REHAD UPDATE SATURDAY 12:53 PM
Cody did an excellent job today in rehab today. He has one more class at 1pm but is pushing through. His left side seems weaker than his right so far and he is working on his balance more than anything. He tends to get headaches that are awful for him and they come and go throughout the day his head feels best when he is lying down on ice.
He may be dealing with this for a long time after we leave so I am researching methods and ways to help stop or ease headaches. If any of you have ideas let me know. I have my "brain" class on Wed which will teach me how to better handle TBI patients, although I think there is staff that needs to take this course rather than me I am still curious to learn more I am hoping it will be beneficial because I already know to avoid blankets.. I will be taking a seizure class on Friday or Tuesday so I will be able to handle Cody correctly if he has a seizure when we get out of here.
He is doing well and is in peaks and valleys with frustration and pain. Mikkel who has gone through some rehab himself is spending some time with Cody doing the exercises with him as well. Tomorrow will be a day off I am told but not sure that is completely accurate. If it is true Cody and I are going to sit on the patio down here and do our picture project which should be fun.
I am working on the Fundraiser and new shirt series today as well. Shirts are shipping and they look great. If you haven't received yours yet hang in there they are on the way.
For Now Until Then,
Draven
He may be dealing with this for a long time after we leave so I am researching methods and ways to help stop or ease headaches. If any of you have ideas let me know. I have my "brain" class on Wed which will teach me how to better handle TBI patients, although I think there is staff that needs to take this course rather than me I am still curious to learn more I am hoping it will be beneficial because I already know to avoid blankets.. I will be taking a seizure class on Friday or Tuesday so I will be able to handle Cody correctly if he has a seizure when we get out of here.
He is doing well and is in peaks and valleys with frustration and pain. Mikkel who has gone through some rehab himself is spending some time with Cody doing the exercises with him as well. Tomorrow will be a day off I am told but not sure that is completely accurate. If it is true Cody and I are going to sit on the patio down here and do our picture project which should be fun.
I am working on the Fundraiser and new shirt series today as well. Shirts are shipping and they look great. If you haven't received yours yet hang in there they are on the way.
For Now Until Then,
Draven
Cody and Draven,
I got my t-shirt today and I love it. I tried it on immediately and it fits great. I am a physical therapist and there are things that can be done for headaches. Once the flap is replaced and fully healed, you might consider cranial-sacral therapy. In addition, you could try a TENS unit, or electrical stimulation, among other physical therapy modalities. I know he had some cervical (neck) issues, which can also be addressed by a good manual therapist. A lot of this may also improve with time.
Cody---I am so proud of you. You are working so hard and you have the admiration of millions of us all over the world. Keep up the GREAT work... and P.S.---Sunday really is a day off from therapy. Enjoy the patio!
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Hey Draven and Cody,
Got my T-Shirt today too, thanks.
(http://www.internationalbrain.org/?q=node/88).
Keep up the great work Cody!
Emily
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Hi Cody and Draven,
Wow, so proud of your physical therapy sessions. I chuckled yesterday,as it was Friday, and remembered how I heard you would power through Per's "Friday Hell Day", and knew you would do the same at PT!
I think I have the perfect weight gain solution....the peanut butter cookie. Not only do we have butter, but sugar, brown sugar, oh yes, PEANUT BUTTER. Draven perhaps you could email a mailing address, as our "delivery boy" skipped the country!
Sorry about the headaches and the left hear malfunction....now you can just put me on your left side when I start "gushing". Also, just turn a left ear to all nay sayers!
Keep on doing such a great job!
Mrs B
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Hey Codeman,
Came to feed the cat. Heard you had another great day of PT. Keep up the good work. Sorry things are pretty painful for you, but hopefully this to shall pass with patience and time.
ALways in my prayers
Karen Mcd
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Hey Code-- keep up the good work with PT & rehab.. I'm sure that it must be exhausting and at times, boring, but you are a stud so I know you'll endure & come out stronger on the other side. I made cookie dough today & will bake you a fresh batch of cookies when I return to SLC on the 20th... I have a few last shifts to work here and then I'm on my way.
Draven-- You're amazing. Stay strong. I've been researching TBI lately and came across a website that publishes really interesting podcasts on a variety of topics relating to TBI patients... one podcast focuses on headaches after TBI, and another on seizures, etc.. I also listened to a recent radio report on service dogs aiding patient's in therapy and prevention of injury associated with seizures, or falls. Just something to think about.
Here's the website for the podcasts
http://www.northeastcenter.com/podcast.htm
Love you all,
Jas
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Hey Cody & Draven!
So I'm a TBI gal (ie: I have one) and I'm also a Speech-Language Pathologist...so I knew a lot would be difficult after my TBI about 6 years ago (from a skiing injury).
So here's what I would tell you about headaches: You know how they ask you "how are you feeling today from 1-10, 10 being PURE HELL", well, I learned that my headaches tend to hang out around 2-3 most of the time, but in the beginning, they were around 8-10. They will go away some (without meds) as Cody starts to get more and more able to do the things that are difficult (ie: balance, hearing loss adjustment,cognitive rehab adjustment). Fatigue also plays a huge role in headaches for me...no sleep, HUGE headache.
For me, also, I notice a huge adjustment to altitude and barometric pressure changes. This is important because of the skiing passion that I, and Cody, have! It feels like "PRESSURE" behind my eyes that will pop them out. I have some medications for that.
Speaking of medications, if Cody is on medicine for pain management, I thought it would be VERY important to tell you about "REBOUND HEADACHES." This is where you have taken the same meds for headaches several times, or days, in a row. Pretty soon, your body adjusts to them and that causes an even MORE excrutiating headache! So, the solution here is to change up the meds (over the counter and prescription). A lot of the meds for Migraine help for these MASSIVE headaches.
I also would talk to Cody's docs about some sort of anti-anxiety med that he can use in those "emergency frustrating" moments. They tend to slow the body and the thinking down, and just give you a very nice calm when you are realizing all that you are going through and get overwhelmed. I think when you see Cody's "rants" or "frustrations" or "rages" (my family's terms) you will see some relief for Cody and yourself by using an anti-anxiety med. Don't think of it as a stigma either (I did). I think you need to just do whatever will work!
As far as seizures go, I will tell you this, the more freaked out the people around me are, the more panicked I become....which just increases the effects of the seizure. The best initial advice I could tell you if Cody were to (God Forbid) have a seizures is to let Cody know you are there and you are not going anywhere. Use a calm voice. Use humor. A firm (sensory feedback) on his shoulder or arm or hand can be helpful, but I found the patting on my back or rubbing (like petting me like a dog stroking) very uncomfortable (tactile defensiveness).
Talk to your team and the docs and in your class about what all of your questions are. I hope my personal experience (and others on here) can be helpful.
ps...by the way, my family wanted me to tell you that it is physiologically IMPOSSIBLE to swallow your own tongue during a seizure!! LOL (They thought I could....from rumors out there in the beginning). Not true!
Have a good evening!
HANG TOUGH, CODY!!!!!!
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Hey Cody, that Kelly Brush is a real hero, you're soooo lucky to have her rooting for you and giving you information from her experience.
I'm recovering from knee surgery and it's not going as well as it could be, but when I feel sorry for myself I think of how hard you're working and fighting, and it helps me keep pushing. Today I went for a good hard mtn bike ride on gravel roads for about an hour, and I dedicated it to you. I let it really rip down the bumpy, rutted, gnarly hills in your honor and luckily I didn't crash and break my head. I broke my arm. No, I didn't crash, just scared myself a little. I'm pretty out of shape, and when I started to feel kind of sick pushing it up a hill, I just thought of how hard Cody's working, and it inspired me to push harder. Almost immediately I threw up. I lied again; I didn't throw up, but I did feel worse, thanks to you.
Anyway, I was thinking, there may be someone else in that hospital who's in really tough shape, who maybe doesn't have your wonderful family and your blog with all your friends and fans writing you inspirational messages. Seeing someone who's in an even tougher situation than yourself might help put your difficulties in perspective, and maybe you could give that person some encouragement, too, and spread the Think Cody vibes around a little.
Keep up the amazing effort and progress! 8->
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I agree! Kelly Brush is an AMAZING person and a real hero and fighter (http://www.kellybrushfoundation.org). I am not that Kelly, though, so I just wanted to clarify. Kelly Brush did do a stint of rehabilitation at Craig Hospital here in Denver, so she is well known here and in the skiing industry.
The majority of that Kelly's injuries were to her spine and spinal cord. My injuries were all head injuries.
So, to clarify again, I'm another Kelly. Kelly in Colorado, not Kelly Brush.
I hope she does chime in here, though. Her story, as any spinal cord or TBI survivor's story, is a real tribute to KEEP ON KEEPING ON! Motivation is a key to those tough days!
I'm more than happy to continue to share my TBI info with you, Cody & Draven and Family. I hope it helps! I like it, Draven, when you tell us exactly what information you are looking for. Otherwise, we may overwhelm you with too much!
Have a restful night!
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Oops, Somebody wanna help me lever my foot out of my mouf, pleaff.
You must be a real hero, too, Kelly in Colorado!
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No Problem.
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i get headaces from not drinking enoughf liquids. if u just push throught it. dont think about it think about skiing, snow, training, coaches, friends, good times up at the hill
peace
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One other thing with the headaches, I had instability in my neck from the injury, so I went through a series of what are called IMS treatments. They worked wonders! I also had some cranial sacral work done (as a previous poster suggested), so that is another way to go.
I, personally, found the IMS to help alleviate my headaches better and for a longer period of time.
Here is a link to tell you more about IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation).
http://www.centenoclinic.com/brochures/IMS%20Brochure.pdf
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Hi Cody, Draven and the rest of the marshalls,
Thanks for all the shout outs above! I have been writing occassionally on the blog and offering as much support as possible! I know how important these messages are and how much they keep you going when life seems impossible. Because I had a spinal cord injury and not a tbi I have less of the technical advice as other with tbi have- if cody had a sci I would be right there with all of the technical/medical advice I could give you!
Anyway, I'm glad to hear that rehab is going well and the transition was smooth! I'm in jackson, wy right now visiting my sister and it is so beautiful. Cody, some day not too far away you will be back to life outside the hospital too, traveling, visiting friends, and just living the good life! Keep up the hard work in all of your classes and pt. There were so many moments when I was in rehab that I just wanted to sleep or get in bed and relax and not do my rehab. But just remember that all of us are pulling for you and from many that have been there it gets better and the harder you work the quicker you will be out of that place and back doing the things you love!
All my best,
Kelly
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Hi Draven,
I found a couple of websites on Headaches caused from TBI's, and possible ways to relieve them, some natural vs Meds. And more than one article had said to chat with a Neurologist that specializes in Headaches.
www.visiontherapystories.org
www.articlealley.com
www.thedailyheadache.com
Hope this helps some what, also there is more websites out there if you want to check. (I Google searched-Headaches caused by TBI'S.)
Coach "Woody" Brackney
Mt. Holly Snowsports School/MI.
Fenton Highschool Ski Team
Thunderbolt Training Centers/USSA
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