To read Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8 of this article, click on these highlighted links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8
Today I would like to share something that I have not in the nearly 9 years since I created Second Chance to Live.In previous articles, I have shared that I taught myself how to walk after the car accident in which I fractured my skull and my left femur. What I did not share were the events that led up to my being able to learn how to walk again. So below are the events that helped me to learn to walk again.
Spica (Full Body) Cast
After completing traction for my fractured femur to fuse back together, the medical staff put me in a full body or Spica cast. The cast started at my neck and went all the way do to my left foot. On my right side of my body, the cast went down below my right knee.
So I was essentially encased in the cast with openings for elimination purposes. I remained encased in the cast for approximately 5 months from mid-September 1967 to January – February 1968. I remember being in the cast for several weeks that the cast was rubbing and causing skin breakdown below my right knee. I remember that the decision was made to trim the cast back on my right side to eliminate the rubbing and skin irritation. I remember that after the cast was trimmed that I was transported home. I remained at home in the Spica cast for the next 5 months until X-rays proved that my left femur had healed enough for the cast to be removed. I remember the skin itching under the cast during those 5 months.
Left Leg Shorter than My Right Leg
The result of my left leg and foot being encased in the cast prevented my left leg not growing in length as my right leg was during those 5 months. As a consequence, my left leg is shorter than my right leg. I remember that after the cast was removed from my body that I being taken to several physical therapy appointments. During these appointments, I told the physical therapist that it hurt to walk. Apparently, from what the Dr.’s told my Mom; that they could not fix my femur properly because of my brain injury. As a result, my femur did not heal properly through my time in traction and in the Spica cast.
Tough Love
Apparently, that was the reason I experienced pain trying to walk. My Mom took the seat out of a baby butler (see above) for me to practice walking. After telling my Mom many times that it hurt to stand and walk, she told me that I could either struggle to walk or drag myself around without the use of my legs. She told me that out of being at her wit’s end in trying to help me. She told me that it was my choice and mine alone.
Thank you for Mom for telling me that at the time.
My Mom told me recently that a short time after she told me that it was my choice, I began to struggle through the pain to walk. In late January or early February 1968, I start to learn how to walk again. I would pull myself up in the baby butler and put one foot in front of the other. Learning to walk again took time for various reasons.
Strengthen My Legs and My Balance
Being encased in the Spica cast for 5-6 months had caused some muscle atrophy in my legs, so I needed to strengthen my legs. Because my left leg did not grow longer in the cast, my left leg was shorter than my right leg. Being that my left leg was shorter than my right leg, I had to work on my balance too. My Mom told me that I walked with a limp for a long time. With time my legs strengthened and my balance improved.
With time I was able to begin to walk with less of a limp. With time I was able to jog without pain in my left leg where my femur had fractured. With time I was able to start to run. With time I was able to begin participating in sports in high school wrestling and track. I tried out for football, but thank God I was not selected to play on the team.
Little did I know that if I had been selected to play on the team that things could have been compounded by head hits. Looking back I see how God was protecting me from further brain injury.
Please read the next part of the series, Finding Craig — My Academic Path, click on this link: Part 4
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Craig the BEAST!!! Absolute! menacing! BEAST!!! Proudness and pride courses through my veins for you after reading this (so far) 3 part article! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
From,
not Watson ^^
Response #3… I’m literally reading one at a time, giving my respone, then moving on!
I had a ‘left side’ brain injury, therefore my right side wouldn’t work. I was place in a bed, pretty much doing nothing. Slowly recovered, went to GF Strong, and started to try and build my life back. I went from Not being able to walk, to a wheelchair, to using crutches/cane, to braces… even getting Shocked (FES system… a ‘lil jolt, but helps the best!). I have a tough time doing ‘fine’ tasks with my Right hand, and I have learned to be ‘Left Handed’ (I actually just Forced myself to type with my right hand!). But I truely do Not want to loose my Right :(. They took away my drivers licence, and just recently did my ‘Drives Test’ and got it back :)!
…Other than a few scars on my back, a bump on my shoulder, and a limp when I walk… this is an Invisible Disability!
Hi Tyler,
Thank you so very much for your comments and for what you have shared with me. I am honored by you doing so Sir. You are doing excellent work my friend. I am proud of you Tyler. In my experience I too have to do things a bazillion times to get good muscle memory. I have been using different martial art disciplines over the course of the past 17 or 18 years to improve.
I get it. It is an invisible disability. I wrote an article series, MY Struggle Living with an Invisible Disability that you may find to be helpful.
https://secondchancetolive.org/2009/03/19/my-struggle-living-with-an-invisible-disability-part-1/
https://secondchancetolive.org/2009/03/20/my-struggle-living-with-an-invisible-disability-revisited-part-2/
https://secondchancetolive.org/2009/03/22/my-struggle-living-with-an-invisible-disability-revisited-part-3/
https://secondchancetolive.org/2009/03/23/my-struggle-living-with-an-invisible-disability-revisited-part-4/
https://secondchancetolive.org/2009/03/23/my-struggle-living-with-an-invisible-disability-revisited-part-5/
I have a tremor in my left hand, but have found that by engaging in repetitive mirrored movements, over time; I have been able to achieve things that I never dreamed possible. Below is an article that I wrote in 2014 that you may find to be helpful. I will also include a short video presentation of how I have applied the principle of neuroplasticity through repetitive mirrored movements.
In my experience, it has just taken time and a commitment to not giving up. Let me know if the article and presentation help you Tyler. Thank you.
https://secondchancetolive.org/2014/08/11/neuroplasticity-small-successes-and-learning-relearning-skill-sets/
https://youtu.be/Ljsr_S18Fng
Have a pleasant evening my friend.
Craig
Hi Craig
Thankyou for sharing this. I have transverse myelitis after my 3rd.covid jab which has impacted the nerve transmission in my spinal cord. I am trying to understand how neuroplasty might help me walk better and for longer. I currently lurch and limp, but I am getting stronger, I cycled 12k this week. It’s the standing and walking which is really difficult.
Alison
Hi Alison,
You are welcome. Thank you for leaving a comment and for what you shared with me. Great work on your cycling this week. You are doing great!!! I am proud of you. One day at a time for me too. One workout at a time.
Below are links to several articles that I have written and shared on the topic of neuroplasticity, as well as how I have used the principles of neuroplasticity. In my experience, it has been a “wax on and wax off process” — like the Karate Kid movie.
I have also found that whatever I do on my unaffected side I mirror on my affected side. I use different martial art disciplines to accomplish this goal. Inch by inch, life’s a cinch. Yard by yard, it’s very hard principle.
Please click on each of the below links and view the material. Let me know if the information helps you, Alison. Thank you.
Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principles of Neuroplasticity
https://secondchancetolive.org/nine-habits-benefit-using-principle-neuroplasticity/
Neuroplasticity,Small Successes, Learning and Re-Learning Skills and Skill Sets
https://secondchancetolive.org/neuroplasticity-setting-goals-and-creating-hope-after-brain-injury-and-stroke-power-point-presentation/
How I Use Neuroplasticity to Create New Neural Pathways and Brain Reorganization
https://secondchancetolive.org/how-i-use-neuroplasticity-to-create-neural-pathways-brain-reorganization/
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope after Brain Injury and Stroke Power Point Presentation
https://secondchancetolive.org/neuroplasticity-setting-goals-and-creating-hope-after-brain-injury-and-stroke-power-point-presentation/
Have a great rest of your day.
Craig
Second Chance to Live
.
Hi Alison,
You are welcome. I am proud of you!!! Lots of wax on and wax off for me. Check out my article, Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills and Skill Sets. Here is a link to the article. May help you too. https://secondchancetolive.org/neuroplasticity-small-successes-learning-relearning-skills-skill-sets/. Keep up the great work you are doing. Inch by Inch, life’s a Cinch, Yard by Yard it is very Hard. Thank you again for letting me know my article helped you, Alison!!! Have a super day. Craig