Thank you for asking Mo2,
I need a place to vent, as in about 3 weeks my lawyer comes for an update, and he has been fixing things, advocating, for me all along.
It was one year Mar 27, and I still have pain, backaches, tics and tremors and shaking (neurological re my spine I expect, so see a Neurologist on May 31) and cannot move my leg up and out while sitting. I must ‘place’ it, manually, where I want it.
I tire easily so haven’t much oomph for gallivanting. I am to be rehabilitated to a point of independent living, as I was before, and am not there yet. I wanted my new Win 7 computer long before this and finally gave it a whirl. I called in a computer lady, who online shopped with me and we chose what I wanted. Then I went to the store, she came and took the computer in her car and brought it up when my van reached home. It was 10 minutes late arriving and 15 minutes early to pick me up at the store---oh to have my car on the road again, and use my own timing! We had ˝ hour to choose the computer and accessories but a good $deal and am still transferring some files, but plan on using both computers, so that I don’t have to upgrade some of my favourite software.
I was up at 6:00 the next day for her at 11:00 and she was here until 2:45. I went into pain! Too long sitting, but have to do it or never know. My therapist was coming at 4:30 and I don’t do things to mess up my exercises, so I asked her for a different order, and she complied (she is great) with the one that hurts the most at the end, and I managed all 20 x each, as we worked out the kinks. A lesson learned. That was just before I was to begin 30 x each and some new exercises.
I now have a hand held shower, so will be finally washing my own hair, will soon have a lap apparatus that will make my lap level for carrying things, will be doing my own laundry. I can dust at my level, but not ‘run back and forth’ in the ‘chair while sweeping the carpet, as I use my hips and that aggravates the pain. I can strip the bed but not make it from scratch. I checked out a test cushion for my 1” shorter leg, but need something different, with a ‘cutaway’? The leg difference is not noticeable to others, as I am sitting all the time, but noticeable to me, as the back of my left knee is cut into by the chair upholstery and cushion, causing skin breaks and a bad ache.
This time is far more complicated than 40 years ago, and soon the Insurance Co. is likely to say, ‘enough of that’ and cut all funding, then the rest becomes part of my Claim, for loss, pain and suffering. I can hire Karla for therapy on my own, have a home worker come in etc. and *I* have to pay. I don’t know if my lawyer will advise to settle out of court, as I had the impression that *this* one he wants in a court room.
A year ago I was hallucinating on the drugs and sleeping with my eyes open watching the quiet nurses on duty, but they whispered so I made my own script to their actions. It was terrifying as the N was in those hallucinatory nightmares and I was sure I was imprisoned and he was planning to kill me. Now my not-on-drugs nightmares are still about him and I am ever so happy to wake up alone in tremors and shaking but safe. That just proves to me that the N is one’s life is a nightmare worse than this prolonged recovery. Even my daughter’s N shows up in my nightmares.
My gnashing teeth (think seizure) from the tremors have been knocked out of line and I think there are 2 that might have to be removed, after an 18 month gap in check-ups--was due for a 6 mo. check just after the accident and again this past fall.
My sister will be here in less than a month’s time but I have forewarned her about my awful schedule. She is still willing to come, wants to come.
40, almost 41, years ago I was in the hospital and Rehab for one year and went from total paralysis to ambulating on crutches, but there was no pain. This is so different, and it appears that the stronger my muscles become the less the pain will be!
Love Izzy
