Non-Fatal Strangulation, A Journey of Survival and Overcoming Trauma….Silent No More…

The next several posts detail my journey of injury, medical procedures and healing. I attempt to break the silence that trauma victims endure. I was one such victim, but now breaking out to speak fully of my experience. This blog is simply evolving as I begin to break through the writing blocks. I have been frozen time and time again, and not completely thawed. I have also been threatened into silence. Why should I cover up the physical injuries I have been left to endure? I want to hop, skip, run, play with my grand-baby, and enjoy everyday life. I hope you find strength to speak out for those who have been marginalized, sidelined and scapegoated. Speak the truth………..

I Sustained Painful Vertebral Fractures at L-1, and T-Spine from Assaults/Batteries and L-1 is now repaired!

 

How on earth I hobbled around for the length of time I did with vertebral fractures is beyond me. The hard Boston brace helped tremendously. It was molded to my body, sent out to be expertly fitted, and arrived just in time for me to board a plane to see my father one last time before his death.  I went back and forth between a walker and a cane. I tried everything imaginable to heal without surgery. I had started with a body weight of  127 pounds before mulitple assaults, and ended up with a BMI of obesity. Something had to be done to reverse this.

I finally went under July 2018 to have one of the vertebral fractures repaired! L-1 was bad. So painful. Here it is Memorial Day Weekend 2019 and I am just now feeling stable in this area. I am not out of the woods, but I have made great stride. I have managed to get my BMI back down to “healthy!” The physicians and surgeons at UCSF have helped me greatly. Earlier in June 2018, I went under for a 3 hour angiogram. This facility was top notch and helped me make it through. I highly recommend them. I also want to give a shout out to Mount Tam Spine Center as they treated me for years. They have performed rhizotomies and nerve root injections as needed.

I am a survivor. I am blessed to have a wonderful support group and love of family and friends. I am just now starting to be able to write about this fully. I am here if anyone needs to reach out for support. I understand the shame involved in speaking out.

Sustained Elbow and Shoulder Injury From 2016 Attack but Doing Better Now

Elbow Incision 1

After conventional methods failed, I finally went under the knife in February 2018 to repair my torn elbow. It took about a year to fully heal. Click on the link above to view my lovely two inch incision. I can now use my Chef’s knife to chop, dice, slice and can lift pans much easier. I still have a labral tear in my shoulder and a torn cuff. I’ll need to have surgery at some point. Overall, doing much better. I do my physical therapy daily.