Friday, April 10 (April 14 Update)

          Poly-trauma:  or multiple trauma is a medical term describing the condition of a person who has been subjected to multiple traumatic injuries, such as a serious head injury in addition to a serious burn. It is defined via an Injury Severity Score ISS >=16.

          When the lacerations are healed, when the bruises disappear, when the ribs are plated and screwed - what is left?  More injuries, that is what is left.  The scapula still is not healed, the 11th rib still is not healed, and the TBI has not been resolved.  Then we must look at internal injuries. Right now, we are looking at something called neurogenic bladder.  That is where the bladder only receives prompting from the spinal cord, and the message never reaches the brain. Apparently, this is not uncommon in TBI patients.  Although Caren looks perfectly normal, although she converses with you, and although she has made miraculous progress - there is still so much more to do.  She will update you further.

Thank you for your loving support and prayers.

Mar ena ine

Caren Robinson posted in TBI Survivors and Caregivers Support Group

Caren Robinson
April 14 at 11:23pm

Just diagnosed with Neurogenic Bladder last Monday. Also diagnosed with Hypersomnia secondary to Brain Injury. 15 months later my R Scapula is STILL fractured....even after surgery in October 2014 with a 16 mm gap. Rib 11 on R side fractured, and have somehow developed or it got missed a compression fracture at T6 of the actual vertebrae causing "wedging"......in so much pain every day.....pain meds don't touch it so have stopped taking them altogether except when I just can't avoid taking them anymore.....wondering what is in store for me next. An MRI has finally been scheduled and and EMG even as I have had numbness and other such fun things....such a volocity filled roller coaster of emotions on a consistent basis and am usually too tired to care.....and then on the other hand determined to find out what I can do to educate these uneducated providers. I have finally received a referral to a Neurologist for the first time. I am hoping to get a referrral to an Endocrinologist as well.....have some theories....tonight I am purely and utterly exhausted. Today I bounced a tennis ball on a racked for the first time in my life. It was interesting but showed me how far off my coorination has become. I sometimes wonder what purpose I have been given by going through all this....I stay focused on my family...trying to mend fences with my mom that I plowed down with this TBI and her continuous stressing out over me. My husband who is .....well......himself and is doing the best he can. I feel like I cannot get enough sleep and then at the same time I sleep soooooooo much. I have so many things stacked against me right now. Not even stepping stones anymore.....more like road blocks.

Well I have always wanted to run a road block....let's see what sirens in my life I can set off....lol

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Update from Caren