Broken neck vs broken heart

[SCI_snowbunny]

I broke my neck in a snowboarding accident 6 months ago. I damaged several vertebrae and have plates and titanium screws fused into my spine using a bone graft from my hip.

To look at me you wouldn't even know, unless you saw my scars or my skeleton on my CT scans.

My heart and spirit also broke that day. With the help of my family and friends I am slowly building my strength back up but I feel like a lesser version of myself. I was told not to snowboard for a year, if ever.

Bittersweet is the best word to describe it. I am so lucky. My doctors said I tempted fate. Lucky to be alive, lucky to be walking. For 5 months I was a ticking time bomb. 24 hours changed and saved my life forever.

Some days I look at my scars with pride and other days I want to scream. I feel weak, like my body let me down. How could I not know I had broken my back?!

I am scared to do simple things that I didn't even question before. Every twinge or ache takes me right back. Seeing myself in a neckbrace in ICU is an image I will never forget.

The physical pain is going, I will always feel it to one extent or another but it's the emotional scars that are holding me back...

[white knight]

Hi bunny, welcome

Well what great challenges you've had. Maybe we can help you work on your emotional side.

On a si d noye, I had a back injury in 1990 when I worked for Telstra. For 2 years I believed it would never heal. It did, i was lucky but the reason Ive mentioned it is that I had to transform my thinking. I had to put on hold so many projects, learn how to lift objects, new exercises, new profession and so on

Then while talking to my sisters friend he said "I concentrate on what I have, not what I've lost".

So, you fo acknowledge how lucky you are. Thats positive. But there is much more room in your mind for great things, far more positive thoughts and determination to go...and I'd like to offer you some ideas on that.

- attend motivation lectures

- keep negative people away

- read inspiring books

- read quotes... (vhurchill is my favourite )

Google the following threads

Topic: 30 minutes can change your life- beyondblue

maharaji the perfect instrument

Train your mind to never give up. If you have a nad day thats fine, bounce back twice as hard the next day.

Love each day...breathe...

I hope you'll be hanging around. Its a top forum.

Tony WK

[Mathy]

Hey Snowbunny :),

Couple of young men I know snowboard, man that’s a crazy sport!

Anyway, I see you as perhaps needing some inspiration. Google Toby Price - broke his neck in an off road motorbike event 2014 - broke C6, C7 and T1, became Australia’s first Dakar Rally winner in 2016, defending in 2017, broke his femur. now back on bike. rides for Red Bull Racing, best cheers M 🙂

He has FB page and his own WWW site. very inspirational young man