Aa
intro & symptoms
I'm a 23-year-old student in his long-awaited final calendar year of undergrad.. I'm studying political science with the lofty aspirations - given my ailment(s) - of graduating law school and practicing in the next five years.
Last May, amidst a cloudy, at best, social environment, I fell fifteen feet from the second floor of my apartment building to the unforgiving, concrete walkway below. I broke my cranium, one of my sinuses, another orbital bone and wrist, amassing a few facial scars and - more significantly - some crippling left foot (particularly big toe area) pain. I awoke from the medically-induced coma which was imposed upon me after three weeks. I'd come to learn later that my survival was anything but certain during those three weeks, but that is neither here nor there.....
I got out of the hospital about a week-and-a-half later after busting my tail in physical and neurological rehab, doctoring my answers, if necessary, to get out of said cold, uncomfortable setting.. One thing that arose during my physical rehab and despite the cornucopia of meds I was on, was a serious pain on the inside half of my left foot. My PT dismissed it and all rested comfortably.
9 months later, sans the veil of daily tramadol and lyrica pills, the pain and limp is still there.. I've had MRIs, misdiagnoses, and scans galore that have done zero to articulate the problem. Thus, I am one of the millions of faceless study subjects considered neuropathy-stricken.. My problem is this - I was 22 when the accident happened, and upon turning 23, was not fortunate enough to garner the fruits of my parents' labor (great insurance) any longer.. My once-prodigious stockpile of meds is dwindling and I am afraid to even consider the future.. Presently, one 50 mg. Tramadol and 100 mg. Lyrica get me thru the day. . . Without them, though, any sleep is restless and my mood, work ethic and athleticism are equally crippled daily. Any light at the end of my tunnel?
Last May, amidst a cloudy, at best, social environment, I fell fifteen feet from the second floor of my apartment building to the unforgiving, concrete walkway below. I broke my cranium, one of my sinuses, another orbital bone and wrist, amassing a few facial scars and - more significantly - some crippling left foot (particularly big toe area) pain. I awoke from the medically-induced coma which was imposed upon me after three weeks. I'd come to learn later that my survival was anything but certain during those three weeks, but that is neither here nor there.....
I got out of the hospital about a week-and-a-half later after busting my tail in physical and neurological rehab, doctoring my answers, if necessary, to get out of said cold, uncomfortable setting.. One thing that arose during my physical rehab and despite the cornucopia of meds I was on, was a serious pain on the inside half of my left foot. My PT dismissed it and all rested comfortably.
9 months later, sans the veil of daily tramadol and lyrica pills, the pain and limp is still there.. I've had MRIs, misdiagnoses, and scans galore that have done zero to articulate the problem. Thus, I am one of the millions of faceless study subjects considered neuropathy-stricken.. My problem is this - I was 22 when the accident happened, and upon turning 23, was not fortunate enough to garner the fruits of my parents' labor (great insurance) any longer.. My once-prodigious stockpile of meds is dwindling and I am afraid to even consider the future.. Presently, one 50 mg. Tramadol and 100 mg. Lyrica get me thru the day. . . Without them, though, any sleep is restless and my mood, work ethic and athleticism are equally crippled daily. Any light at the end of my tunnel?
Hi John
I'm really sorry to hear about your nasty fall, it must have been such a shock to the system. Props to you for getting on with life under very trying circs.
I think Stormy and Dr Maria have given some ace advice and info. Our bodies are paradoxical - they can be incredibly tough and in other ways very fragile. I think rest, lots of, is a really good way to go. And very good wholesome nourishing food - not a typical student diet! (Sorry, you sound like a very sensible young man who is very conscious of nutrition...but you never know...jiminy, even one BigMac could be a threat if you believe e.g. Supersize Me!)
Personally, I'm very anti pharmaceuticals and would never take anything without cast iron evidence for benefits over contraindications. So, for me that rules out most drugs...I've generally found there are many other kinder remedies that are effective.
Meanwhile,I reckon you have a great career ahead - you're a writer, aren't you? I always think of people like Woodrow Wilson and Stephen Hawking and so many more unsung who get on with amazing careers despite all their disabilities.
All I can say practically though is keep on seeking answers and treatment. And I wish you the very best with that...
bestest
samxx
PS to Maria....I lived inCyprus too! We got out just ahead of the airlift of Brits as EokaB really kicked off. That was a hairy experience. I'm wondering if you were in/around Akrotiri or Dhekalia? My tipple was Commandaria...
I'm really sorry to hear about your nasty fall, it must have been such a shock to the system. Props to you for getting on with life under very trying circs.
I think Stormy and Dr Maria have given some ace advice and info. Our bodies are paradoxical - they can be incredibly tough and in other ways very fragile. I think rest, lots of, is a really good way to go. And very good wholesome nourishing food - not a typical student diet! (Sorry, you sound like a very sensible young man who is very conscious of nutrition...but you never know...jiminy, even one BigMac could be a threat if you believe e.g. Supersize Me!)
Personally, I'm very anti pharmaceuticals and would never take anything without cast iron evidence for benefits over contraindications. So, for me that rules out most drugs...I've generally found there are many other kinder remedies that are effective.
Meanwhile,I reckon you have a great career ahead - you're a writer, aren't you? I always think of people like Woodrow Wilson and Stephen Hawking and so many more unsung who get on with amazing careers despite all their disabilities.
All I can say practically though is keep on seeking answers and treatment. And I wish you the very best with that...
bestest
samxx
PS to Maria....I lived inCyprus too! We got out just ahead of the airlift of Brits as EokaB really kicked off. That was a hairy experience. I'm wondering if you were in/around Akrotiri or Dhekalia? My tipple was Commandaria...
OMG you surely did some damage to yourself.
I had a friend years ago in the late 60s who did something similar. I was living in Cyprus at the time dad was in the RAF. My mate was a serviceman and he lived on the downstairs of a 1 up barracks. One day he had a few too many cypriot brandys, and decided to pop upstairs to have a chat with his mate. After about an hour it was time for his dinner so he got up and jumped over the balcony. YES THIS IS TRUE.
Having had a few too many drinks he totally forgot he was not in his room on the ground floor but in his mates on the 1st floor. When he went out normally he would just jump over his balcony saving himself a long walk round to the canteen.
Needless to say he landed badly and like you ended up in hospital but his stay was 6 months.
He did damage his spine as well. Anyway it took over 2 years to get back to some kind of normalcy so perhaps you are being hard on yourself. Years later he was still having the odd problems.
Your body had a huge shock and was damaged in ways you will probably never understand. You can even break or crack tiny bones that dont show up.
The pain in your foot sounds as though it could be nerve related. I get this pain in my foot so bad it takes my breath away but it is purely nerve pain related.
Now this could be you have awoken a neurological disorder or it could simply be you have damaged nerves and they will take a long time to heal.
I would caution you too about Tramadol it is a very crafty little tablet. It can even make your pain so unbearable that you have to take more and more.
I know this as a friend of mine is a recovering Tramadol addict. She was in a terrible state it just crept on her too.
I am by know ways saying you are an addict to Tramadol god forbid BUT just warning you take it carefully please it can cause devastating problems you might not even be aware of.
I am really going to be candid here but you wrote this:
I got out of the hospital about a week-and-a-half later after busting my tail in physical and neurological rehab, doctoring my answers...................................
PERHAPS by doctoring your answers to suit to get out of there you could well have done yourself a disservice.
Perhaps you in your haste to get home missed important data that your rehab team needed. JUST one thing out of sync with the brain can have devastating problems later on.
I personally think you have a longer road to recover.
You are amazing and have got on with life and you are working hard towards your goal, BUT you are dealing with terrible damage to your body and not giving yourself really enough time to get fully 100% fit.
Stop being so hard on yourself. Most people would still be in recovery with the amount of damage you had. I have to admire you and I think you will get through this but you sound the sort of guy who just wants to get on with life WITHOUT all the crap in between LOL, you know the I want recovery NOW type lol.
Your not a Leo by chance?
I am totally at a loss with USA insurance and health care but cant your parents extend yours or something or how do you now go forward do you have to buy your own?
Goodness I couldnt be doing with all that. We moan about our NHS in the UK but I tell you when i read some stuff on here about USA health care I will never complain again.
I am not sure what to say really except I think time is a big healer and I think you need to possibly except that your pain is going to be with you a bit longer.
Perhaps you need to rein back a bit and rest a bit more?
Oh dear what a stupid thing to say to a student LOL.
Anyway I feel your pain in your foot is from nerves.
Dr Maria LOL. xxxxxx
I had a friend years ago in the late 60s who did something similar. I was living in Cyprus at the time dad was in the RAF. My mate was a serviceman and he lived on the downstairs of a 1 up barracks. One day he had a few too many cypriot brandys, and decided to pop upstairs to have a chat with his mate. After about an hour it was time for his dinner so he got up and jumped over the balcony. YES THIS IS TRUE.
Having had a few too many drinks he totally forgot he was not in his room on the ground floor but in his mates on the 1st floor. When he went out normally he would just jump over his balcony saving himself a long walk round to the canteen.
Needless to say he landed badly and like you ended up in hospital but his stay was 6 months.
He did damage his spine as well. Anyway it took over 2 years to get back to some kind of normalcy so perhaps you are being hard on yourself. Years later he was still having the odd problems.
Your body had a huge shock and was damaged in ways you will probably never understand. You can even break or crack tiny bones that dont show up.
The pain in your foot sounds as though it could be nerve related. I get this pain in my foot so bad it takes my breath away but it is purely nerve pain related.
Now this could be you have awoken a neurological disorder or it could simply be you have damaged nerves and they will take a long time to heal.
I would caution you too about Tramadol it is a very crafty little tablet. It can even make your pain so unbearable that you have to take more and more.
I know this as a friend of mine is a recovering Tramadol addict. She was in a terrible state it just crept on her too.
I am by know ways saying you are an addict to Tramadol god forbid BUT just warning you take it carefully please it can cause devastating problems you might not even be aware of.
I am really going to be candid here but you wrote this:
I got out of the hospital about a week-and-a-half later after busting my tail in physical and neurological rehab, doctoring my answers...................................
PERHAPS by doctoring your answers to suit to get out of there you could well have done yourself a disservice.
Perhaps you in your haste to get home missed important data that your rehab team needed. JUST one thing out of sync with the brain can have devastating problems later on.
I personally think you have a longer road to recover.
You are amazing and have got on with life and you are working hard towards your goal, BUT you are dealing with terrible damage to your body and not giving yourself really enough time to get fully 100% fit.
Stop being so hard on yourself. Most people would still be in recovery with the amount of damage you had. I have to admire you and I think you will get through this but you sound the sort of guy who just wants to get on with life WITHOUT all the crap in between LOL, you know the I want recovery NOW type lol.
Your not a Leo by chance?
I am totally at a loss with USA insurance and health care but cant your parents extend yours or something or how do you now go forward do you have to buy your own?
Goodness I couldnt be doing with all that. We moan about our NHS in the UK but I tell you when i read some stuff on here about USA health care I will never complain again.
I am not sure what to say really except I think time is a big healer and I think you need to possibly except that your pain is going to be with you a bit longer.
Perhaps you need to rein back a bit and rest a bit more?
Oh dear what a stupid thing to say to a student LOL.
Anyway I feel your pain in your foot is from nerves.
Dr Maria LOL. xxxxxx
Hello & Welcome!
I am so sorry that you are going through this at such a young age.
I first want to comment on the Tramadol...My husband was prescibed Tramadol for an old football injury. It is so highly addictive and brutal to wean yourself off of. He took it faithfully for about 2 years and finally said enough is enough.It took him about 6 months to be rid of it because the withdrawl symptoms were horrible. So please be careful .....
Most of us on here are all to familiar with running the gauntlet of doctors and tests to no avail. Also the never ending pile of medical bills and debt up to our eyeballs because of it. Agin I am so sorry that you are dealing with this....
But please do not give up. If you are in pain there is a reason behind it. I know that it sometimes seems like a waste of time to even go to the doctor .Because you will either be dismissed or come away with nothing. But there are still good doctors out there that care for people and want to help. It's just that you must wade through all the muck to find them.
Yes there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It may be dimmed at times but it is always there...
Please Take Care, Theresa
I am so sorry that you are going through this at such a young age.
I first want to comment on the Tramadol...My husband was prescibed Tramadol for an old football injury. It is so highly addictive and brutal to wean yourself off of. He took it faithfully for about 2 years and finally said enough is enough.It took him about 6 months to be rid of it because the withdrawl symptoms were horrible. So please be careful .....
Most of us on here are all to familiar with running the gauntlet of doctors and tests to no avail. Also the never ending pile of medical bills and debt up to our eyeballs because of it. Agin I am so sorry that you are dealing with this....
But please do not give up. If you are in pain there is a reason behind it. I know that it sometimes seems like a waste of time to even go to the doctor .Because you will either be dismissed or come away with nothing. But there are still good doctors out there that care for people and want to help. It's just that you must wade through all the muck to find them.
Yes there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It may be dimmed at times but it is always there...
Please Take Care, Theresa
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