When I was 19 years old (12/1993), I was in a horrific automobile accident, a van landed on top my car after flipping over and sliding across the interstate. I ended up with a Jefferson fracture of C1, ruptured spleen, broken ribs, broke my left arm, broke left femur (titanium rod), screws in my chin, I developed pneumonia, blood clots, and I was revived 3 times after I coded and was in a coma.. After waking up doctors told me that I would need pain meds and be in tremendous pain for the rest of my life.
After I was moved into the rehabilitation unit from the hospital floor, I was blessed to share a room with a brilliant woman. During my stay in rehabilitation many patients shared knowledge and advice with me that still have a positive impact on my life. Probably two-thirds of them when asked what they would do differently if they had a chance was stay away from meds for as long as possible because they hated how they began taking meds at a young age and were now needing more and more, stronger and stronger meds over time. A couple of women told me that they could not have kids because they had been on meds since their teens that would cause birth defects. I did not want any of that and considered everything before deciding what I needed to do for me.
I learned to first listen to doctors and then myself after learning that being on pain meds would lead to more meds to counter the side-effects of the pain meds that made me feel nauseated, dizzy and end up with ulcers. My roommate helped me realize that drugs were not the answer and I needed to get off them before they made me sicker. She had me really look at other patients walking around in a drugged-out state and also look inside me and determine how I really felt on those drugs. She was the one who helped me understand and realize the more drugs they gave me; the more side effects I kept having. She helped me realize that I am stubborn, strong and can accomplish goals I set for myself. She would say "start out slow and press on", "Do not let anyone or anything stop you from having an amazing life that works for you". "Your life is yours" those are just some of the things we talked about during the time we spent in rehab together. My roommate was constantly telling me that one thing she had painfully learned since being sick herself, is that "life is too short and too fragile to let your past stop you from being more, doing more and experiencing the best life has to offer."
During recovery, I refused to take the pain meds they prescribed, because they made me feel nauseated and dizzy and didn’t really help with the majority of my pain, which made taking them not worth all the side effects (dizziness, nausea, ulcers, etc.) they caused. When I was wheeled out of the hospital, I suffered a high amount of pain rated 9+ out of 10 on a daily basis. Regardless, I would not take the pain meds that they prescribed for me because of how they made me feel.
In 1994 I learned that giving up isn't an option and that when someone tells you that you will not be able to do something that they are not always right. Healing isn’t just body, it includes the mind and having Faith that things will be ok despite the odds.
For years I was in tremendous pain until finally in 1995, a dentist discovered that I didn't have any mandible's, apparently they had been shattered in the accident, and then they had slowly reabsorbed into my body. I desperately needed total bilateral Temporal Mandibular Joint replacement surgery, which I finally had in 1996. See attached picture below of what jaw now looks like. Afterwards I felt human again with tremendously less pain and could focus on healing and overcoming other injuries I suffered from the wreck.
Several times a year I will get terrible muscle spasms in my neck that are so bad that I can not move my neck up/down or left/right until it releases.
When that happened before 2014 I used drug store wintergreen and peppermint oil that sometimes worked, but when it didn't I would take one of the prescription muscle relaxers that I kept on hand for emergencies that made me feel horrible. One day in 2014, I did not have any muscle relaxers (they had expired a year earlier) and the drug store brand of wintergreen and peppermint oils did not work. I told a friend who tried her Young Living oils on my neck, and within 20 minutes my neck released. It was as though it had never locked in place and the spasms went away. Since then, I use a wide variety of Young Living essential oils that I keep on hand.
After trying to figure out what was wrong with my leg since 1994, on 8/5/2016 I began running from the front door to the mailbox at times thanks to a chiropractor. I’m still having some problems with my left leg buckling, but I am getting stronger. I’ve had a personal trainer since 2017 and a physical therapist off and on since 2018. I’ve come up against challenges like realizing that I stopped using my diaphragm in 1994 and started chest breathing and never strengthened all the muscles in my neck and ones I never strengthened have been causing burning in my neck along with muscle spasms since 1994.
In 2001 the doctors kept telling me that I should quit nursing my son (born on 9/16/2000) and take the drug Vioxx because it was supposed to have fewer side effects. My first son ended up with tons of ear infections after I quit nursing him at around 9 months so I had decided I was going to nurse my son for a year and I did.
https://www.drugwatch.com/vioxx/
Years later and I’m grateful that I refused to use it and chose to live a life of pain. This drug has helped cement into my mind that prescriptions aren’t worth me taking a risk on until I’m ready to die and that’s not until I’m over 80.
You can choose to look forward to what you are doing in the moment and what you will do in the future (family vacations/activities and goals) or choose to be stuck in the past, not enjoying life and your future. The decision is solely yours, others can tell you what they think but they cannot lead your life for you. Doctors told me so much that I just listened to information, took what information I chose to acknowledge and followed my path in life not letting anything or anyone veer me off until I became engaged in an unhealthy relationship. I have since healed and put that relationship behind me. It is my life; I care about others and want to help them to lead their life to the best of their ability, just as I want to be able to lead mine.
The above is just how I have overcome my car wreck and everything that has happened to me. I hate when people tell me that no one could go through what I have been through without some form of depression, etc., which is wrong. You choose how you perceive and deal with what has happened to you.
Personally, I want to have a long, happy, healthy life doing what I can do when I can do it. I plan on living (walking, cooking, swimming, working out, traveling, etc.) until I’m over 80 even though doctors told me my life expectancy is 62.
I could have followed the doctor's advice and let pain control my life by taking pain meds which would lead to other health problems and slowly get worse and worse or I could choose to stand up for myself and see what I can do, what my limits are and push myself forward enjoying life. I would be stuck on pills, not have had 4 kids and be in a wheelchair if I had listened to doctors and not chosen to walk my own path, educate myself and find out what I can do to help me have the best life possible for me. It is my life, no one else’s and I chose to live my life despite the pain, which is where I am at today. I live my life as I please; I ride roller coasters, swim, walk, cook, clean, I took a memorial Colorado vacation, etc... I do all those things, and more despite pain. A body can only handle so much pain and I've learned how to handle mine with focused breathing, essential oils, chiropractic care, medical massage, dry needling, acupuncture and being able to fall asleep despite pain so that I can wake up refreshed and better able to manage/control pain.
I am working towards having a chemical-free home, while improving the health and wellness of my family and myself.
Thanks to advice from primary care physician (I do listen to doctors and suggest you listen to yours) my healthy diet is keto which helps keep inflammation down and see physical therapist when I can. I have learned peanuts are highly inflammatory and it’s best to avoid them.
Going forward, I will have to have my temporal mandibular joint replaced, but at this time I would rather keep the pain that I have sincere surgeons I saw in 2012 and 2019 both recommended that I wait as long as I can (preferable until I can't open my mouth) before I have surgery because they noted that their procedures have a lot of risk that could involve more severe nerve damaged among other things. I was also informed that joints would have to be removed, screw holes filled in, block placed where TMJ should be and mouth wired shut for 6 months before new joints could be installed. I would also worry about screws from new joints stripping since they will be millimeters into old joint screw holes.
It has been suggested that I take a vacation (OolaFun) and visit the original TMJ surgeon (OolaFitness) to see if he has a more positive outcome, I would rather deal with the TMJ pain I currently experience, than life altering nerve damage. I choose to have Faith and believe there will be another way even if it’s years from now (OolaFaith). While in Florida, I will take kids with me to visit with family (OolaFamily) and friend’s (OolaFriends). I will stay with family to help stay on my budget (OolaFinance). During my stay there, I have no doubt opportunities will arise where I get to help others (OolaField). One vacation that can create memories that will last a lifetime and help me work towards having life that is balanced in the 7 F's of Oola.
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In the first picture you can see my left arm is having muscle spasms and in second picture my right arm/hand is having muscle spasms but I'm still having OolaFun. An OolaLife is possible for everyone if you just put forth the effort, you have the power to transform your life. Own your wins and loses, successes and failures, take action, have experiences and take risks. Find mentors, read books, watch videos and gain the wisdom needed to make your life what you want it to be.
The following is a picture that was taken of me riding a wooden rollercoaster which really wasn't a good idea but I gained wisdom from riding it. I was able to show following picture to chiropractor, doctor and physical therapist who informed me that I still needed to strengthen neck muscles and they would never stop burning because I was overusing them just sitting and standing. Riding a shaking rollercoaster locked up neck muscles which released after using oils.
It feels weird having back/neck always burning and feel like crank straps is squeezing ribs so it always hurts to breathe every minute of everyday to now (10/24/19) being able to breathe and walk around without back/neck burning for a couple of hours a day is weird to say the least. Hopefully in time I can stop having back pain altogether. I'm still working on strengthening left leg so that hopefully it stops being in so much pain and I don't have to concentrate on walking/running (left foot turning in and buckling, spasming). I will update as improvements happen. The advancements in medicine (chiropractor, dentist, nutrition and physical therapy) and the ability to get online and learn almost anything is exhilarating.
Even though my left foot and leg cramped from approximately 2 am - almost noon with whole leg becoming numb and burning around 9:30 am, I still attended physical therapy at 10am, took picture of foot around 11am when leg released enough for me to get picture then showed chiropractor at 11:30am appointment. At 4:03 pm feeling finally came back but leg felt weak and worn out. Monday I showed physical therapist who has recommended nerve testing. I learned to show pictures to doctors because sometimes they can get an idea of what is wrong seeing the picture while hearing what happened. This is just a normal part of my life and I've adjusted and learned to enjoy life no matter what my body throws at me.
I'm not a doctor (can't diagnose) but I am certified with The American Association of Drugless Practioners and can suggest healthy alternatives if you've been diagnosed by a doctor.
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Here are some websites that I use for research.
If you have health problems or are in pain, pray and don't give up on trying to find an answer. Also remember you have to be the best advocate for your health. You can't control others or change their opinions, but you can take charge of your own health and do what you know is best for you and your family.
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I haven’t updated in awhile. Friday 6/23/23 I was diagnosed by Rheumatologist with
Joint Hypermobility Syndrome king with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis
being that I’m over 30 I never outgrew flexibility like most kids do.
Prescribed me gabapentin which I decided to try on Monday and by Tuesday I was itching everywhere, back/neck broke out, nausea increased and I felt lightheaded and dizzy when standing. Like with Vioxx and opioids, gabapentin is not something that my body needs/wants. I will stick with lidocaine injections/patches, essential oils and herbs at this time so that I can continue enjoying my life instead of feeling worse.
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Here are some links to see how Essential oils are used in hospitals.
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