Brain Injury Support GroupThe WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,100 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 35 trips to carry that many people.
You are probably wondering why I would ever suggest strengthening a part of your body that most people overlook. But I’m hear to tell you that it is vital in helping mobility, balance, and stability.
Like many of us in this group I had to learn how to walk all over again. I was always taught to land on my heel when I walked.
I was never taught, that side to side or “lateral” movements are best completed using the balls of your feet or “staying on your toes.” It helps you keep spring in your leg as you move.
I kind of figured it out several years ago but was unable to carry out the movement due to the lack of strength I had in my left leg.
I walk 15-20 miles a day at the job I have now. I have really messed up feet and they always hurt. On some days they hurt so bad that I can’t put any weight on my arch. I started walking on the balls of my foot, favoring whatever for hurt more.
As I did this I noticed my lateral mobility got better. When I stepped to the side or shuffled my feet, I would land on the balls of my feet instead of my heels.
I can move faster and with more grace laterally than I Ever have since obtaining my injury.
At first it is hard to keep landing on your toes, but just like anything repetition is key, you keep doing it and your muscles not just get stronger but they begin to know how to do it and you can concentrate less.
I have never been able to run on my toes barefoot since having my injury. But guess who was running barefoot at the beach…. “This guy!”
My calfs feel so good and feel so springy. And my ankles feel unbelievable. Everyone I would try to run my ankles felt so weak, they hurt and felt like they were going too give out at any moment. But know I enjoy running (when ever i get the chance) it’s hard concentrating on the movement and the landing but with repetition it becomes easy. You just have to give it time.
I do walk a lot more than an average person. But I suggest this why not go for a nice walk everyday and concentrate on each step you take. Concentrate on one foot at a time. Don’t try to walk on both your toes because you may not have good enough coordination and/or your ankles could be too weak.
I am a college graduate, I am a published author, I am a certified personal trainer but in today’s economy none of these things mean any thing.
I realize that having a brain injury makes doing some things difficult for me. For example figure things out takes me a little longer than the average person but I will figure it out or when some one wants me to recall something I must pause briefly to remember but I will remember.
People/ managers just don’t want to wait for your answer or so you can figure it out. It’s really frustrating. They write you off as stupid or ignorant and won’t give you the time of day.
I think this is one of the hardest parts of finding a career with a brain injury. People expect one thing and that is to be like everyone else. They don’t get it from you because nobody has any patience.
So I began to think…. How can I make a good living with knowledge I posses? I know! I could learn a trade!
Think about it… You are taught how to fix something, your managers tell you to go fix something and you do it.
As simple as that!
As a brain injury victim trying to find a career to support my family, I have learned that the best way we can succeed is keeping it simple. Don’t complicate things.
For example I am looking into the HVAC trade. One of the copper pipes for the ac unit has a leak in it. The pressure is off for the unit, you know you must braise the pipe to seal the leak and get the unit’s pressures to where they should be.
I have an interview next Thursday, with a company that provides on job training. Wish me luck!
U no something? I’m really proud of myself on how I did in my companies 5K today. I got 4th in my age group, years after :
A) doctors said I would never walk again
B) after learning how to walk
Even though my foot is going to be killing me for a week now (cuz doctors had to shave down the bones in my foot after they took out the bone chips and I work standing and walking on pavement all day) it was well worth it.
You can not let a minor speed bump in life like a hurt foot, laziness, or a horrific accident that almost claims ur life get in the way of accomplishing wut u want to out of life.
If you want it u can get it, just be prepared to sacrifice
Please be careful when you are in charge of someone else’s life!
Thank God for caregivers with out them I don’t know where we would be!
I do not need one any more but when I did my mother was always right there to help!
We need more people like them. Having a brain injury people are quick to judge us and think that we are weird and do not want to be connected with us.
We were not put on this earth ALONE! We were put on this earth with other people. We have to do right by our fellow man. They have the same right to be here that we have.
That’s why it makes me sick when I see people who are quick to judge others and not try to help out others.
Caregivers I believe are sent from above. Because without them where would most of u be?
If it weren’t for them giving us the necessary care the we need it would be a cruel, lonely, cold world for us Brain Injury Survivors.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU!!!
Hey guys check out my book. It has helped many People no matter what it is they are going through:
Look for Miracle Kid on Amazon!
Study information
Help those trying to help you or the people you care about!!
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC), funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), is a project carried out by the American Institutes for Research in collaboration with George Mason University (GMU) and WETA/BrainLine. The goal of the MSKTC is to improve the quality, clarity, and relevance of information available to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or burn injury and other stakeholders.
For this study, the MSKTC seeks to better understand the health information needs of caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and/or burn injury.
What is this research activity about and what will you ask me to do?
We are developing consumer materials for caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and/or burn injury. In order to tailor these materials for our target audiences, we seek to understand the health information needs of caregivers.
Participants will engage in a telephone interview, during which we will ask you to complete a questionnaire and ask some questions about your health information needs. This interview will take about 60 minutes via telephone, and you will be compensated $20 for your time.
Who can participate?
Do I have to participate in this research activity?
No. It is your choice to participate or not. Also, you have the right to stop participating at any time, and you do not have to answer any questions that you don’t want to. There are no penalties if you choose not to participate or stop participating. All information you provide will be confidential.
More information
If you have additional questions about this project, please call (202) 403-5127 or email msktc@air.org
Do you have a TBI but refuse to believe it?
I know many of us out there are strong willed individuals who believe that there is no way that we could be the one’s with Brain Injury.
I remember waking up from my coma and having my mother tell me that I was going to have to learn how to walk again. I remember thinking to myself that there is no way that she is correct. That I am going to have to learn how to walk again.
But the fact of the matter is many people have some sort of brain injuries and do not even know it. A traumatic brain injury is called the silent epidemic for a reason.
Many people do not know they have one and many people do not know that people have them.
If there is even the slightest doubt that you may have one, please see a doctor. Only a physician can truly diagnose you. As much as we would like to think so, we cant diagnose ourselves.
Sciencedaily BI News
Brain Injury Support Group 