5 replies to this topic

[steve1234]

I have a son that was injured in a car accident on Sept 24,2011. What the Drs. called a complete c-4,5 injury. He has ben in the hospital for over 2 months and just started rehab. At this time he is on a ventilator but they are weaning him off. His attitude has been very positive and he says we will live with what happens. What can we expect? What kind of work is out there for a quad? How do we introduce him back to society? any answers would be helpful. This is scary to him and me.

[goose]

Welcome to the forum Steve. I'm a C4/5 too. I was also in a car accident 25 yrs. ago. How old is your son and where is he doing rehab? The first 2 years will be the time he needs to work harder than he has ever done before. This time frame is most likely when the most return happens. What he puts in now will determine the dividends he receives. A positive attitude is a HUGH step in the right direction.

Focus ALL energy into rehab now. Work and life ....worry about later. I'll be glad to answer any questions or talk with you personally. Send me a PM or leave me a comment....I'll keep in touch.

[Edinburgh Colin]

It's very, very early days.


You have a long journey ahead of you and the first stage of that is to get through the settling down of his system from the shock of the injury, then the initial rehab to get him associated with what it means to live with his injury.

At the moment just focus on him and the here and now as that's what he needs the most. Be supportive and do not try and force onto him what you think he needs, rather let him ask. He has a big mental adjustment to make and that will take an indeterminate period of time.

Good luck and ask anything that comes to mind here as you will most likely got a quicker and more practical answer that the medical support you have though you must listen to them as well.

EC.

[wheeliebear75]

As others have said so well....take it slow & let him adjust to everything. As he begins to be able to be more independent THEN talk about what "work" he can do. Set job as a distant goal with things like driving & self care being the goals to work on for the near future.

[Muskie]

Hi Steve, welcome to the forum, my 21 year old son was injured on August 2, 2011 he is a c5 quad. We just got home on Nov 21. We are currently going to outpatient, please feel free to ask me any questions.

[Millard]

steve1234, on 02 December 2011 - 04:45 AM, said:

I have a son that was injured in a car accident on Sept 24,2011. What the Drs. called a complete c-4,5 injury. He has ben in the hospital for over 2 months and just started rehab. At this time he is on a ventilator but they are weaning him off. His attitude has been very positive and he says we will live with what happens. What can we expect? What kind of work is out there for a quad? How do we introduce him back to society? any answers would be helpful. This is scary to him and me.

Hi Steve,

I was injured in an automobile accident resulting in a C5-C6 injury in 1967. I was in the hospital for 100 days before coming home for 6 weeks. I then went to rehab center for about 3 months. I then transferred across the street to our state run rehabilitation center where one is taught a trade. (ie: bookkeeping, etc.) I could go on in detail and make a very long post but I will not do that to you. I quit working in 2009 as I had burned out, almost totally after 40 years of continuous working. It is up to your son which way he goes. You can help and support him but it is still his choice. It will take him 3-4 years to adjust to his new body so you must be very patient.

Good luck Steve and stay in touch. There is a lot of experience here that you can draw from. Also, you need to get your son on here as soon as possible.