SP: Knees? Check! Arms? Check! Brain? uhhhh

[powstash]

SP (Self Pity) Report

I'm wallowing in self pity and my wife is getting the brunt of it. And this my first ever visit to Gimp Central and all I see is blown knees and arms. Am I the only sukker in here with everything functioning except my head? Geeze, I've never missed any part of any season in the last 21 years and now in what I'd consider my prime I'm sidelined with two healthy knees and two healthy arms. I know, I'm an idiot if I don't remember and give thanks that just one week ago I was near death with a pile of blood on my brain, crushing it with crazy pressure. But with the first weekend arriving and all my buddies headed for high peaks and North Faces my phone isn't ringing like it typically does. Sigh.

Not sure how depressed I'll get when it starts snowing in earnest once again. I still check the avie report daily and the Wasatch Conditions Thread on TTips mostly out of habit but partly out of the urge to feel normal. I don't feel normal. I don't even know where my gear is. Some of it's still in my Thule box, other parts scattered in the garage. Who knows, I don't really care (at least I'm telling myself this).

Thanks for listening. Sorry to be such a whiner. What a strange state I find myself in.

[altagirl]

That's what gimp central is all about. Gives you a place to ramble on about injuries and rehab to people who can relate. No matter what the injury, we've all been stuck on the sidelines and had to deal with feeling like you're missing out.

Most importantly - I'm so glad to see you're doing alright!

So what is your recovery timeline looking like?

[PeachesN'Cream]

i too am just happy you are alive and doing okay.

it must be very hard to have all your limbs in tac and no obvious signs of not being able to ski. at least when you are in a brace and something is hurting real bad your body easily accepts that it's not in shape to be out skiing.

maybe we could make you a special "my head is in repair mode" hat out of cast plaster or something so your body is reminded that you are not quite totally well yet. we could send it around the country and people on the board could sign the cast hat for good luck... okay my idea is lame.

what is important tho is that your experience and situation is the first of it's kind here, or at least the first to be well documented. for you, and for the sake of all of us on the board, it would be great for you to talk about how you are doing, what is required for therapy and your general experience with this. that way we can learn through you... and should the same thing happen to another person on the board there is information to tap.

i know it's not your style, but for a lot of the board complaining and ranting is what it's all about. sooooo i don't think any of us are going to mind if you rant a little about missing some of the season. over here in gimppyville we can all relate.

[Redskea]

I've missed most of a season from head injury in 2000.
After a construction accident I had a head injury that destroyed my ability to balance, especially on the right side and gave me periods of horrendous vertigo and head aches (among other things.) It took over six months of physio to relearn balance after the initial couple of months of waiting to get better enough to do physio at all.
But it did get better and I've skiied a few hundred days since then, .

[powstash]

Thanks for the awesome words all. Connie, you rule. That's exactly what I needed to hear. I'm doing much better.

You're right BC - this is a unique accident for the maggots. I'm feeling solid now, but still taking it easy as the doc ordered.

One month to go until I see the doc again. I'm supposed to do nothing strenuous (lifting, running, certainly not skiing - he didn't say no sex ) so it's just be mellow and let my head mend. He did say that after a month I still can't risk another head injury so it may be another 2-4 weeks after that until I can start swimming or running. Climbing and skiing are not likely until summer. He specifically said, "Don't get bored on me and go skiing"

[altagirl]

So what do you have planned for your spare time?

Seriously - make a list of things you've thought might be cool to do but never got around to - volunteer work, learning a foreign language, books you'd like to read, classes you'd like to take, etc. I had hours every day in physical therapy and also went to real estate school last time I was recovering from knee surgery. Having a goal/activity that meshes with your current physical limitations is important.