[kycountrymom]

My husband was injured Sept. of 08, pinned between two semi trailers and crushed, rolled between them & thrown into a parking lot. He has L4/L5 radiculopathy, lumbosacral plexopathy and a mild TBI. Too much nerve damage for surgery, he starts ESI shos next week in hopes that it will relieve some of his pain. The TBI is a recent diagnosis, it took some *discussion* before WC would agree to a neuro-psych eval. He has a lot of confusion and his short term memory is shot, some days he has trouble carrying on a conversation because he either confuses his words or simply cannot find the words he wants to say.
I am his caregiver (along with our 15yo son when he gets home from school/football practice). I was sent this way by a poster on a WC board, after browsing a bit I'm really glad she sent me the link! We don't have any family to help out & most of my friends are too busy with jobs, etc for me to be able to sit and talk (and occasionally vent), some days I just feel overwhelmed. I'm sure there are others who can relate to that here.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by kycountrymom

My husband was injured Sept. of 08, pinned between two semi trailers and crushed, rolled between them & thrown into a parking lot. He has L4/L5 radiculopathy, lumbosacral plexopathy and a mild TBI. Too much nerve damage for surgery, he starts ESI shos next week in hopes that it will relieve some of his pain. The TBI is a recent diagnosis, it took some *discussion* before WC would agree to a neuro-psych eval. He has a lot of confusion and his short term memory is shot, some days he has trouble carrying on a conversation because he either confuses his words or simply cannot find the words he wants to say.
I am his caregiver (along with our 15yo son when he gets home from school/football practice). I was sent this way by a poster on a WC board, after browsing a bit I'm really glad she sent me the link! We don't have any family to help out & most of my friends are too busy with jobs, etc for me to be able to sit and talk (and occasionally vent), some days I just feel overwhelmed. I'm sure there are others who can relate to that here.

Hi there.

You have now met your new family. I'd like to extend a WELCOME to Neurotalks.

You've been through quite a bit, haven't you? There are many others who will jump aboard and direct your to the various forums where you can post and read other messages.

You might even find some help with your situation. I know that I have. We have all our various disorders, problems, etc. Some of us have illnesses, and some of us are caregivers.

Some of us happen to be BOTH!!

You vent anytime you care to vent.

We have many knowledgeable people on this website.

Again, please know that you are not alone.

Here's a hug.

And give it to that 15 year old. He sounds like a keeper.

Take care,

Melody

[Twinkletoes]

Wow, your poor husband! I recently had a short experience with caregiving, and found that it sure takes a lot out of you. I'm so glad your dear son is able to assist. What a sweetie!

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I see Melody beat me here, and there will be others who come along and give you some links to check out.

You can stop by any ole time. We're glad to have ya! (But sorry about all that brings you here).

[azoyizes]

Hi countrymom. I want you to know that if you need a shoulder to lean on, or someone to cry with, just say the word. We are all here for each other. You have been through so much, and it sounds like you have a fine family.

If I can be of any help, please feel free to contact me.

[Darlene]

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. It is great to see you have come to be with our hugh and loving family. There is a great group here to assist in how they can. I am so sorry to hear of you lost. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

[kycountrymom]

Hopping on here while I have a few minutes to say thank you for the warm welcome!

And Melody, yup the kid is DEFINITELY a keeper! I wish I had half his energy (and strength lol).

[Jaspar]

Welcome. We have a dear dear friend (semi-family) who recently died. He used to live in Kentucky, then Ohio. He was a disabled army vet. He had a severe inoperable spinal injury leaving him in much pain. He preferred the care he received in ohio over that in Kentucky. But even there, because of the large number of drug-seeking individuals, when he was hospitalized, they at first thought he was drug-seeking, delayed care, and that led to his recent demise.

So that is a large concern around the Kentucky area -- the paranoia in society that everyone in pain is actually drug-seeking.

Jaspar

[(Broken Wings)]

Howdy

I'm from Kentucky, too.

The Mountian Dew Mouth area.

Did you recognize any of your relatives on 20/20 Friday night?

No kinfolk of mine showed up on TV.

Just thought I'd throw that in there.

WARNING!!!! MAY BE TOO LONG!!!!

My feelings on that broadcast was:

Yes, that is a good depiction of some people in Appalachia. But please don't take it that every household on poverty level lives like that. We have a lot of poor people that are the pillars of their communities.

There's no shame in being poor. Appalachia is rich in culture, talent, history and spirit. There's no better scenery in the summertime than the hills of Appalachia. Visit our lakes and get to the know the poeple of Appalachia. They are honest, clean, decent, smart, hard-working, fun-loving people. They care for the farms, homes, childern, livestock, gardens, churches, families, businesses and friends with TLC, usually handed down from generation to generation, for the most part.

And yes, there are a lot of crooked people here too. the only difference is, living in a small town you know who they are. They have it rough here. They manage to peddle and piddle along too. You just know up front who you're dealing with.

Yes, we are polluted with drugs and all the bad that comes with it. It's sad. But UNITE is taking that problem down to the mat in a big way. Illicit drugs are harder to get in this area because of UNITE. Other areas should follow their example. That's the KY State Police, sheriffs, city police departments, DOTs and the feds working together to bust drugs up. UNITE appoints committees made up of community citizens to watch over the arrests and convictions and report that to the communities. It's been effective.

You couldn't live in a better place than KY for good, down-to-earth living, if that's what you want out of life. We have a few big cities too. And on the other hand, compared to many other places, I'm sure it's a hard way of life to many viewers.

...but have you ever seen the beauty of a newborn calf on a cold, wintery day? or a town with one red light? You don't have to buy a map. Just ask somebody where it's at.

I don't see homeless people on our city streets. I know we have some displaced people, but they're mostly under the roof of family and friends or government housing. We don't have a lot of foreclosures like the rest of the nation is experiencing. Housing is down. People just aren't buying.

I don't know what happened to Shawn Grimm - the 18-year-old football star for Johnson Central. I am asking about that boy. My heart goes out to him. He may not want charity. People are proud, rich or poor, here in the hills. Some are beaten down... and the truth of the matter is, for most of them, they never had a chance, and that's a sad picture.

There are a lot of highly educated people here in the hills. Intelligence can be measured by just knowing what you need to know too, can't it? hee-hee. Education is available through government programs too, but a lot of times families are not able or don't understand they will need to provide money and support for that too.

I hear there are more millionaires in Pike County than anywhere. I don't doubt it. Old money. Coal related jobs are the average person's best job here. It pays and provides well. People don't manage money well is another problem... and that's everywhere.

Appalachia has a lot of government programs available to poor people. They are provided for, at a minimum. Hey, I hear nowadays they even provide 1 cellphone per household with childern on some program here.

And another thing I've figured out about life, you can't fix stupid. You can do it for them, but you just can't fix it.

[FranksAngel]

welcome to neurotalk ... there are lots of friendly and supportive people here so jump right in and start posting ... should you need help, don't hesitate to ask someone ... we are here to help ...
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum56.html this is the link to the caregivers forum ... there is also the social chat forum where we gather and just talk ... http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum35.html
again ...

[Kitty]

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk! I'm so sorry to hear of all that your family has been through but you've come to the right place for support and care. Feel free to join in anywhere.