DreamWeaver

This post is from a site I belong to; Aparalyzed - I saved this because it has great insight from a person living with paralysis for 3 decades.

Hey there DreamWeaver welcome aboard!

I'm a c5/6 incomplete and on May 7th it will be 32 years rolling. Please realized that each injury is, can be, tremendously different. No one can really say what return we might and might not get back...it's a crapshoot at best, depending on the severity of the injury.

If I have learned anything from these last three decades...well, here are a few thoughts

1 - Focus on what capabilities you have left and build on them, try not to focus on what you have lost, can't do...

2 - Keep exercising, stretching, range-of-motion and flexibility are incredibly important, as is your weight

3 - Keep busy, physically, mentally and spiritually...too much idle time kills you slowly

4 - Maintain a diary or keep track of your improvements and accomplishments

5 - Pray or meditate or do whatever feels best to keep your spirits up, keep positive

6 - Seek out medical treatment ASAP, do not try to self diagnose or treat

7 - Always leverage the wisdom and mistakes of your peers...don't give up on learning or living

8 - Never give up hope, Live and Love now...the past is gone, the future is not here yet

With that said, to address your, your husband's first concern, I have not regained complete control of my bladder or bowel capabilities. But I have learned how to manage them and have been able to work full-time, enjoy going out, have a healthy sex life. You can have a creative, rewarding and enjoyable life...even if you must wear depends or have help wiping your arse.

As far as other physical abilities, I've not regained finger and other wrist/arm capabilities, but I have been able to strengthen muscles in my arms, chest and back, increase balance and flexibility enough to enable myself to be more independent. Post SCI I've finished college, learned to drive, shop, garden, engage in hobbies, go to concerts on my own, etc...it's a long list of can do accomplishments. I have used both manual and power chairs and highly recommend using a manual chair when/if possible. However, as I've aged my shoulders have gotten worse, take good care of them...

I have regained, much to my surprise and occasion discomfort, near complete sensation. Not just light touch, but hot and cold and the sensation of pressure at the skin level only...for my entire body. As mentioned, there has been increased discomfort, nerve pain, numbness/stinging with this gain in sensation but most of this gain, good and bad, has occurred in the last 18 years, not just the first two years...

I've had a pretty good life pre and post injury. You get out of it what you put into it, and it is about choice. Rejoice in the little things, build on what you have, celebrate, make the best of the life you have left. Never give up though, a close friend of mine with SCI just regained some function in his lower body after a decade of rolling...you just never know what can happen.

A book I read a few decades back spoke to the struggle of SCI, it's author stated...we are extraordinary people living under extraordinary circumstances.

Regards,

Jerry

Edited by StillFingers, 25 February 2010 - 11:38 PM.