Muenkel 0 #1 January 10, 2005 I haven't wanted to post in here because I don't like to think of myself as disabled. But I am...hopefully temporarily. My injury (not skydiving related) occured in Aug. '03. My symptoms included unconsciousness, issues with speech, balance, vision, confusion, amnesia, petit mal seizures, headaches, etc. I still have 2 different sized pupils. I do have minor permanent damage to my right frontal lobe. How this will manifest itself is yet to be seen, but my neurologist does not believe it will interfere with me living a normal life again. My prognosis for recovery is 18-24 months...but this is a guess. I am improving tremendously but still not back to my old self. The recovery has been 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. My plan is to return to skydiving when my neurologist gives me the green light. The reason I am posting is to find out if any other skydivers have been through this and to ask how you got back into skydiving. Do you ever worry about hitting your head again? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks, Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peregrinerose 0 #2 January 10, 2005 I've had a lot of minor head injuries, and one pretty good one, thrown from a horse with no helmet on (me, not the horse). I was knocked out, double vision for a short period of time, had no idea who I was for 2 days (I knew all the facts/figures like Princess Di dying the night before, all the crap I learned in school, etc). I felt like I was thinking through mud. Since then, my reading comprehension that was always very good is now crap and I have trouble retaining information. I have to work much harder than I used to for memory. I'm a doc, so have to REALLY work hard to remember things. I was diagnosed with a seizure disorder almost 2 years afterwards, which may or may not be related, they don't know. I also work with people with head injury with my low vision practice, so see how things can progress. My own past makes it easier for patients to relate to me, which is a good thing. My neuro has no idea that I started jumping, but I made sure that my new meds controlled my seizures before jumping (they do, only had one in several months since changing my dosage). I made damn sure I paid attention in AFF classes, and ask a million questions of my instructors to be sure that I am comfortable with the information. I do the muscle memory thing with where cutaway and reserve are. I haven't seen my neuro since prior to jumping, but I made sure that my gut instincts were okay first. If I had any doubts, I wouldn't have started. Talk with your neuro. Once you get the green light, check your gut instincts. If you have any reservations, don't do it until you feel you are 100%. Especially with the vision issues, if your vision/perception is off from normal, may affect your canopy control/flaring. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #3 January 11, 2005 Goddamn horses... Thanks for reminding me that my broken rib and sprained ankle is nothing compared to what you got from spilling off a horse. I swore I'd never ride horses again after that... I hope you swore the same thing! You just can't trust them! I applaud you for having the courage to want to skydive again after that head injury. It can't be easy dealing with something that doesn't go away soon enough. Hang in there..."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peregrinerose 0 #4 January 11, 2005 QuoteI hope you swore the same thing! You just can't trust them! Hell no! But I am sure to wear a helmet when I do ride though, one would have made a difference for me on that toss. QuoteI applaud you for having the courage to want to skydive again after that head injury. It can't be easy dealing with something that doesn't go away soon enough. Hang in there... What's my option? Curl up and die? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RADskydiver 0 #5 April 10, 2005 I had a head injury, right orbital fracture and broken nose in four places one year ago. I have some menory problems at times, kind of like a rainman effect. I checked with my Neuro. he cleared me to jump. I have tramatic glacoma in my right eye and am going blind in it and that is what got me started in skydiving I want to do everything I can before I go blind. My specialist for my eyes said absoulutly no NIGHT JUMPS. So I recomend seeing a opthomologist, they can run tests and let you know. Hang in there it gets better. Blue Skys Rhonda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
