TINA's STORY





I have always suffered from a lack of caution, a lack of money, a lack of aggression (for my rights), and sometimes a lack of sense. I have had a series of injuries from accidents. I broke all the outside ligaments and tendons in my left ankle. I didn't go to the Dr. because I was sure it was just a sprain, so I wrapped it up and stayed down for two weeks. It still gives out from under me without warning. I have gotten very good at catching myself, however.

While working in a hospital, I injured my lower back. I finished out my shift, but the next morning I was paralyzed from the arms down. Doctors wanted to operate on me, but I was afraid of back surgery, so I said let's wait and see. I was paralyzed for 3 & 1/2 weeks, then feeling and motion began to come back. It took a year of physical therapy to walk again. The hospital fired, then sent me charges for their tests and examinations. years later a Doctor told me that 3 of the disks in the lower back were herniated and ligaments and tendons that help support weight bearing functions in the sacrilaliac area had snapped, which is why it sometimes won't support me, or will give out without warning, pitching me on my nose if I don't have something nearby to grab.

In 1970, I was knocking grapefruits off of the tree in my backyard and came down on my right foot, breaking the ankle and ligaments and tendons about 300 degrees around. This time I was operated on, but the ankle is very stiff, doesn't want to bend. This gives me a kind of stumping walk.

In 1976, I had an auto accident, hit from the rear by a pickup passing six cars across a double line around a curve, and the car went flying. It bounced on the front end, my arms braced against the steering wheel, ripping my arms out of their shoulder sockets. When it bounced on the roof, I bounced on the roof, breaking my skull and crushing three vetebrates in my neck. When it landed, the tires were completely buried in the dirt. The entire top of the car was crushed in, there was no more windshield (I had glass embedded all over me), and the front end was crunched in, but fortunately on the passenger side, and the wheel had not come back on me. I get sudden pain in my scull, which can last from seconds to several minutes that basically feels like I'm being stabbed with a very large knife. No warning, and I sometimes scream briefly, (embarrassing).

The injuries to my neck and shoulders flare up, causing severe spasms that can go on from a few hours to a couple of months. When they are most severe, I cannot sit up or keyboard. I have just purchased, though not yet installed a voice interface so that I can work when it is inflamed.

  I also get lower back spasms, and spasms on my side and legs, but not as severe. I have always worked on my feet, and I am overweight. Combined with the fact that I don't walk quite right due to my other injuries, my have been further injured. I just spent a year in a wheelchair, on doctors orders, to allow healing. My feet now, hurt only if I overdo, instead of every single minute. I can mostly walk around the house. On bad days, I use crutches, basically as two canes, because I can't use the canes due to the stress that it puts on my shoulders. On good days, I don't need them. I even walk outside to a limited amount, when I can, otherwise I use my scooter/wheelchair.

I was in a semi-head-on accident in 1990, in which my left knee collided with the steering column, pushing me into the next lane over, where I was hit by another car from the side. The doctors have never found anything wrong with my knee, but it hasn't stopped hurting since.

I am dependent on public money for medical care, so not much has been done. I take 8 medications, plus I take some herbals on my own. They tried to give me an MRI last year, but my shoulders stuck in the machine. They said they would make an appointment for me in SF (90 miles away), but transportation and other travel expenses would be my problem. I don't have a car. I didn't go.

The last five years I have been a full time student at CSU Stanislaus, I graduated in August with a BA in Cognitive Studies, a minor in Psychology, magnu cum laude. I am now pursuing a Master's online from George Washington University. I also have a fingerpad, which is much easier for me to use than a mouse. The most frustrating thing for me is that people don't seem to understand the good day/bad day concept.

  If they see me walking one day, then in the chair on another, they make judgements. If I can use the computer fine one day, then not at all for a week, it is hard to explain. They also don't understand that there are many things that I can do, if I can do them my way! and at my time!

Tina