Hello people -
I've been surfing for days looking for advice and I hope I've found the right place. Maybe I don't want advice so much as experience. Four weeks ago my dad fell down stairs and suffered compression injuries C4 to 6 - he can breathe using his diaphragm,he can feel pain - lots of pain, he can think as hard as ever and his hearing is fine but he can't talk becuase of his tracheostomy or do anything for himself apart from thump his arms up and down on the bed. He can communicate by mouthing words although most of us are not up to lip reading him at all well. He is eighty which must make his situation very different from most of you but there have to be ways we can help him - he is determined to survive this. There is talk about moving him to a rehabilitation unit in Sheffiled - we're in England by the way, can anyone give me any ideas what they might do for him there? And what hope does he have, realistically of coming home? I am more and more impressed by him every day - he is showing more spirit than any of us could have imagined . I am proud of him but we all feel inadequate and scared for him.
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Advice For My Dad Please
Started by
*Ro*
, Sep 04 2005 10:33 AM
5 replies to this topic
Top#2
Apparelyzed
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Posted 04 September 2005 - 10:48 AM
Hi Ro,
Sorry to hear about your father, I hope he is settling down ok.
Sheffield is my hospital where I attended following my spinal injury, I'm a C5/6.
I know Mr McClelland and Ravi well, they are both excellent consultants in spinal injuries, and if your father does go there he will be in very good hands.
I'm not sure how they will go about his rehabilitation due to his age, but I do know they will make him work hard to get the most out of his abilities. Don't be too worried if he complains about them making him work too much, that's what rehab is all about.
As for your father coming home, that all depends on whether his home is suitable or not, and what care plan can be set up for him. The spinal injuries social worker will be able to give you a better idea once he has been assessed.
It's difficult to give any firm advice as it's so early into your father's recovery, it all depends how he gets on in rehab really and what his abilities and wishes are.
Regards
Simon.
Sorry to hear about your father, I hope he is settling down ok.
Sheffield is my hospital where I attended following my spinal injury, I'm a C5/6.
I know Mr McClelland and Ravi well, they are both excellent consultants in spinal injuries, and if your father does go there he will be in very good hands.
I'm not sure how they will go about his rehabilitation due to his age, but I do know they will make him work hard to get the most out of his abilities. Don't be too worried if he complains about them making him work too much, that's what rehab is all about.
As for your father coming home, that all depends on whether his home is suitable or not, and what care plan can be set up for him. The spinal injuries social worker will be able to give you a better idea once he has been assessed.
It's difficult to give any firm advice as it's so early into your father's recovery, it all depends how he gets on in rehab really and what his abilities and wishes are.
Regards
Simon.
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#3 *Ro*
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Posted 04 September 2005 - 11:19 AM
Thank you, Simon for that quick reply. I'm off to see him in a bit so I can tell him I've heard something good about Sheffield anyway. I can see it's too early to tell - but it feels weird saying that. For the first ten days we were so often told not to expect him to survive that none of us can see beyond next week and a month seems eons away. It's a huge jump forus as family to go from thinking we mustn' leave his bedside in case he doesn't make it through the night, to planning ahead.
#5
Apparelyzed
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Posted 04 September 2005 - 04:16 PM
Hi Ro,
When I was an accute patient at the spinal unit, the unit's Social Worker came around to see me as part of his duties. He was attached to the unit and dealt only with spinal injuries.
I'm sure he's still there, when and if your father goes to Sheffield, just mention you would like to meet him to discuss your fathers situation, I'm sure he wouldn't mind, he's very easy to talk to.
Regards
Simon.
When I was an accute patient at the spinal unit, the unit's Social Worker came around to see me as part of his duties. He was attached to the unit and dealt only with spinal injuries.
I'm sure he's still there, when and if your father goes to Sheffield, just mention you would like to meet him to discuss your fathers situation, I'm sure he wouldn't mind, he's very easy to talk to.
Regards
Simon.
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#6 *ro*
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Posted 07 September 2005 - 09:19 PM
Thanks again - although Sheffield might be a long way off - enough excitement today when he was allowed to have his head higher - for the first time in five weeks he's seen people walking past. It's incredible how happy things like that can make you.
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