lorrie,
This is a fairly comprehensive site for brain injury resources.
biausa.org
I thought I had a bookmark on my computer of brain injury support groups by state, but I can't find it. The above line has a national directory.
I guess I don't really realize just how lucky I was, I almost went completely through the windshield, but I able to use my upper body strength to push off the dashboard since I saw it coming. The car was totaled and the windshield looked alot worse than me(shattered), but I was able to go home the next day after a night of vomiting and extreme nausea.
The accident was in January of 93 and that was by far my worst year. Lot's of back and neck soft tissue damage, but I had a very good PT and I'm a very active person so was already in good physical condition and I think that helped immensely. But it's funny, I still separate my life into "before" the accident and "after". It definitely left it's mark.
I think it's hard for a lot of people to understand what goes on with a head trauma injury because for example in my case, you basically look fine once you recover from the obvious injuries. The biggest problem I had was with as I said earlier, short term memory loss and it was extremely frustrating to me. I tried different approaches, but one of the most successful with me was bio-feedback techniques using controlled breathing. I learned to lower my heart rate and raise my hand temperature by using the focused breathing. Once you're able to relieve the anxiety symptoms, you can function mentally with much more focus and acuity.
You had a very good surgeon, I had the same situation with my back injury that came with the accident. After 6 months of serious, debilitating pain, I went to a neurosurgeon for a consultation and when he said he didn't want to operate, I cried in his office. I just wanted something to fix the pain and be done with it! But he referred me to a wonderful PT that specialized in back and neck injuries, and after 6 weeks of his treatment (McKenzie method) I was almost completely back to normal. Now whenever I have a twinge, I go back on the program and everything is kept in alignment. Lucky Me! I'm so glad I didn't have surgery and I thank the neurodoc...
I know what you mean about "the anniversary".......
I really do hope you can get this thing under control and well managed. I feel confident that you will.
bp |
