Hubby broke his neck ! ! having visual disturbances ! ! !
 

Hubby had a bad fall off a ladder 4th of July.

He suffered a Superman/Jerfferson fracture.

He is not paralyzed nor on a respirator. His prognosis is very good.

He is in a Halo - 07-05-12.

No surgical fixation of the C1 or C2 vertebrae. #thankful

He also suffered a stroke to the right vertebral artery (vision part of brain, unfortunately).

We're not sure exactly when the stroke happened.

His blood pressure was high since the fall.

I think it happend on the 6th, or a noticeable change occurred in his orientation(date,time,place), speech, swallow, confusion, and ability to use spirometer. He still had strength and movement in all four extremities. He is very strong-willed.

Over the last 7 weeks, his vision complaints have changed.

He's a miracle times two.

Very thankful to have him.

He did tell me he had double vision and trying to pass out while on the ground for a while (30 - 45 minutes).

He didn't complain with a vision disturbance again, until halo procedure. In postop, when I first seen him, he asked why he was upside down and I walked to the side of the bed and he said I was like this. (motioning with hand/slanted)

Since postop, he continued complaining about being upside when he would wake up, mostly. Other visual disturbances(VDs).

He hasn't woke up, upside down, in several weeks now. I think that is better.

He is saying he is going blind. Worse at times. We have a specialist's appointment 09-04-12. He says he won't wait.

He says he can't make things out on TV. Dark spots, ligt hues. Triple vision.

His neurosurgeon told him his vision would be back to normal.

I hope so.

Has anyone else had visual problems while wearing a halo?

take care... (BW)

I don't have an answer for you but somebody might

I hope the best for you and your husband through this difficult time.

It must be so hard having your husband in this situation. We rely on our husbands and when things change, we (the women) have to become the strong one of the family, which is a difficult role reversal.

I too hope you get some answers.

I suffer from vision problems, many on this site do too. The rear right hand lobe of the brain was damaged with my accident. This took the vision in my left eye at first, it has come back but is blurred.
It is hard to focus. This lobe also affects the way we try to explain in speech what we are thinking. So if I am put on the spot with a question it is blocked and I cannot answer.

I would like to think that your husbands trauma is relatively new and he therefore needs time for this part of his body, that we all take for granted, to heal.
The swelling he must still have will push parts of his brain, back and neck around, that were in a different place before his accident.

I keep being told to be patient.

I suppose it's like when you have a baby, it takes a long time for everything to go back to "normal." But its never back to what it was before. I imagine your husband is the same things will settle, but they will be different from before.

Lots of luck and keep in touch.

Hubby
 

So sorry for this added challenge, sending a prayer your way.