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LIVING WITH A SPINAL INJURY Foreword A spinal injury is usually a shock to the person's life and world. From the point of independence and taking mobility for granted, individuals are thrown into the world of the unknown where suddenly they find they cannot move or pick up a cup of tea etc. Learning to accept these circumstances and the long road of rehabilitation is very difficult to accept in the initial stages. Recovery is faster with maximum support which needs to be both psychological and physical. Isolation and shunning from society is not the way forward but few people in society realise that we can all play the most important role and that is to support our friends and neighbours on the road to recovery. Every person has a requirement to belong and be accepted. A person with a disability is like any other person you may meet in the street, in your pub etc. It is important to see the person and not the disability. The individual below provides a personal account of his rehabilitation . LIVING THROUGH A SPINAL INJURY by Rick William Wolfgang I personally think that once the injury occurs, there is usually a period of lost, along with many physical changes that take place in a very short time. Spinal Shock is usually one thing to look for, and if the Spinal Shock does change, then that is a good and positive outlook for some recovery of movement, etc. The patient as well as the family view this objectively and plan for recover that is reasonable for the injury. Not all injury developed in paraplegic or quadriplegic patients. Some patients walk away with very little injury. These are few and far between. BUT, it does happen. At first, many SCI patients are overwhelmed with their own injury to think any further that their current condition. Many of the patient are ready for the strict Rehabilitation programs, and are unaware of the time involved and are not willing to except this time plan, and experience a period of depression. I happened to come from a family that is very supportive in helping me overcome my physical, as well as, my mental condition in regards to my C1-T11 condition. In my public speaking engagements, most of the time, the family is totally unaware of the patients feelings at the time of their injury. They tend to dwell on the negative, and not the positive. The family is more upset then the patient. That is, most of the time. In my recover period, my family worked during the day hours, and only visited at night, and on the weekends. They were not there during the many hours of my rehabilitation and therefore, were not part of that plan. This is the time that the patient needs family support, if possible because after rehabilitation many patients go to a rehab. home for more instruction, and the family must be aware of this situation, and become part of it. Without family support at this time of rehabilitation, I call this time a period going it alone. I had to overcome many obstacles BY MYSELF. I then transferred the tools that I were taught to my family. They were very surprised that I could do anything by myself, and were willing to help when needed. This processing takes time, and one must be consistence in their goals, in order for the recovery process to proceed. The spinal injury will always be there and you cannot change that fact. It's the patients attitude that counts, and a positive one it great in recovery. The Patient has to come with grips with their condition, and deal with what condition they are left, and what can be recovered. Reality hits when acceptance is not realised. It is unrealistic to THINK that you will walk in the near future if your injury is severe and at a high level such as in the Cervical area. The patient, still can hope, but must absorb all options on a realistic basis. I don't mean that they can't strive for more, but if more doesn't come, they must except the outcome, and go forward with their lives. I can tell you there is a life after a Spinal Cord Injury. Life is what you make of it, although is will be hard, it can be done. I am living proof. If our readers have any suggestions we should feature, please contact us. We will in future provide a self help section with contact details of associations which can assist in a spinal injury both in the UK and the USA. The NHS Exposed Team
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