The road of my recovery has been challenging. My injury happened from an auto accident in a parking lot on October 23, 2018. I was driving around 15 mph, then was blinded by the sun and hit a light post. My forehead hit the steering wheel then suddenly I could not move. I tried reaching my cell phone but my arms would not move. It was quite a while before someone found me. That was the most terrifying 20 minutes of my life and I still have nightmares about it.
My spinal injury is at the C3 level and is incomplete. The C3 level is pretty high on the spine which means movement and sensation muted below level of injury. In my case, that means anything below my upper chest. I am a quadriplegic.
I’ll spare you the gritty details of the past 3 1/2 years. It would fill Lake Michigan. But in order to understand my blogs better, you will need details regarding my baclofen pump.
Baclofen is anti-spastic medication frequently prescribed to people with spinal cord and brain injuries. It comes in oral and liquid forms. An intrathecal pump dispenses baclofen through a catheter attached to the spine. The supposed benefit of this versus oral baclofen is bypassing the kidneys, which breaks everything down.
The pump was surgically inserted February of 2019. This was done just a couple of weeks before my discharge from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation hospital in Grand Rapids. It was right after this time my wife wanted a divorce. It was within a week of discharge when the intense tone and spasticity hit me like a freight train. My right leg was so stiff, it would require intense range of motion to bend it. My left elbow was bent at a 90° angle, which required an elbow flex brace to keep it from contracting. The muscles were so tight throughout my body that any type of noise would trigger a body spasm. I couldn’t watch TV because watching any type of movement overwhelmed me.
Within three months of discharge, I was readmitted back to MFB to address these issues. The problem was the baclofen pump was not doing its job of alleviating the tone and spasticity. I went through three surgeries to either replace the pump or revise placement of the catheter to my spine. I’ve lost count how many surgeries and procedures I’ve had. My doctor said my condition is “uniquely unique” meaning everybody’s recovery from SCI injury is unique but mine takes it even further.
I was at MFB for over one year. I currently reside at a neuro rehabilitation center called Hope Network. I continue to have physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and recreational therapy.
So much has happened between the injury and now not mentioned here. If you’re bored, you can scroll through my caringbridge entries that I’ve had for a few years.
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