Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!clyde.concordia.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!usc!snorkelwacker!mintaka!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!360!1.13!Curtis.Oglesby From: Curtis.Oglesby@p13.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org (Curtis Oglesby) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Question Message-ID: <12850@bunker.UUCP> Date: 18 Jul 90 04:43:46 GMT Sender: news@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Curtis.Oglesby@p13.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:360/1.13 - Augusta Forum, North Augusta SC Lines: 51 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 9246 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] JP> What is your disability ?? Are you amblatory ?? Buddy will JP> go several days 'pushing' himself, then kinda 'collapse'. I have a C4/C5 (mostly C4) injury which for me means I have total paralysis from the shoulders down, some movement of my arms, but no use of my hands. I'm not "ambulatory" but I've very "rambulatory!" (See my bragline) I push myself every day, makes the bed a welcome sight at night. But, I think we should also know when to quit. It's possible to cause permanent damage if muscles, joints, etc are strained too much because of lack of full sensation. I've occassionally pushed so hard that my poor arm & shoulder muscles would totally fail for a few seconds. Frightening! >> Yup, sounds familiar. When I get sick or am real tired, it's very >> tuff to stay warm. JP> I'm gald to hear others say that they also have these kind of JP> problems ... I've read all of these messages to Buddy (doesn't make JP> him FEEL any better physically, but makes him 'feel' better to know JP> that others have the same symptons and he's not going crazy .. ;-). We all develop our own coping mechanisms, or I guess we WOULD go crazy. I'm an optomist but keep myself prepared for the worst. If the worst hsppens, I can handle it; when the best happens, it's great! The best idea I've heard is to fight like hell to do things we can do and change things we can change, but not let ourselves be eat up inside about things we absolutely cannot do or cannot change, and then be smart enough to know the difference. Sometimes, I'm not so smart. >> I think it is very common. JP> Thanks again for your reply. Glad to chip in. Take care, Jean & Buddy, and keep looking for the pony, Curt BTW, the pony story is about an optomist and a pessimist. Ever heard it? -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!360!1.13!Curtis.Oglesby Internet: Curtis.Oglesby@p13.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org