Guest guest Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 Recently and I were involved in an auto accident. The EMTs immediately put both of us in cervical collars and placed us on backboards and sent us to the hospital. ( has achondroplasia; I have SEMD-Strudwick.) It was the small local hospital, understaffed for Thanksgiving, and the doctor clearly didn't know what to do with us. X-rays showed that had broken ribs. He already had paralysis due to stenosis and infections, so he was quickly shipped to the closest thing our area has to a trauma hospital. They kept checking me for evidence of a cervical injury, but my main problem was that the collar was incredibly painful, apparently having been made for a giraffe, and it was resting on my broken collarbone. Ow! They did a CT of my neck and were not sure what to make of it. Heaven forbid they should ask ME what I knew about my own neck, but I overheard enough to suspect that what they were seeing were the peculiarities of SEMD C1/C2 vertebrae. I tried to tell them but got nowhere. Fortunately, they decided to ship me out, too. Another scan was run there. This is now several hours later and I am completely out of patience and tolerance. The X-ray tech told me the neurologist was coming to look at the scan and I quickly said, " I want to talk to him immediately! " He soon came. I told him the name of my disorder and said " Google it! " He returned a short time later and said, " You're right - you didn't injure your neck, that's just how it always was. " And he told the nurse to take the collar off of me. I could have kissed him. Moral of the story: know your own issues and be ready to nudge the doctor in the right direction. Even trauma doctors don't have LPs carted in every day, and they may appreciate a clue to help them sort out the puzzle. PS: I'm glad they took precautions with my neck, though it was so painful. It was the safest course until they knew what they were dealing with. PS 2: is still in Rehab and will be there a while. Please keep him in your prayers. Alyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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