Three Weeks To Go!

In exactly three weeks from now, I have my next CAT scan. I don't think I've ever looked forward to a day more than this one, not even my birthday and THAT'S saying something.

There's a chance that I might have to wear the brace for a few more months, there's a chance I might need surgery, there's also a chance that I'm A-OK and I need to start physiotherapy so I can get back to living the life a 27 year (1450 weeks) old should be living.

I'm pretty sure that my fractures have already healed a 100% since it's been almost 12 weeks since the accident. As per the internet, fractures heal in 8-12 weeks so by the time I get the CT scan, it would've been 15 weeks(seems quite short out of the 1450 weeks that I've been on this planet). The question is, will the unstable and dislocated C2 have formed some sort of a connection with C3 and healed or started healing like all normal fractures or is it just hanging there like it was 12 weeks ago? I have a strong feeling that everything is going to be just fineee! #GoodVibesOnly

As per my Neurosurgeon, there's apparently no medicine for a fracture and all I can do is take some supplements, rest and wait for something amazing to happen inside. I am still taking some homeopathic medicine which is for "bone knitting" and that's exactly what I need.

I'll be very upset if I get to know I still need surgery. It was my decision to go the conservative route and I have no one to blame but I can't imagine going for surgery after 15 weeks of this and then another 6 weeks of post-op recovery. But I'm going to trust my gut for now and pray that my decision was the right decision.

Also,I love how the human body operates. It really is unbelievable.

The Camera Roll of someone with a fracture in a sensitive location 

Embrace The Brace

I have been in a crazy looking brace since Four weeks & Four days to be precise. I started wearing the "correct" brace 5 weeks after my accident and how I wish I was made to wear this from day 1.

My family definitely finds the brace a little funny and often calls me one of these 1) Fire fighter 2)Astronaut 3) Ninja Warrior . Here's what I actually look like 

Front view 

Back view 

The brace I am wearing is called a CTO brace (Cervical Thoracic Orthosis). A CTO brace provides rigid immobilization to the neck and the upper back. The idea is that you should not be able to turn your head AT ALL! 

Here's a list of things you must remember when wearing a rigid brace : 

1. You will not be able to look down so make sure to always look ahead of you before walking. Tripping over something & falling is really the LAST thing you want. 

Try and wear shoes that are locked on your feet and without laces.

2. You will be in this brace for 24 hours a day for a couple of months so make sure you ask your caretaker to clean the brace every day with a dry cloth or a hair dryer in order to get rid of all the germs. 

3. Put anti bacterial talcum powder on your chest and back and wear the brace over a shirt in order to avoid rashes. 

I find Abzorb to be the best. 

4. Once you feel confident, speak to your Physio Therapist and start walking and doing some exercises for your arms, shoulders and back. Our bones and muscles are used to carrying our body weight and if you rest for too long, they'll start getting weak. (Read about Disuse atrophy but do not get obsessed with it)

5. You'll need help while taking a bath, but definitely take a shower every day. Wear a Philadelphia collar or a Miami-J while take a bath and check with your doctor if you can wash your hair or if you should use a dry shampoo. Also, order a non-slippery shower mat.

6. Sleeping in a CTO brace is tough, You can't turn sides or sleep on your stomach. Do turn on your side from time to time, holding someone and exactly how a piece of log would turn. Stay in the position to get some air on the back and then roll right back. Be very very careful about not getting bed sores. 

 I remove the front part of the brace while sleeping as my jaw hurts too much. I've checked with my doctor and he said it's OK to remove it while sleeping. I don't know if there are any exercises that I can do for my jaw but hopefully it's not a big deal. 

7. Eating is not very convenient as the brace will restrict your ability to open your mouth too much. Avoid burgers, big sandwiches, sadly even sushi was a little tough to eat.

There are some other ways to eat though. Very entertaining! 

8. Talking on the phone has never been easier. You don't even need earphones anymore. Just stick the phone into the straps next to your ear and TA-DA!

9. People will stare. Let them. They don't know better. I was affected by it too but I had to ignore them. Just put on your sunglasses and walk like a champion (hold someones hand while you're being a champion though). 

A lot of people feel that you should not read too much about the injury, possible procedures, options you have, types of braces available, other peoples stories but personally I find all the available information to be very satisfying, knowing that there are other people who have gone through similar things helps a lot. Keep reading!

Disclaimer : All the above points are based on my personal experience only. 

14 things I cannot wait to do

1.      Look to the left, look to the right and shake my head a little 

2.      Take a long, long, long shower without anyone helping me 

3. Look down and check my own weight 

4. Enjoy my favorite meal without my brace restricting me 

5. Get up in the morning and go to work instead of back to bed 

6. Kill it in the gym with a head stand! 

7. Go out for a drive with the windows down and some yummy Ed Sheeran music 

8. Lie down, sit up, stand up and basically do anything without having to wait on someone to come and help me do it 

9. Pick up my niece and make her fly like an aeroplane

10. Go Shopping! 

11. Sleep. On a pillow. Alone, On my stomach. 

12. Get a drink without worrying I might fall

13. Have a long day at the salon. Mani/Pedi, waxing, threading,hair spa, hair cut etc. Just the things that will make me feel like a girl again 

Last but not the least..

14. Plan my next BIG holiday

CANNOT WAIT

P.S. I have more things I cannot wait to do but not everything is for the internet. Also, the blog was published with 13 things and then edited to 14 but I am the girl with the broken neck so I can get away with anything.
<3