Just imagine how it will be when those 30 years are reversed when healed

If I get 25 of those 30 years back I will be happy. I am guessing 5 vertebrae fixed will always make bending down to tie shoelaces etc, will be somewhat more difficult.

Aim for 35!

@fatmanfilms, I'd like to encourage you to use as much or as little medication as you feel you need. It is your accident and your pain and your recovery process.

Unfortunately, those one cares about, be it partner or friend, are often in their own process of worry about the accident and its consequences. As tempting (and kind) as it is of you to want to protect them, please don't let yourself be persuaded (by others or by your own concern for them) to take medication in order to avoid frightening someone else.

I mention this because a nurse once pointed that out to me. She said, rather briskly: "If you are in pain, you should be taking the medication you need. If they are worried, then maybe they should be taking their own medication. Keep those two separate."

Hard to read the original post and pictures.

My first thought(s) - that would have hurt/ glad you made it/, how I hate being a patient or in hospitals / the guy is tough (but so is everyone in these situations) .
second thought: did you have back protection and would it have made any difference? hmm, probably only one of those motorcycle stunt grade ones with hard carapace...? Would you need one in future?
Tip: there are long (really long) shoehorns which make the whole bending over to do up shows thing a bit better and safer. I have been using one for years.

order here

I suspect a back protector would have saved me, I will definitely always ski with 1 in future. It's only in the last 10 years that helmets have become common on ski slopes.

I hope you keep in good spirit...I know well how addictive fast, free glide is on skis, but there are other things that will be close to that feeling. And sometimes even when one stays put, no motion at all. Take it easy, watch weird movies with your girl (enjoy having all that time to listen to her), listen to wfmu.org and ruv.is, read books, plan next travels, start an instrument, attend lectures, do art. Sending you a lot of support and I am glad that you are such a good sport. Lemi know if you need anything.

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

I know, I know- some will scream at me - but I learnt to ski in the early 50s- tweed plus 4s, knitted woolie socks and mitts (oh the itch and the smell when drying by the wood fire...) leather boots and straight long wooden skis with Kandahar bindings (invented neary in St Croix by a friend's grand-dad)...

and no, I wear a thick headband (can't stand hats - they itch like the stuff in the 50s) ... and no helmet - I do wear one when cycling.

You had the accident 6 February and broke your back. You posted on this forum 23 February with significant detail to the event, and included xray pics. You are one tough cookie.


Wish I could flaunt your story to all those hypochondriacs who bemoan their little aches and pains.....! Best wishes for being pain free soon.


Still early days perhaps, but any fall out from the police for you or your ski instructor?

Buy shoes without laces

I'm still surprised they're planning to leave the metalwork in place. Mine, done in Switzerland of course, was always going to be removed, which they were after 11 months.

Then again, the rods were something like 30cm long, spanning all 11 smashed vertebrae (including three fused together with bone grafts) and I guess if yours just span the five, in an part of the spine which is effectively movement-free in any post-40 y o body, they're reckoning that removing them would make no difference to the long term mobility anyway.

They could be removed after 2 years, but having filmed such a procedure unless there is a really good reason I will leave them in place.

J, M & J. 😐

Be well soon.

Is that a "mine's bigger than yours" comparison...

FMF - as everyone has said, but is worth repeating - given how stubborn you can be in your posts - treat your symptoms, take your time and do your physio when the time comes (not before...)...

Plan plenty of time when you go through airport security.

so much done on his body that he's becoming like Admiral Benson

When I was released from the hospital this was my maximum daily medication.

4 X 1000mg Paracetamol
2 x 100mg Tramadol
4 x 50mg Tramadol
2 x 100mg Ketoprofen
1 x Inexium 20mg
3 x Valium 5mg
4 x Morphine 10mg

I still have 80 x morphine 10mg & 24 x Tramadol 50mg & 4 x 1000mg Paracetomal.



I suspect the Valium was intended for my wife

Ack, and nothing for the stomach with that cocktail?