Visits and Vibes for Ira at Craig's Hospital in Denver

[Ira]

Ok, so I suck at the forums and did could not change the thread title and I hoe to be forgiven for cluttering up this place with another thread.

I started this thread ([ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206745"]L1 Inpatient Rehab for Ira - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]) about where to go for treatment and now I am going to post more here on what is actually going on...

Here's where I am, and my new addy is:
Ira Edwards
C/O Craig Hospital
3425 S Clarkson St
Englewood, CO
80113

Feel free to contact me for a visit if you are in the area or passing through...

still dreaming of bottomless pow every day!

Ira

[Ira]

Hi all,

I am finally feeling a lot better and eating well, which is giving me the energy to hopefully heal even faster. I got fitted for a regular manual wheelchair this week, so I will be transitioning off of the electric one as my strength increases(no more cheating). I am off Oxygen, which is great! I have been poked and prodded and tested so much his last 2 weeks, I am not sure what hey are looking for, but we have a big meeting with my docs and therapists on Monday to go over all the damage they have found and what we need to do to get me over and through all of this.

There I so much to learn in a disabling injury (even if you still plan on full recovery...), is is like going back to elementary school and starting at just the basics. Totally odd concepts involved here. But everyone is great here. They have seen about everything and have a great way to deal with any issues people have. I am so glad I chose to come here...even if I was mostly sedated...

I am still gaining a tiny bit of feeling in my legs each day and the pain is a bit less as well. In a test yesterday, we found that I can now twitch 4 muscles in one of my legs. Nothing earth moving, but every little thing seems huge to me...

I am lucky to have my wife here as she was able to get enough leave from work. And I am happy for the friends who have visited and the new ones who have planned to be on their way soon.

Take care and more updates to come...

Ira

[XtrPickels]

Goodluck man.

[stuckathuntermtn]

wow. good luck. I hope you'll be walking again soon.

[F#*k you cat]

POSITIVE
((((((((VIBES))))))))))

your way

[igBand]

Heal up fast Ira!

[beaterdit]

Damn, stay strong, get stronger man. Here's to walking sooner than later!

[SitSki13]

Thanks for the update Ira, been wondering how you were getting on and sending out vibes.

There I so much to learn in a disabling injury (even if you still plan on full recovery...), is is like going back to elementary school and starting at just the basics. Totally odd concepts involved here.

Totally! I can remember struggling for weeks just trying to learn how get dressed again and was sure I'd never be able to put on a pair of socks again! The stronger you get, the easier things will get too and you'll laugh at how easy things are that you once thought were just impossible. Even without any improvement in function from where you are right now there is literally nothing you can't do. That's not some inspirational hyperbole, it's the truth. You can do anything, it's just about leanrning different techniques to get to the same results.

I am still gaining a tiny bit of feeling in my legs each day and the pain is a bit less as well. In a test yesterday, we found that I can now twitch 4 muscles in one of my legs. Nothing earth moving, but every little thing seems huge to me...

This is so awesome. Stay positive and keep at it, don't expect anything but don't give up and things will always get better.

[Tye 1on]

This is so awesome. Stay positive and keep at it, don't expect anything but don't give up and things will always get better.

QFT. Good on ya, keep at it, and three thumbs up to mrs. Ira!!!!

[mtcham]

Ira, wishing you the best of luck and a speedy recovery! Keep your thoughts strong and positive.

[hutash]

Good luck Mang, and stay tough. I can't even begin to image what this struggle must be like, but props to Andy for chiming in and giving support. Maybe Andy can hook you up at Canyons when he gets his gig.

[Ira]

Well, we finally had a meeting at Craig Hospital with all of my doctors, nurses, and therapists on the status of my injuries and how things are healing... Here goes, starting with the big injuries:
-14inch Birch tree across the shoulders
-Dislocated vertebra at the T12-L1 juncture
-4 fractured/smashed spinous proceses (the part of the back with the ridges that stick out from the discs)
-Severely pinched and bruised spinal cord (luckily nothing was severed or cut, so I am regaining some function)
-Nearly complete fracture of the scapula (side to side break of the shoulder blade), and some torn muscles
-Other shoulder severely dislocated and bringing ligament and muscle tears with it.
-Cracked rib on transport to Denver which caused them to have to drain over 1.5L of fluid in the pleural cavity to keep a lung from collapsing.
-Drugs that made me sick...

So now, I am to the point where I can sit up on my own, get on and off wheelchairs (most of the time) and hold a wheelie in the chair as I do laps around the gym. They will keep me here for another 6-8 weeks to see if they can release me to a local Alaskan doc and physioterrorist. I am currently wearing a SLIGHTLY padded metal brace on my torso whenever I am out of bed, and I cannot say how happy I will be when my back heals enough to get rid of it.

My biggest hurdle seems to be flexibility, which comes from spending my first 3 weeks flat on my back in a bed all day. I am regaining it back but it sure is a slow process for a previously limber person.

I have been learning all kinds of things that will help me out in my current state, like how to get dressed, how to get in and out of vehicles, showers, airplane seats, etc.

I still feel better each day as I heal. I regain a tiny little bit of sensation in my legs every time we test, and I have a little more muscle control each day in one leg.

I still have a bright outlook and am working hard for what I have going for me right now.

Thanks for all the emails and PMs!

Ira

[sierraskier]

Right on Ira! Hang tough...

[Sinfield]

Nice work man...with that kind of damage to both shoulders, the fact that you can transfer and use a manual w/c is really impressive. Keep working hard in your PT sessions, even though they seem like the devil they really care!

[jerr]

Heal well Ira, good vibes over the ether phone tonight

Jerr

[LongShortLong]

Best wishes on recovery. Keep up the progress. Likely a ways off, but I hope you enjoy fresh pow soon! (as soon as you reasonably can)

There's probably lots like me, pulling for you, but reluctant to post. Get stronger. Work on flexibility as much as the doctors allow.

[neck beard]

Nasty injury and state to be in. No point staying silent after reading that. Two forward, one back, you will win in the end. Hope your wife looks after you really well over xmas.

[Tectonically_Neglected]

Heal up quickly man!

[PowderHorse]

Hoping you have a quick recovery and peaceful holiday!
cheers

[Ira]

Hi all, time for another update...

As a former elite level Nordic athlete, I have decided that rehab from a spinal cord injury is the toughest physical thing I have EVER done! Every day I am exhausted and covered in sweat and just ready to transfer into the bed and fall asleep. My therapists push me to the point where I have nothing left, and that is just the first out of 4-5 sessions a day! But I am kicking ass here. Every day I am able to do more and more, and my new chair bound skills are increasing in leaps and bounds.

For the most part, I am physically stronger than I have ever been before. I am using the whole stack on the machines in the gym, something I was not able to do before my accident. My shoulders are still recovering slowly, and my flexibility has gotten to the point where the metal brace I wear on my torso is limiting my movement. Can't wait until the docs think my spine has healed enough to take the brace off. My sensation in the legs has not increased too much since the last time I wrote, but other parts of me are doing better. My pain has gone down a lot and I am taking less and less drugs each week. While I still don't have any motor control below my knees, my left thigh is getting strong enough that I can swing my leg about 8” out from vertical. And I am now able to twitch some muscle fibers in the thigh of my right leg! WOO- HOO!!!

Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers, and I'll be back at it in Alaska before you know it!

As I'm in Denver, I'll be going to the SIA show. Anyone from here going?

Ira

[Poop~Ghost]

Hey man, just saw this post for the first time. I'm in Denver - and will be at the SIA show for work. If you're bored and want some company to watch some ski pr0n with or need anything - drop me a PM.

Jason

[smuggs]

IRA keep sending the recovery. i was just at the craig hospital at thanksgiving we were visiting doctor whitman who suffered a spinal cord injury in the ocean. not sure if you met him as he just left at xmas. but anyway vibes and keep pushing the rehab.

[Slaag Master]

your courage is inspiring - thanks for keeping "us" posted

[skideeppow]

Vibes,
Have had a couple friends at Craig.
I volunteer at challange aspen and work with the competitive program.
If you need anything drop a pm.

[iscariot]

Your strength of mind, body, and character comes through in your posts; thank you for the stoke.


...and heal well.