Julie.More@p2.f223.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Julie More) (04/16/91)
Index Number: 14946
In a message of <12 Mar 91 16:47:00>, Bill Freads (1:12/700) writes:
BF> You know, it would be funny as hell to go put-putting into a mall or
BF>Supermarket full speed, blaring horn, lights-a-flashing, people running
BF>for cover every wich way HAAA, I just can see it now <chortle>, I know
BF>I would try it for sure... but then I have a perverted mind to begin
BF>with...
Yeh, I can just hear the evening news report. Guys in electric
wheelchair machines are terrorizing the innocent shoppers of
Toronto. In order to catch up with you guys they will have to
outfit cops with electric scooters. <grin> Then there will be the
head lines in the Toronto newspapers. There is a new wave of
wheelchair crime growing in our city. <chuckle>
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!223.2!Julie.More
Internet: Julie.More@p2.f223.n163.z1.fidonet.orgBill.Freads@f700.n12.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Freads) (04/16/91)
Index Number: 14955 > Hi Bill, you've got the idea of what a full fusion is. > They fuse all of the vertabrea and then insert a metal rod. > The metal rod is then attached to the spine. They need to > add the rod for support. Not fun. I won't be able to > transfer myself if they do this, so I want to hold off as long as Yea, I do have an idea, so that is why I didn't want any of them to fiddle with my spine, that is all I need, a stailess steel rod in there, it's bad enough they installed Teflon plumbing in my belly, let alone the struts now too to keep the whole fixture from toppling over... If you can possibly manage, do hold out, I know, a little pain is better than having untold other problems added by surgery. I know the good Doctors mean to help, but... sometimes, I wonder if they have any idea what we have to go through after such an operation and how it will affect our daily normal life.. Hang in there Girl... Best of everything and have a tender Hug from this old Bear. Bill -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!12!700!Bill.Freads Internet: Bill.Freads@f700.n12.z1.fidonet.org
Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (04/16/91)
Index Number: 14956
PN> Hi Bill, you've got the idea of what a full fusion is. They fuse all
PN> of the vertabrea and then insert a metal rod. The metal rod is then
PN> attached to the spine. They need to add the rod for support. Not fun.
I
PN> won't be able to transfer myself if they do this, so I want to hold
off
I'm jumping in here without knowing the background. A
Harrington rod instrumentation with a spinal fusion should not
stop you from transfering. In fact it should aid you after you
heal in that you will have more stability.
I understand wanting to postpone the procedure because it
does require aconsiderable recovery period.
I know several paras and high level quads who have had
the procedure. Check with a P.T. and get their input.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain
Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.orgPandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Pandora Nigh) (04/16/91)
Index Number: 14975
Hi Bill, I'm going to hold out as long as I can. But the problem isn't
just getting back aches, the problem comes in from the rib cage being
displaces and your other internal organs being crammped from the
compaction of the spine. So support has to be added to keep breathing
and other internal organs functioning prperly and not being punctured or
damaged. Right now my spinal collapsing isn't complete so I figure that
external supports durring the daytime can handle things. When it gets
more profound they will have to do the fusion just so that I don't
punture and compress my lungs at night when I'm not in my chair or in
the bath ect. I've had several years to come to terms with this
eventuallity. I just don't see the point in the way they want to quick
right away go totally drastic with a fusion instead using external
methods untill it is really neccessary. While progssive disorders can be
a headache, at least a lot of stuff doesn't catch you by suprise, you
are told pretty much the odds of at what will eventually go. For me
this gave me a chance to work into and adjust, and adapt better and not
be overly suprised as things keep going down hill. I've had a chance to
emotionaly work through it a bit for a few years.
Thanks for your support and encouragement
Pandora
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!157!3!Pandora.Nigh
Internet: Pandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.orgPandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Pandora Nigh) (04/16/91)
Index Number: 14976
Hi Joe, I'm not a para or a quad, I have MD. The problem comes in on
how I'm able to transfer myself. I don't have the muscles in the arms or
legs to pull any support from, so I have to use what muscle tissue I
have left over my whole body and my body weight itself to transfer. It's
kind of hard and complicated to explain how I tranfer step by step, but
basically what I do is to fall to where I'm going. In order to do this I
have to be able to lean and twist my upper torso. (really just let it
collapse of to the side). With a fusion I'll not be able to do this.
Not only am I losing the discs in my back (they are muscles) I'm also
losing the muscles across the back, shoulders, chest, hips etc. It's
hard to explain and compare with other disabilities, basically I know a
couple of quads who can stand with a very light kn cage brace and
crutches r stability. For me to stand I have some really heavy stainless
stealraces that go from my shoes up to a girdle rigging around my hips.
The stays on the braces are 1/2" thick and they lockt the knee. They
also weigh 25 pounds a piece. The reason that there is such a great
difference between my standing braces and the couple of quad friends of
mine is that they still have muscles that will support their weight. I
don't therefore the braces are supporting me. Heck I can stand when I'[m
asleep.
Pandora
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