With life expectancy for people with a spinal cord injury getting longer, Curtis finds out what lies ahead. Follow Us on Facebook: / attitudetv Follow Us on Twitter: / attitude_tv See more Videos: attitudelive.com / attitudepictures
Hey Curtis. That was 10 years ago now. Don't know if your still seeing these comments, but I'm 62 and had my accident in 1977. I'm a t12/L1 incomplete. Happy to report 42 years down the track that I'm as fit and healthy as I've ever been. Only issue is bursitis in my right shoulder. It's not too bad if I don't treat it badly. The amazing part is that after all those years of pushing a chair, I have no structural issues in my shoulders. Rotator cuff and tendons, all good. Hope you're fairing well. Just stay fit and active and listen to your body and you'll be fine.
I’ve been sci and in a chair for 16 years. Watching this is absolutely terrifying and depressing for me. I don’t think too far ahead and just take one day at a time and remain positive.
I realize this is now an old post, but I just turned 50 this year and have been a paraplegic for 32 years now and I can attest to the aging makes a spinal cord injury much harder to do things after you've aged and gained weight. I went for 25 years with not many problems with pressure wounds, but the past 8 years have been extremely rough and total hell at other times.
I’m 71 with 55 years of incomplete quadriplegia (c 5/6) behind me. I’m having a blast! Retired, still living independently, great health, robust “appetites.” My 34-year-old son says I run him ragged. Looking forward to a few more years.
Great video...an eye-opener esp. for me...i've been on a wheelchair for 3 decades now (whew!)...what lies ahead?...i don't know and i don't want to think about it...i'll just take things as they come, be thankful for the dawning of each new day.
27 yrs t12 here. I have always been super independent. Raised 2boys and a house. My struggle lately has been with dizziness for whatever reason. Losing independence sucks so bad.
I am para T10 complete - now 40yrs post injury. I've been luck and always worked part time. I've also been lucky so far health wise and am desperate to keep going as long as I can. I live alone and have no help and can't afford help so these are my two biggest worries for the future - lack of money and lack of help.
WOW, So Touching,, I have a Spinal cord injury!, My lifes savings,is running out, Been to the 3 Best Spinal Surgons,and all 3 said, Take the Pain Killers, Or,Im Looking at a 95% hance of being In a Wheel Chair,, YOU and ALL,are TRUE HEROS!! When 3 out of 3,Docs tell you that if it were them, they WOULD NOT RISK The Operation,, God Bless ya All, And Sure GLAD,I found this channel! Very Best to you ALL,,Jack
Jack Connors I'm curious as to why you had a spinal cord surgery ? I know it's because of your injury , but what were you hoping for ? I have a t-11 injury and was told that surgery wouldn't help me and although I was adamant that I believe it would , the doctors continuously denied that as an option . So I'd like to know the difference between your situation and mines .
Great video! I am about a month away from my 21st Anniversary of Life after SCI. Happy & Healthy are the way to go. I enjoyed the well rounded interviews of those in the video. Happiness, Health, and Hope :)
Great vid. I'm 5 years post-injury and although I am only 30, I can't help but wonder what another 30 years in a chair will do to my body. As suggested you just have to live life in the moment...sometimes easier said than done. Thanks!!
March 25 2019 will mark my first year post t5 injury. I am 44 years old. wondering what it will be like in 20 years is sort of scary. But yes got to not worry about it and just live life. Maybe god will show mercy before old age sets it's toll.
ooh, i just saw that bike on the floor!! my biggest issue is getting a routing that i can use lying down, during bad spells, since i have been disabled since i was 16 - forty years. so i have had ups and downs. and now, i have the normal things going wrong - glaucoma, cholestorel, sugar, sticking to a life eating plan. i stopped smoking and reduced my risk for pnemonia and embollisms. i sure wish i had a dog. thanks for letting me into your life.
you hit the nail on the head! I'm 55 and have been in the wheelchair for 14 years and worry about losing my independence too! is there a group on Facebook?
Amazing video.. really inspiring. Hats off to you, Sholto and all others. I met a guy recently who'd been in a chair since 1963! I'm hoping to rejuvenate the Vitality work out in Bangladesh soon so I may be in touch soon:) j
@kingdoeloparalyzed I'm in the same predicament as you once were but I'm a t-11 sci injury , I'd like to have a conversation with you . Is that possible
Sounds all good for you guys but not two injuries are the same ,every one's body react differently to what ever level that is injured so no matter how positive or motivated you are or pro active with your own care and health some of us have so many dramas that it is near on impossible to have a reliable life and be able to keep up regular exercise program which can cause the dreaded spiraling effect . Also alot of information was neglected to be address ie the individuals level of injury, complete or incomplete , autonomic dysreflexia ,chronic pain , fatigue , depression just so much missing that is all part of this sci aging life . And since when did modern science extend a sci patients life what drugs are you talking about antbiotics ? other than more advanced seating cushions and pressure mapping and constant skin checks nothing has changed since the 50's.Thers still is a large amounts of sci patients dying from renal cancer, colon cancer, pneumonia, pressure sores , suicide. And 9 of them recently with in a 50 k radius of my self didnt evan make it to 49 years of age . They where sporty paras and low quads some 30 to 14 years in a chair and that SPC maybe working for old mate in this program ,butt stuffed if i know any one that doesnt have a drama constantly or most oftan at the most inconvieniant times ie holiday , or like my bladder inffection best mates wedding missed it and the quarter of 2015 gone which causes suffering through triggering autonomic dyreflexia which causs sweating shaking high blood pressure . So than antibiotics has to happen as last resort and than there goes the bowel routine out the window , heavy pain meds are used to control the AD but that throws another spanner in the works than fatigue sets in, excercise cannot happen too unwell and than waight gain that you just worked hard to lose over the year since the last problem that spiralled into a mess and depression sets in harder . All this ages us super fast as well and as positive as your being and i get where your going with this program. But unfortunately a larger group of sci people have it super hard not to mention C1,C2,C3,C4, quads that cant even do what you guys can and im telling you it's not from being unpossitive or lazy or no drive or lacking modervation its the severity of there injury that stops them . You make it sound like its nothing where the reality is it's a fucked life that we as SCI people have to live every day most of us are just battling today .
Hi AZ, I know it's been a year since you watched ATTITUDE program but I wanted to write to you and encourage you and let you know I care and teared up as I read your comment. I certainly understand your frustration. (Also Please don't take anything I put in BOLD as me YELLING or being mean, I only do it for EMPHASIS, ok?) :) I believe in the beginning of this show, it was said that it was supposed to be about Curtis, he is the guy who is the presenter whom at the beginning mentioned he was coming up on year 13 since his injury. HE WAS WONDERING how the aging process would affect HIM as compared to others like HIM with common injuries LIKE HIM. ATTITUDE has MANY MANY other programs going back years to where you may find someone who may represent YOU a little bit closer. This channel, to be honest, is more about people's attitudes in overcoming obstacles relating to their disabilities. I have probably watched 75% of everything they have. However, they've never covered ALL MY SPECIFIC ILLNESSES...IN FACT NOT EVEN MY MAIN ONE....but I'm okay with that because no body is exactly like me. The type of channel they are is more about people getting through things as best they can with a great ATTITUDE. Obviously NOBODY on here will be exactly like YOU OR EXACTLY LIKE ME. The reason I love this channel so very much is because I see thousands of people not only surviving but THRIVING with disabilities, most worse than mine...and some not as bad as mine, but mostly a mix of both...either way...I only compare for you to show you that THAT PART OF THE SHOW ISN'T IMPORTANT. (I SUGGEST you google things exactly in the google bar about specific issues you need to know like: "autonomic dyreflexia" etc. - that's how I've learned a lot of what I know....and look on good sites like Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic.) Anyway, I watch ATTITUDE because I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE. It brings me hope. I watch ALL their programs, even on Autism, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Etc. I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE ISSUES. BUT I WATCH THOSE SHOWS BECAUSE I'M SO IMPRESSED AT THEIR "attitudes" and their OVERCOMING SPIRITS....AND IT CAUSES ME TO WANT TO OVERCOME TOO....JUST FOR TODAY. AZ, I pray and hope that you will know TODAY I will be thinking about YOU and praying for YOU. I cannot exercise either much. My heart and breathing issues don't allow me to do so. I am older also. I really "feel ya." I suffer a lot of pain myself. When FINALLY ONE THING THAT HURTS OR IS SIMPLY A PAIN IS RESOLVED, WITHIN A DAY, ANOTHER NEW ISSUE COMES ALONG! IT IS SOOOOO FRUSTRATING. I HAVE BEEN ANGRY ALSO. I have sat and just wished that I could exercise and go win gold medals like these folks. I have wished God would just take me home! But I'm still here. And I CAN'T change my situation. SO WHAT CAN I, what can WE, DO? Can I choose to help someone else, just for today? YES I CAN! Please know as I read your comment I teared up. I could write out all my illnesses too. And that would only be a SMALL part of my entire life. The rest of my life has been traumatic as well. Let me know if you want a "type pal." I'd love to be your daily friend. I need one too. I HAVE NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY SUPPORT. I have no care givers. I'd love to have someone come dust my filthy house. But....that's life. But every day I accept it and try to find one person to love and help and pray for. Today it is YOU. Comment back and I will give you my email. Even if I don't hear from you, I wish you all the best and today is 7/8/17 Saturday and today, you are on my mind AZ Martin! Love Shelly.
June 21 of this year will be 36 years and let me tell you it gets Harder and Harder. Been through the work outs the wheel chair sports done that did that but you can't stop them dam U.T.I.s being a c6/c7 incomplete and now Dysreflexia is getting so bad . I was 20 years old and now 56 good luck all.
Every person has strep etc living on our bodies. Anyone can get an infection through an open wound. Sadly because pressure sores and things like open foot wounds from diabetes stay open longer, the risk is much higher for these two types of issues. If you have pressure sores or are prone to them, PLEASE be on look out for any type of infections, because it can become life threatening &/or resulting in loss of skin and tissue or even amputation.