Comments on: My Inspiration http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/ My story and random thoughts while dealing with a C6-C7 subluxation... Wed, 19 May 2010 03:35:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: chris http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-76 chris Sat, 17 May 2008 20:50:59 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-76 Indiancowboy - wow. That's all I can think to say. Your story is truly inspirational itself . You've got absolutely the right attitude in refusing to accept the limitations people try to impose on you. While I certainly understand statistics and how they often work against us, nothing is absolute. I firmly believe that the only limitations that truly matter are those we impose on ourselves. Just as able-bodied people, the moment we stop trying to better ourselves is the moment we settle for a life less than we might be capable of. I intend to spend the next year doing everything in my power to walk again, because if I don't give it every ounce of strength I've got, I'd live the rest of my life wondering what might have been. Best of luck with the strength competition! That's really awesome to hear. Indiancowboy – wow. That’s all I can think to say. Your story is truly inspirational itself . You’ve got absolutely the right attitude in refusing to accept the limitations people try to impose on you. While I certainly understand statistics and how they often work against us, nothing is absolute. I firmly believe that the only limitations that truly matter are those we impose on ourselves. Just as able-bodied people, the moment we stop trying to better ourselves is the moment we settle for a life less than we might be capable of. I intend to spend the next year doing everything in my power to walk again, because if I don’t give it every ounce of strength I’ve got, I’d live the rest of my life wondering what might have been.

Best of luck with the strength competition! That’s really awesome to hear.

]]> By: Indiancowboy http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Indiancowboy Mon, 12 May 2008 05:47:43 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-64 Kudos for not giving up. I was one of those 'rare' side effects of vaccines. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Pain isn't the half of it, though. Due to the vasoconstriction and muscle imbalances, pretty much my entire spine is filled with bulging discs including one at T8/T9 that causes mild to moderate myelopathic symptoms. Mostly what I heard is what I couldn't do. I'd never be a swimmer again. I was only a year and a half later. Not as good as I used to be but pretty good for a guy with massive nerve damage limiting the strength, endurance, and proprioception of an entire arm. I'd never be off pain pills. Actually, never been on them. I'd never be active again. HAH! I'm actually an aspiring strength athlete now and plan to do my first competition this summer. Even though I can't shave my face without taking multiple breaks, or hold a steering wheel or a book, or even write more than a page. With a condition that results in a 30% suicide rate and a 70% disability rate, I'm pretty happy. When people ask me how I managed it (half the time having to see MRIs or EMG/NCVs to believe just how pervasive it is), I say it's because of people like you. Because yeah it sucks more than most people could ever begin to imagine, but at least I had the capacity to appear normal. Guys like you are why I keep going. And guys like you are why I decided to go into psychiatry, to show people with serious illness that even if their potential may be limited by their disorders, it's usually a lot less limited than they think it is. Kudos for not giving up. I was one of those ‘rare’ side effects of vaccines. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Pain isn’t the half of it, though. Due to the vasoconstriction and muscle imbalances, pretty much my entire spine is filled with bulging discs including one at T8/T9 that causes mild to moderate myelopathic symptoms.

Mostly what I heard is what I couldn’t do. I’d never be a swimmer again. I was only a year and a half later. Not as good as I used to be but pretty good for a guy with massive nerve damage limiting the strength, endurance, and proprioception of an entire arm. I’d never be off pain pills. Actually, never been on them. I’d never be active again. HAH! I’m actually an aspiring strength athlete now and plan to do my first competition this summer. Even though I can’t shave my face without taking multiple breaks, or hold a steering wheel or a book, or even write more than a page.

With a condition that results in a 30% suicide rate and a 70% disability rate, I’m pretty happy. When people ask me how I managed it (half the time having to see MRIs or EMG/NCVs to believe just how pervasive it is), I say it’s because of people like you. Because yeah it sucks more than most people could ever begin to imagine, but at least I had the capacity to appear normal.

Guys like you are why I keep going. And guys like you are why I decided to go into psychiatry, to show people with serious illness that even if their potential may be limited by their disorders, it’s usually a lot less limited than they think it is.

]]> By: chris http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-53 chris Thu, 08 May 2008 00:36:33 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-53 Thank you, my dear Aunt Jane. :) Annie - excellent point! I didn't even think of that one bit! The school I am deferred at has a brand new simulation center, and although I don't believe there is an area specifically for OR simulation, one of the rooms looks like it could possibly be used for that purpose. I know some people at a number of area hospitals that might be able to help get me access to an OR so that I can explore, measure and so forth. Also a good idea. As far as anaesthesiology, I have thought about it - but I'm still more drawn to the act of operating itself. There's plenty of time for me to figure it out, though. :) Thanks for the great suggestions! Thank you, my dear Aunt Jane. :)

Annie – excellent point! I didn’t even think of that one bit! The school I am deferred at has a brand new simulation center, and although I don’t believe there is an area specifically for OR simulation, one of the rooms looks like it could possibly be used for that purpose.

I know some people at a number of area hospitals that might be able to help get me access to an OR so that I can explore, measure and so forth. Also a good idea.

As far as anaesthesiology, I have thought about it – but I’m still more drawn to the act of operating itself. There’s plenty of time for me to figure it out, though. :) Thanks for the great suggestions!

]]> By: Jane Templeton http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Jane Templeton Wed, 07 May 2008 14:33:56 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-51 Chris, I agree...You can do it. You have the attitude and the determination. What else could a person want. Go with gusto. Aunt Jane Chris,
I agree…You can do it. You have the attitude and the determination. What else could a person want.

Go with gusto.

Aunt Jane

]]> By: Annie http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Annie Tue, 06 May 2008 21:19:49 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-48 Great post! Here's another idea for you to explore: several healthcare professions schools have <a href="http://www.harvardmedsim.org/" rel="nofollow">patient/healthcare simulators</a>. I'd lay odds that somewhere in your neck of the woods, there is one which includes an OR set-up. See if you can get access and some mentoring and do some exploration in an OR environment. The other idea is to contact surgeons or OR nurse leaders and ask to spend some downtime in empty OR's where you can measure equipment heights, clearances and access. Don't forget to include anesthesia as a clinical possibility, as well. Great post! Here’s another idea for you to explore: several healthcare professions schools have patient/healthcare simulators. I’d lay odds that somewhere in your neck of the woods, there is one which includes an OR set-up. See if you can get access and some mentoring and do some exploration in an OR environment. The other idea is to contact surgeons or OR nurse leaders and ask to spend some downtime in empty OR’s where you can measure equipment heights, clearances and access. Don’t forget to include anesthesia as a clinical possibility, as well.

]]> By: e-Patient Dave (deBronkart) http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-44 e-Patient Dave (deBronkart) Mon, 05 May 2008 03:15:37 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-44 Whether it's placebo or self-fulfilling or just plain effective method, it's all good with me. My median survival time was 24 weeks, and I didn't much care about the details of why the 98% were there - all I cared about was how to be one of the outlying specimens. I'm also a pretty strong believer in the power of vivid visualization, which I imagine does tie in to self-fulfilling prophecy. After all, we all know what "placebo" means in Latin. :) Whether it’s placebo or self-fulfilling or just plain effective method, it’s all good with me. My median survival time was 24 weeks, and I didn’t much care about the details of why the 98% were there – all I cared about was how to be one of the outlying specimens.

I’m also a pretty strong believer in the power of vivid visualization, which I imagine does tie in to self-fulfilling prophecy. After all, we all know what “placebo” means in Latin. :)

]]> By: chris http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-43 chris Mon, 05 May 2008 01:49:58 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-43 I think the RN you refer to is absolutely right. Before coming to Sinai, we spent time researching the different rehab centers in the NY metro area. We determined that Sinai was the best choice for me, and I was fortunate enough to have a phenomenal attending in Dr. Stein and the incredible therapists they have here. But of those who seek the best providers and are engaged in their care, by the nature of their behavior they are mentally driven to seek the best possible outcome. Couldn't an interesting component be that these people are also the most likely to be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Consider it akin to the placebo effect, if you will. Only much stronger. I think the RN you refer to is absolutely right. Before coming to Sinai, we spent time researching the different rehab centers in the NY metro area. We determined that Sinai was the best choice for me, and I was fortunate enough to have a phenomenal attending in Dr. Stein and the incredible therapists they have here.

But of those who seek the best providers and are engaged in their care, by the nature of their behavior they are mentally driven to seek the best possible outcome. Couldn’t an interesting component be that these people are also the most likely to be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Consider it akin to the placebo effect, if you will. Only much stronger.

]]> By: e-Patient Dave (deBronkart) http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-37 e-Patient Dave (deBronkart) Sun, 04 May 2008 04:27:43 +0000 http://sci.chrismcculloh.com/2008/05/03/my-inspiration/#comment-37 NOW you're getting REALLY inspiring. I love the way you're out there finding all the evidence you can that this is do-able. I did something similar, and it worked. Early in my disease an RN in my online peer community said that by seeking out the best doctors and being actively engaged in your care, you automatically place your outcome above the median. I didn't bother asking her for a cite - that was good enough for me. NOW you’re getting REALLY inspiring.

I love the way you’re out there finding all the evidence you can that this is do-able. I did something similar, and it worked.

Early in my disease an RN in my online peer community said that by seeking out the best doctors and being actively engaged in your care, you automatically place your outcome above the median. I didn’t bother asking her for a cite – that was good enough for me.

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