It has been quite awhile since my last update and I feel bad for those who actually keep up on this and read it. A lot has been going on for me since Novemeber. I am making progress in my recovery and can do the normal walking around activities with little pain. I am still having big issues when I do any kind of physical activity though. Just before Christmas we went sledding and I did as well. Nothing to major just played in the snow and played with my daughter Alex. We went to Leavonworth after to walk around. By the time we were getting ready to go home my head and neck started to hurt. It didnt seem to let up at all even after a couple of pain pills. It got so bad I couldn't even drive at all. The next day I had a miagraine all day as well. Then again last week went roller blading along the trail for about 20 minutes. That evening the same thing started again. It's not a muscle pain but feels like it is in between my skull and spine. It is a sharp pain that just wont go away for awhile. I guess I need to take it easy still and go slowly back into to physical activities. That is such a bummer for me. I really wanted to try and get in better shape leading into the summer so I could get back on the water and ski again. Well Maybe the end of summer is a better goal. We will see.
I am starting physical Therapy up again next week to hopefully try and get some more movement in my neck and try to get the stiffness to be less.
On another topic I have gone back to school and I am studying to get my BA in secondary teaching to teach high school math. I am really excited about this and cant wait to start the program this summer.
The other big hurdle I have been dealing wiht lately is trying not to hurt so bad in the morning after sleeping so crappy. I have tried everything. New pillows, more pillows, less pillows, none. It seems to be a crap shoot every night as to how I will wake the next morning. Hopefully it will get better soon.
Have a great day until next time.
Bryan
Hey Bryan! Thanks for the blog. I'm in week 6 of the halo-wearing life. My C-1 broke on an otherwise great day of skiing on Mt. Hood. Your blog entries address most all the issues I face daily, including pain control, sleeping positions, mental challenges, medical institution incompetence, that "wtf do i do next?" feeling,and great gratitude for the opportunity to keep going after such a serious injury. And asking people to pray for me--I've never done that before this injury. Have you had any feedback from other survivors? I'd love to hear from them. Your healing is in my prayers too. ~isa anne
ReplyDeleteHey guys, this is my second comment (first was on a Nov post below), but one develops a weird sense of understanding with others after sustaining an injury such a this.... I broke C1, 2, 3 and shattered C7 - which is now fused to C6 - I am proud to be a hip neck ;) this was in 2002 when I was 16, I am now 25.... I feel for those dealing with halos, what a contraption, mental and physical cage. I had a hospital bed, but sleeping was brutal, and usually needed to be induced. 9 years on, I experience pain on a daily basis, varying degrees (good and bad days....). Scares me a lot as I wonder when and if it will fall apart. I want to really, really let people know to please be careful with your pain meds - percocet, t3, you get tolerance and then addiction can occur with you not knowing it or meaning to. Tylenol can be toxic -if your meds aren't working pls speak to your dr for something stronger, dont take more and more as the tylenol and be posion. Not trying to scare anyone, but I know its easy to happen, esp when you're in pain and just want it to go away. I hope everyone all the best, and maybe will chat more with you (Bryan and Isa) in the future. I know its hard, but God sometimes chooses the strongest people for the worst things - he knows you can handle it. Much love, Dani
ReplyDeleteIsa Anne
ReplyDeleteI hope you are doing well. I would lov eto hear how youare doing again. Are you getting closer to getting your Halo off soon. If you would like you can email me at bryanisenhart@gmail.com I will keep you in my prayers.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Bryan
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to chat with you about your recovery. You are a little ahead of me and I'm not real sure if you ended up having to have surgery. I too had a jefferson fracture of my C1 with no spinal cord injury. It appears we are the slim few to live and be able to talk about it. I fractured mine in only 2 places though, and 12 weeks in a torso brace found that it wasn't healing and ended up having a C1/C2 fusion. I am currently going to PT 3x a week. I've been 2 days off my pain killers. A little sore but managing.