The neurologist and orthopedist keep advising caution and patience. Their counsel is "full recovery" will take six to nine months or longer and doesn't necessarily mean a return to preaccident health.
On the insurance forms they completed they noted limitations like no twisting, bending or stooping, don't reach above shoulder level and no climbing (um climb what, stairs or trees). One writes don't lift anything the other writes nothing over 10 pounds. Both write "no stress or physical demands." Sounds like a pretty idyllic and idle life. Especially the no stress part. Of course I'll need some minions to live that way. Last time I looked out my front door there wasn't a line of them waiting for the job. Any volunteers out there?
The therapists (physical, occupational and speech) have each given me exercises to do. Each of them encourages me to do the assigned exercises and a bit more. If I follow their advise then I'm not following the doctors' advise. They're essentially coaching me to hit the limit and then do a little more. From the first day the speech therapist saw me she talked about wanting to stretch my cheek to promote muscle activity on the right side of my face. The only reason she didn't on the first few visits was because she wasn't sure whether the sinus and eye socket fractures had healed enough to withstand the stress. Once she thought that milestone had passed she was in there tugging away. And the other two therapists upped the intensity with each visit as well.
In general the doctors have counseled "...wait and see, who knows what the ultimate outcome will be..." and other similar outlooks. The therapists seem to have the perspective "try more, do more" and they always act happy to see me so they can make me do just that.
So I wonder, are doctors pessimists and therapists optimists?
Meanwhile I feel good but I have this brain injury cloud hanging over my head. The neurologist presented me with a booklet "The Unseen Injury, Questions and Answers About Mild Brain Injury." When he gave it to me he said to keep in mind that mine was much worse than a mild brain injury. Well thanks.
Anyway, among all the various symptoms that can result from such an injury was the happy prognosis that sometimes symptoms don't manifest until the patient returns to their normal environment, e.g. work. Great. I feel good now but I wonder if I'll have symptoms appear once I try and reenter my "normal" life.
Oh well, I've got a full day neuropsychological evaluation coming up at the start of October. Hopefully that will give a sense of what might happen going forward.
Alan, I'm the sister of one of your wife's friends. I'm also an anesthesiologist so I can say with some authority that you are indeed very lucky to have been successfully resuscitated after your accident. The chance of dying in an unwitnessed cardiac arrest, outside of the hospital is greater than 90%, let alone surviving with intact mental function. My husband (a cardiac surgeon) and I resuscitated an older skier on the slopes of CO successfully, but he had the cold temperature to "preserve" him. You are BLESSED with great EMT's and good luck! I wish you more good luck in your recovery.
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