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Experiences with life changing injury

latediagnosed

Hi.

In April of this year I suffered an injury that became life changing.

It meant 6 months of being housebound.
Losing all the things that helped me stay healthy - walking, nature, sport, going out and seeing friends. 
Then I had surgery, and was told they couldn't tell me what would happen until they operated. I didn't know what would be the outcome unitl I woke up. 
The waking up experience was so intense and overwhelming wiht severe pain and sickness.
They had to remove part of my leg that has greatly impacted my mobility, and could mean future surgeries. 

I was saying to a therapist this week that when these types of things happen to NT people, it seems to leave a dent, but for me it feels like it leaves a crater. 

It's so hard for it to not become all consuming. And while I know I am more than my injury, it feels like I don't know how the rest of me is doing apart from injury at the moment.

My brain is hyper focussed on my injury, every movement, rehab etc. 

It's also very overstimulating not being able to escape a body that's struggling. 

I just wondered if anyone else had had similar experiences. It feels quite lonely to go through it as a ND person.

I wonder if everyone else thinks I'm being dramatic, or talking about it too much. 

I'm just struggling with so much pain, stress, and life change.

  • Hello, I'm sorry to hear this. It must be so hard for you.

    I can't speak from the same perspective, but I do have health issues that have crept up.  For years, I have had a backache which has been diagnosed as arthritis, and I can no longer load-bear, so my days of wandering around the countryside with a heavy camera pack and tripod are over now.  As photography has been such an important part of my life, I spent a long time mourning its loss; then I started to find other ways to indulge the hobby and now make still life photos and portraits in my small studio at home.  The point being, there is usually an alternative if you look for it; in my case, it took far longer than others, as I am particularly slow on the uptake, but here I am back enjoying the hobby and contributing to my camera club.

    A little over a year ago I was admitted to hospital for emergency life saving major surgery, almost didn't get out of that one!  I assumed that in three months I would be back to where I was!  Oh no, that was stupidly optimistic, and a year on, I am just beginning to be able to climb the stairs properly again.  So, don't rush.  Do what the doctors and nurses tell you; they do, in fact, know best.  Give yourself permission to recover at the rate your body dictates.  Take that time to discover your new limits, and I promise you that in time you'll discover what you can do to enjoy life again.  It will happen, but you have to allow the time the body needs and the brain to adjust.

    Take it easy, and get well before trying to sort out what replaces your old fitness regime.