I thought I would explain mine.
I have broken my neck twice. The last time, recently, I
injured my spinal cord and nerves a bit, just a nick.

This cost me the strength and partial use of my left arm and both hands forefinger and thumb, esp. the left. You cannot see it to look at me and I can still dance but I must baby my left arm and if I write, type or use both hands where it requires my thumb and forefinger, it gets very tired and causes great pain. I am medicated for this.
I cannot lift over 30lbs and cannot stand or sit for too long. I try to ignore these things and constantly injure my arm and have to take extra pain meds. I cannot get it through my thick head that those abilities are compromised. If I don't answer an email or if I don't post, I am over my limit for my arm and fingers!
Yes, it's odd but it's true. It comes from injuring C5 - C-6

Does anyone else have a disability? Do you care to share?

dancer9

Oh dear dancer, there is nothing "odd" about this. What do you think is "odd?" How did you break your neck, twice? When was the last time? I bet it is so difficult for you to think that you can twirl and leap, but then all of a sudden you remember a limitation. It's amazing that you are alive and well, what with a broken neck x2. Your body must have been very strong from all the dancing to be able to recover as much as you have. Wow, what amazing strength and resiliency! L, PL

Dancer...thanks for sharing...despite your pain you contribute so much to these forums...I'm sorry for you injuries and pain. I'm with Princess...how in the world did you get injured twice?

I don't have any disibilities, thank the Lord. Just normal old age stuff and I don't like to complain...much. When someone asks me how I am I say "great!!! I'm six feet above ground and that's a beautiful thing!"

Hang in there...bless you, dear.

Yep, I do. My butt is too close to the ground. Imagine all the implications. This world wasn't built for anyone under, let's say, 5'4ish...

Please, dancer, tell us what happened - 2x - you are one heck of a lady!!!

Yeah, gimster it's true! I share that same disability....everything is made for giants, including my cupboards. Seriously speaking, my only setback other than normal aging is that I still have weakness on my left side left over from the stroke in '98. If I get too tired, I can have the foot-drop in my left foot. My left arm is nowhere near as strong as my right. And a little swallowing difficulty at times. aI take it in stride because I'm so used to it. I outdid my left arm this past weekend when I tried to rake snow of the roof of my side shed. When that quits on me I know I need to rest for some time to get it back. It's so strange really...with a stroke...it feels like it's actually your body giving out when it's really not....it's the part of the brain that gives out.

I have that dunlop disease. My belly has done lopped over my belt. And I didn't realize it till now, but I am also afflicted with that same butt disease. Don't you hate it when you walk and your butt hits the back of your legs? Ew.

Dancer, the more we hear of you, the more amazing you are. I am not making light of this post, just making light.

You are truly one amazing woman and I am like the others in asking, how do you deal with this and dance?

Dunlop JJ? You kill me woman!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

jj, if you aren't a trip, I don't know what is!!!! I laugh and laugh at your posts. I've got PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] and I guess others here, have that too.
The worse part about it is, I over react if startled. My nerves are uptight and I don't sleep very well. Some of that's aging, I suppose. I've got arthritis, but so does everybody else. My heart aches for those with diabetes. I know that's a meannie.
Prayers and blessings to you ALL...

My most disabling condition at this time is migraines. I had a very important seminar to attend to today. I was awake all night with a migraine. I took an Imitrex tab and an Imitrex shot, and still was not able to get to the seminar due to the pain and nausea. Sometimes I am literally paralyzed, as if glued to the bed, and cannot move. Like Meredith, I miss many days a month and many opportunities due to Migraines. I've been on and off every migraine med ever made. I've had other disabling conditions, including PTSD, but through therapy, medications, meditations, and the grace of God, I have achieved some amounts of healing. I know everybody has something because we have bodies! I have residual pain from the 5 surgeries for cancer, including bilateral mastectomies. But I'm here!

Sorry about your migraines, Princess! I have read in your book that you have suffered these almost all of your life.

THAT becomes a lifestyle. I would suggest, speaking for the American Pain Foundation, that you see a pain specialist just for the pain alone. There are doctors that specialize in only pain now and you are a canidate for one!

Pain, Princess, affects our immune system, blood pressure, heart, mental processes, and our whole being. Pretty soon we begin to live "around," the pain. You, I think, could take some control over your life with a better pain management program for them!

What do you think?

dancer