I'm not able to be very physically active now, specifically no sports, running, etc. With my future SCS I was told I will always have to be careful with sports and likely stay away from things like competitive tennis, skiing, etc. due to potential damage of the system. I understand that I am not able to do those now, but I can't seem to get over the idea that I'm forever giving these up. I know that a remission at this point is pretty darn slim and I need to look at basic quality of life.

Has anyone else had difficulty with this thought?

I still struggle with the reality that I am now disabled...it is three years since my auto accident. I am not near as depressed tho so I am dealing with it. I go easy with my body tho sometimes I am a bit reckless and that will lift my spirits.
I would rather have less pain and a different/better quality of life so I have begun to move into acceptance of my restrictions
Johanna*

By orienting your life view to look forward with anticipation rather than tinting your glasses with regrets shaded by activities which may be less possible.

Take a look at KZLRogue who has written here and expresses her pleasure as an Army veteran at resuming combatives such as Karate with doc's permission, resuming golf with doc's permission and the like. Sure, I am no longer a great alpine skier [grew up doing it] BUT there is a handicap program at WinterPark where I hope to learn the use of the recumbent ski. In my case this is because I am severely injured as to nerve function below the knees and no longer feel my lower legs.

Dancing? I can slow and foxtrot with my wife, although faster ones are too much for my brain to handle.

Hiking? Limited by my lower legs, so I no longer hunt in wilderness areas as I did.

Bicycle riding? Oh yes, my favorite, and I used to do 12 miles a day on my mountain bike, so I am working back to that standard with my new bike.

Then there is the professional practice arena, where I have expanded my practice to include New York, working on Texas, plan to form a firm with my sister-in-law and work our way up the eastern seaboard, while also adding California.... why? Because the brain works fine, and the mental challenges are wondrous again.

Just some thoughts,
Mark56

Yes, I was a former runner/triathlete, golf, wakeboard, skier, softball, mountain bikibg, just about any sport you can think of I loved it or tried it.

I was severely limited by RSD. I was unable to walk without a cane. I was limited to walking. With a cane. I still did 5Ks with a cane. I did 8, and I finished them at around an hour. When I was a competitive runner, my slowest time was 28 minutes and that was with a broken nose and orbital bone. I was a pusher. I believe that's why I'm still here. Shake it off, T. Move, T. I also plaed golf still. I switched from left to right handed so my rsd leg wasn't taking the weight shift and wore a splint for my bad arm (also right)

Fast forward to now. I had surgery in July and October. I also had blood clots. With the odds stacked against me, I have begun walking 5-7 minutes 2 times a day on my elliptical. When my doctor gives me the okay, I'll golf again. I probably won't do any contact sports again, but my rep and dr. Tell me I probably can run and bike again. Competitive times. Eh, probably not. I'm okay with that. I'm almost 40. The strides of where I was, where I've been, where I am, and where I could be are huge.

Right now I feel lucky to be alive. I wasn't dealt the royal flush in health, but I'm lucky in other ways that I feel are more important! Hope this helps!!

I hope you can do more! My scs helps me tremendously!!

TK

I sure understand how you are feeling, and I'm glad you bring it up.
These pain conditions that we each have been left to battle can certainly bring on sadness, depression, hopelessness, etc. It's so important to be able to talk about it with those who really understand. These are feelings we must be able to get a grasp on.
Many people have compared it similarly with losing a loved one and the steps of grief that we must go through. Our livelihood has suffed a great blow.
It's a very hard place to be in. I'm still struggling with the acceptance part too.
Having this forum to come to has been a Godsend and the people here are wonderful, especially when it comes to lifting one another up.

This certainly isn't the end-all for us. It doesn't mean we have to shut the door on the things we love to do. We just have to make some adjustments and carry on the best we can. There are many things that still bring us joy, and we never know what might be right around the corner. New opportunities perhaps, or some breakthru in medicine.
My new grandson has opened up an entire universe of joy that I never knew could exist!

Better days are ahead, hang on to that hope ok?
There's still a lot to live for ....

Rae

I've never heard this from my doctor or reps about limitations in the future once things have scarred in. What unit do you have? I have 2 Boston Scientifics. I would imagine that we would need to avoid high contact activities, but other things I'm not so sure. I've also heard of others being advised of no roller coasters ever, but my doctor or reps never mentioned this and I have gone on many roller coaster rides after my surgery and have been fine. I would say using your best judgment and not being careless would be the best advice

Now how about that!?!

Wowie!
Mark56

I'm new here, but this thread struck a chord with me. I am a former Coast Guard aviator and martial arts instructor. I had a great life with my best friend, (my wife) and three wonderful sons. It ended. After a year or so, our pastor asked me to speak in church, in conjunction with the theme of his sermon. I was frightened and puzzled as I asked him what the subject was. "Humility," he said. I didn't know what that had to do with me. So he said, "I used to see you here in a flight suit when you attended church while on ready crew. I know you were a martial arts instructor on base. You were a man's man." "Then, very suddenly you had to take on the role of a Mr. Mom, and it just seems like you have handled it all so well." (Little did he know) I remember the first day I awakened and realized I'd never awaken feeling good again. I remember when the VA was taking their time and Social Security turned me down. I stood on our deck and cried, "What did I do? I served my whole adult life - how is it I get treated like I'm trying to steal from the system?" It was while writing up what I was going to say in church that I realized something very important to me. In my need to live my life looking in the rear view mirror I missed noticing that my sons came home to someone every day. Their snack was ready. They always had help with their homework. They had me to read stories. My wife had help with dinner and laundry. They all benefited with having me home, and so did I. When my life wasn't about me, and began being about service to others it wasn't such a grim outlook. Nothing helps you so much as helping others. You cannot ignore your past, but don't let it impede your view of the future. Get in touch with the American Chronic Pain Association or someone similar. You can learn techniques and tools for living with pain that will surprise you. A quality life is still possible - don't give up! It is a different life, but it is a great one!

Mark

Significant similarities there with our beginnings in the wonderful world of pain. Mine was a very brief few seconds of crunch on a busy highway which turned into a traffic snarl. Yours.... seems to be and have been pretty quick as well.

I was at what I perceived as the top of my career. I was wrong... because I was measuring success monetarily. The measure now is how am I confering ehlp upon others so they have and feel success, the come along aspect to finding new realities which are not as "manly man" as hiking/hunting in the wilderness with my rifle at the ready but are still very much confirming my personhood by being here for the family, for my wife, for my co-workers and clients, and for dear friends made here in this special place and in person where I also minister to folks in need because it is so doggoned cool to GIVE.

Thank you for sharing about vulnerability and being asked by your pastor to speak, for it is ever so valuable to realize whole people include we who are physically broken when measured against the standard of NORMS. For me, life is a blessing, an opportunity to see, feel, grasp, dispense, share, and help others nurture HOPE.

Oh, and Mark- Thank you for your adult life of service to the country and the people of this planet who have needed your skills in time of great fear, loss, tragedy, and risk. We who are here do appreciate folks like you and KZLRogue who come along having been among the service professionals who protect our home. I am grateful.

See you around,
Mark56

I so appreciate your story.
I also have memories of being a daring fun loving adventourous wacky wild woman...I really lived fully so I have places to go in my mind...that helps.
I isolate tho you sure have me thinking of volunteering somewhere.

Johanna*