crappy parts, my 3rd year was better than the first two for sure.

[Califanna]

I found that during my first year, I sought out others who were in similar circumstances. One woman in particular to this day is still friends with me and we share the ups and downs of being in a chair. Sharing with someone who understands your plight really helps to even out the rough spots of living day to day.

[Terrible Texan]

I can say for being 13 years post injury, lately, the past 1 1/2 years, i've been having nothing but bad luck. I've been trying to stay focused on healing. Like it was mentioned above, pressure sores, be vigalant & keep a good watch of your body, they will put your life on hold. All u can do is 'Just take it one day at a time.'

[Edinburgh Colin]

I'm 26 months post and it does get progressively easier, as has been said above you do have your bad days and they are s*&t but you get better at dealing with them.

Worst time (for feeling upset, frustrated and generally angry) I had was a week of Gastroenteritis and I'm sure I don't need to explain why that was bad!

keep on getting on and you will start to do stuff as second nature.

EC

[qbounce]

The first 2 years are the most difficult, to be sure.
You're relearning how to do everything all over again, so give yourself some slack.
Rome wasn't built in a day.

[madhouse73]

I am finding it is slowly getting easier and am accepting better that some things i want to do need bit more thought on how to do them .But Yes i do have the bad days to where I want to rant and rave and cry for how much easie rlife used to be.But they are getting lot less now.
found I can either sit home or can get on with living my life and since thought being stuck indoors with 4 kid swould lead to hair loss ( mine from pulling it out ) .Am out and about and doing and having fun

But I have mostky been one of those horriable glass half full people most of my life .Well bar when i first wandered on to these boards and half full i think the dam glass was empty.

give yourself time It is a shock and a major change to our life

Edited by madhouse73, 22 July 2011 - 10:54 AM.

[roo]

23YRS NOW 1ST 2 YEARS WAS HARD WORK LEARNING ALL NEW STUFF ETC ,,BELIVE US IT GETS EASIER BELIVE US JUST ASK THE WIFE HAHAHA

[KK*]

Thank you all for your insight and experiences. I really expected a year later I would be driving and hoping in and out of my wheelchair with ease while transferring and on and on. I am single and have always been so independent and now I find myself at my parents struggling to become independent enough to live on my own. My parents are not so young anymore and I practically do everything on my own now except a few things. I cant wait until I am able to drive again maybe that will help me feel more like my old self.
It sounds like most of you are married and have that support system in place. When you are single and something like this happens, wow, what a shock. I thank God for my parents and I am fortunate that I have a very good job that pays well. I worked so long and hard for that independence and took such pride in it....to become dependent.

[madhouse73]

Kk im single with kids but my injry is lot lower han yours so that does help . I am way to much for any man to put up with for to long plus i admit i am very independent and maybe slightly stubborn to .



But yes like you i can not wait till can drive again think that wil giv eme so much more freedom

[KK*]

Guilty of the same such qualities. I have a son in college that is 21 and I absolutely adore him. I can't imagine having children to take care of and deal with this - I admire you! I will be on my own again but some days it just doesnt seem like a reality. Today and yesterday and well possibly the day before (LOL) is one of those days.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

[Millard]

KK*, on 21 July 2011 - 11:29 PM, said:

I just made a year on July 5th but actually got out of the hospital October 8th 2010. I have made progress but I have nothing or no one to compare it to. Spasms, UTIs, Weight control, Bowel program and as you all know, the list goes on.

Hello KK,


I am 44 years post. As you figure out routines and doing "stuff" a new way, everything starts to get easier. The hardest part for me was accepting my injury as I was in a deep depression for about 5 years. Life can be and is good now. Set some goals to work towards but don't set them too high.


Good luck to you.

[wheeliebear75]

Well KK that's the little secret about life from chair....PUDDLE PEOPLE! Puddle people are those people who when their spouse becomes ill or injured rather than being MAINLY concerned about them getting better or as well as they can....instead are going "OMG this is going to be so hard on ME!" even though THEY are just fine. The chair acts as a filtration to friends as well.....those who are of the type to want only what's convenient for THEM or are overly concerned about appearances will be going off in the other direction. Now all this may not sound like a "+" but I assure you it is; because what you're left with are of higher inner quality(friends AND lovers), they're more caring & compassionate, more willing to lend a hand or accommodate YOU by meeting at places that ARE accessible, and will be there for you in good times AND the bad. Life for all of us got flipped upside down one day & rained for months or years til we sorted it all out. You to will get it sorted out in time.

[Terrible Texan]

wheeliebear75, on 22 July 2011 - 11:52 PM, said:

Well KK that's the little secret about life from chair....PUDDLE PEOPLE! Puddle people are those people who when their spouse becomes ill or injured rather than being MAINLY concerned about them getting better or as well as they can....instead are going "OMG this is going to be so hard on ME!" even though THEY are just fine. The chair acts as a filtration to friends as well.....those who are of the type to want only what's convenient for THEM or are overly concerned about appearances will be going off in the other direction. Now all this may not sound like a "+" but I assure you it is; because what you're left with are of higher inner quality(friends AND lovers), they're more caring & compassionate, more willing to lend a hand or accommodate YOU by meeting at places that ARE accessible, and will be there for you in good times AND the bad. Life for all of us got flipped upside down one day & rained for months or years til we sorted it all out. You to will get it sorted out in time.

Well said Wheeliebear

[Kelloggs]

18 years old going on a little over two years since my accident. I may still be a newb to life in the chair, but things have already gotten so much easier than i would have ever thought. i get out more than i did before i was hurt, i have a lot more people in my life, and hey i get to go to the front of the line for every ride in theme parks and i can get a tattoo and not worry aobut the pain (: everything falls into place sooner or later and gets easier, just have to enjoy life as it comes no matter what.

[Dub]

Its hard to add to all of these great replies....as most said the 1st few years were tough... but time truly heal...some fast, some slow.

My first 2 years were rough. My girlfriend at the time pulled the what about me mess.... lets just say that didnt last long... i wished for her the best and moved on... Anyway--- i met alot of nice peeps in the same position as me which helped so much. Lets just say the ones that stay are the real deal...
But the biggest part of it all is adapting.... remember practice makes perfect, just because u might not get it the first time around dont mean you wont...

Good luck and God Bless

[BS59]

Im just alittle past a year from the date of my injury also. I thought after a year I would be alot further along than I am but its been a struggle. Spasms have been the thing holding me back the most and last week I had a baclofen pump put in and hoping I made the right choice. If you ever want to compare notes drop me a line.

[Ginny]

I wish I had a gem of advice but the previous posters have already said it so well. I just 'celebrated' a year since my accident so I'm in the same boat as you. I've worked hard and am able to drive now and am back at work. This will happen for you, too. Keep working your PT and take care of your health. Look at everything as an opportunity to improve and regain your independence. You can do this!

[LeviM]

Things will definitely get better. I know that as time has gone by I became better at picking and choosing my battles wisely. Things like your bowel program will get to a point wheres its second nature, just one of those things you do. Make sure you have a support system. Being around positive people tend to make it a lot harder to spend much time in the dumps.

[pinkcloud]

hi there

there were times just before and after the operation i felt - not in a morbid way - that if i passed way i wouldnt be sad, just relieved to be away from the tiredness.

i would only be sad for those i left behind, its me love for others that make this bearable.

i've never improved...just gave in and took medications. And regained little more function all at a price - of pain.

Now i'm deteriorating i think stuff it..i been there before and did it - i'll do it again.

I no longer dream of getting better..to get no worse and i'll be sooooooooooooo thankful.

so i say emotional matters can be made better...physical i'll let you know when it happens

[Scribbler]

I don't have any advice just plenty of experience. I was single when injured and no family to care for me. If you read my profile it will save me typing too much.

Life certainly gets easier if you want it hard enough; it wasn't easy but it was worth it. You'll hit some cr#p times, but so do AB's; life can be a bugger, then you die.

I've gone from adapting as a C4/5 and learning how to push my chair, write my name, and also drive a car plus many other interesting things. I'm now learning how to adapt to old age as all that's being slowly taken away from me.

There are probably more cr#p days now than good ones but I still enjoy life, my many friends here and the few genuine AB friends I have. All in all I'd say it gets easier, but only if your glass is half full to start with.

Just sentimental old Scribb's reminiscing

[Brad Williams]

You are coming over the hump. The first year was the hardest for me but I gave my life to Christ and he turned my life around. Google me ( brad williams in lavonia) the first year I lived alone and I got very depressed. I sat so long that my legs and hips became very contacted. But after I gave my life to God he turned things around for me. .my wreck was in 2006 by 2008 I was married and by 2009 I my wife and I had my secont child with no help from doctors. Like I said the first year is the hardest. What you need to consintrate on most is getting your arms as strong as you can and staying acttive. The best way for me was simply rolling around town. I started off with 100yards and increst it every day untill I got to 25 miles a day. Then I did a fund raiser in 2009 from lavonia ga. To jacksonville fl. 320 'miles and I did it in 11 days. GOD IS AWESOME if you will just surrender all to him. Like I said look me up by googling brad williams in lavonia or find me on facebook if you want to know more. You can find me on facebook useing my email brad-77@live.com.

[1fineday]

Yes life does get easier. Im 12 yrs post & Still discovering new and inventive ways 2 get through the day independantly. As far as bodiy maintenance tasks go (Cathing, bowel programs etc) all i can say is that they become "white noise" in the background. Soon all those tasks that seem daunting become second nature & automatic. So keep your chin up!

[KK*]

I am speechless. What a wonderful group of people you all are.I have always been very independent and took such pride in it and preserving it. I must say I am moving forward, just not as fast as I would like. I was discharged from the hospital on Oct 8th and was back working by December.

I know this may sound strange but I am actually a much happier person in many ways than before the accident in July 2010. I was a workaholic, didn't take the time to develop friendships much less relationships and had somewhere along the way forgot who I truly was/am. SCI has made me slow down and literally smell the roses, enjoy the sunsets, strengthen my family bonds and realize my priorities in life were all messed up. Over the years, I have had some close calls but no wake up call. God had to use a bigger stick, I suppose.

Well, I will not ramble on but thank you all for the support and encouragement. Collectively you brought me back from a very cold, lonely, desperate and hopeless place heading fast into the depths of a very dark and unforgiving destination. For that, I thank you all and could never express how grateful I am you took the time to share a piece of yourselves and experiences with me.

Each and every one of you, know this, you do make a difference.

KK

[Tinbasher]

SCi doesn't get better but we can get better at it!

Scribbs summed it up we all have our trials but that's life. Having good friends helps and BEING a good friend helps too.

Take care

Tin

[McTavish]

Yes it definately does get better. I am six years post injury now and I have to say that life is great. It does not come easy though you have to work at it, if you are going to sit in your chair and complain then no, things will not get easier, if you have a good attitude and willing to try new ways of doing old things then yes things will improve greatly for you. Life has not ended because I am in a chair, it is just different,don,t get me wrong if I had the choice I would prefer to be upright but as I,m not I definately intend to make the best of what I,ve got.

[KK*]

Again, thank you all for taking the time to reply. Such inspiration is difficult to find these days.

KK