Disabled, not dis-interested - Page 2

NRAJOE · 10-30-2002, 04:37 AM

I have arthritis bad in my neck and upper back and its real hard to get started in the morning and somtimes it stops me from doing certain things. If people can't see your disability they just look at you like "yeah,right,okay" or roll their eyes at you. My wife had soft tissue damage to her neck from a car accident before she met me and it was hell getting somone to believe her.I had to see her in pain everyday. Then she got breast cancer, we won't even start on that!

tommy · 10-30-2002, 10:48 AM

You know Tras that's a pretty good idea .The next time someone ask me if i work i'll tell them i'm a spokes person for the disabled americans. And Joe you are right . Unless you have a deformity in you'er apearance they don't believe you are in any pain. but i can't blame them i was the same way .I could not believe that some little ruptured disc would cause this much pain. i thought that if you had nerve damage it meant that you could not feel things. Now i know it's not just numbness that comes with nerve damage. Hey Joe hope that you'er wife is doing ok.

NRAJOE · 10-30-2002, 04:47 PM

She's back to work, theres a chance it will come back some day, could be next year or 20 yrs. We try to make the most of everyday. Thanks for your thoughts, hope you get better to tommy.

Full MeTal Jack · 10-30-2002, 08:01 PM

I have a reocurring bout of CRS. But a bud on mine is dissabled, he now owns and operates his own business, lawn equipement, sales and service. He doesn't have much use of his hands but he can work on small parts like a surgeon. And if he can't work on it , he can tell you how to work on it. I've gone offshore fishing with him a few times. He needs at least two people to go along to lower him in HIS boat and strap his chair in. He also deer hunts, his brothers put him in a trailer and pull him out in the field with an ATV and leave him there untill he shoots or it gets dark. Can't beat his outlook on life. He's got a better attitude than the four legged creatures I work with.

tommy · 10-30-2002, 11:31 PM

sounds like one tough guy and some real good buddies.

taras · 10-31-2002, 10:59 AM

Spoke-person, that one I like. The trailer idea also sure is a good one, I never woulda thought of that. Would be nice if they COULD cure all of us. Good luck to your wife, but they have made a lot of advances over the years with the big c, my mother has been a survivior for 32 yrs. now so lets all kep our fingers crossed.

onearmedwillie · 11-11-2002, 10:52 PM

i too know the dificulties of being disabled. a few years ago, i was struck by a full size car at 65 miles per hour, as a pedestrian by a drunk 17 year old girl who had gotten her drivers license only 3 days prior.the results of this were 4 months in the hospital, with 4 weeks of that being in intensive care. ive since made a full recovery (so to speak) but the results of the accident were devistating physically and mentally on me. as a result of the accident, i lost the use of both of my legs and one of my arms had to be removed just above the elbow. before the accident, i was a 5 day a week hunter as i live in an area were i can hunt everything from cotton tails to big brown bear, and everything in between. as a result of my accident, i found myself on a very limited income. last may, for my birthday, a bunch of my old hunting buddies all got together and bought me a used thompson contender which i instantly fell in love with. they even went further, and had a custom rest built for me to rest the pistol on to shoot attached to my chair. ive gotten to be pretty good with it ( if i do say so myself). i would like to get into hunting with this thing a little further, but im having a really really hard time finding barrels of different calibers for this thing that i can afford. ive saved around 300.00. i would like to get at least 2 or 3 barrels in different calibers, like .22 hornet,.223, .218 bee,300 whisper, ect. and possibly another conplete gun so i can equip. with 2 different calibers when i go, or at least have a backup. im sure most of you have been on a trip, and after getting all primed up and ready to go, find you have a problem with your gun. its easy to overcome if your a rifle shooter, as you most likely have a backup. i know when i was, i always did.right now, ive got a .44 magnum barrel in the super 14. can anyone help me find what im looking for?.. if anyone has anything there willing to part with, or knows of someone that might have what im lookin for at a price i can afford, PLEASE e mail me and let me know. tvjunky@netzero.net

tommy · 11-12-2002, 03:41 PM

hey Willy try the gun room that can help you out . see ya there

Wayne · 08-01-2003, 06:37 PM

tommy, Sounds like I am in the same boat . Was diagnosed last Jan with Cervical Spinal Stenosis with mylopethy.Lost a lot of the mobilility in my legs and the use of one of my arms.Had a 3 level ACDF with hardware[C4 through C6] in late March. Just now getting back on my feet and getting out and doing some shooting,just a 223 for now til the bone graft is totally healed. Don't know what I would do if it wasn't for one of my nephews, I got him into shooting at a young age and he really enjoys it.Don't do as much as I used to, but that is understandable except that some of my friends don't come around as much as they use to. Guess they feel uncomfortable around me because I had been a very active person. I have learned to accept my limitations. Like you said,"Disabled not disinterested"

tommy · 08-01-2003, 10:53 PM

hope do come out ok Wayne .i haven't shot any rifles over a .22 caliber sinse i got hurt.

whirlwind · 08-06-2003, 02:00 AM

im disabled too,still hunt but just from a tree stand (cant walk like i used to anymore) but still get out to shoot as much as possible! ive seen this forum before but when i stopped by there were no threads....so i moved on. but now i see its rollin!

tommy · 08-06-2003, 12:12 PM

i don't think i will ever be able to hunt with a rifle again but as for shooting at a range i think i got that part covered. being a (ex)
welder /fitter.i drew up some plans for a gun bracket to take all the recoil of the gun.it mounts onto the tables at the range by my house and is adjustable.it does not hold the gun all it does is stop the recoil on the shoulder. but that's all i need it for

i haven't made one yet but i will be making one in the near future
and i will post some pics and let you guys know how it works out.

whirlwind · 08-06-2003, 02:43 PM

thats cool tommy! i was a fitter welder also! i made it up to piping superintendant and was a temporary construction manager a couple times before i had my accident. who did ya work for?

oneastrix · 08-06-2003, 10:54 PM

Good to see this forum active again. I missed the post by onearmwillie. originally. Good Lord man.....what was the outcome of her trial?

7mmag6 · 08-07-2003, 12:31 AM

I just stopped in this forum, to take a look, good god friends, i went through 2 years of combat with only a piece of a chicom grenade lodged somewhere in my sciatic nerve, my friends you hang in there, disability is better than the alternative, im not disabled, according to the va, but I will say a prayer for each and everyone of you, my friends, hang in there bros

tommy · 08-07-2003, 12:30 PM

i was workin for american areo cranes at the time i got hurt .it was Weatherford Cranes. a part of weatherford entera but they sold us to american erao cranes.when i got hurt it was just a little slip on some oil i had alot worst falls on my dirt bikes then i did that day in fact i didn't even hit the ground . i popped my neck out when i tryed to stop my fall .the oil pressure guage line popped on the foke lift and leaked oil on my boot and the floor plate and when i went to get off the fork lift i sliped.when i started to slip i caught myself with my right hand to stop from falling well it worked .i didn't fall to the ground but i popped my neck out

funny thing is at the time i was more madd because i had black oil on my new work pants. but the next day things started going down hill i started getting stiffer and the headaches started not to mention the bad arm shoulder pains and the rest is history..that was over 4 years ago.sinse then i have had two surgeries one fusion and a plate put in at the C 6/7 level and another fusion and a cervical cage put in at the C3/4 area and the dr's want to do another one but they ain't cutting on this ole boy anymore.

it's time to settle the dr's say it's permenant my meds run about
400 dollars a month good thing comp pays for it. and they are fixin to go up cause the dr is going to increase them. comp won't like that

whirlwind · 08-07-2003, 01:32 PM

i feel for ya...i broke c-1 and c-3 and ten other vertibrae scattered thru the rest of my back and shattered me leg and pelvis (motor cycle wreck) it aint fun bro i know!

Wayne · 08-07-2003, 03:26 PM

My problems came on gradually. After being an Auto Body Technician for 30 years,started having problems with my left arm and lower back.Then my legs got to where they didn't want to cooperate.After having some X-rays they said it was JUST some arthriris.Went on for another year and came to the point where I could barely stand or walk.Changed Dr. and was immediately sent for an MRI where all the stenosis and nerve damage showed up. The surgery was done pretty quick because the nuero said that I could become paralyzed . I am getting around a little now but will never be back to normal. Yep ,nerve damage really sucks

tommy · 08-07-2003, 11:35 PM

yep the company left me like this and didn't do nuthin for 11 months . and i think thats why i have permenant nerve damage now. i know guys with the same injury as mine that are back at work. but they had thier surgery within a month of the injury .
the longer you let it go the worst off you or going to get. i'm only 34 years old and i ain't gonna be able to work no more do you know how boring it is at home all day long.and then to be bored with pain is worst .life sucks.:nod:

now i see why all them retired people get them rv and travel they get bored sitting in the house all the time.

but atleast they had time to save money with a 401k or something to retire with i got good ole social security.

whirlwind · 08-07-2003, 11:48 PM

i know alltoo well how it feels man....it sucks! im 35 myself and way too young for this crap

10-30-2002, 04:37 AM	#21
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,052 Images: 3	I have arthritis bad in my neck and upper back and its real hard to get started in the morning and somtimes it stops me from doing certain things. If people can't see your disability they just look at you like "yeah,right,okay" or roll their eyes at you. My wife had soft tissue damage to her neck from a car accident before she met me and it was hell getting somone to believe her.I had to see her in pain everyday. Then she got breast cancer, we won't even start on that! __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

10-30-2002, 10:48 AM	#22
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,030 Images: 6	You know Tras that's a pretty good idea .The next time someone ask me if i work i'll tell them i'm a spokes person for the disabled americans. And Joe you are right . Unless you have a deformity in you'er apearance they don't believe you are in any pain. but i can't blame them i was the same way .I could not believe that some little ruptured disc would cause this much pain. i thought that if you had nerve damage it meant that you could not feel things. Now i know it's not just numbness that comes with nerve damage. Hey Joe hope that you'er wife is doing ok. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

10-30-2002, 04:47 PM	#23
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,052 Images: 3	She's back to work, theres a chance it will come back some day, could be next year or 20 yrs. We try to make the most of everyday. Thanks for your thoughts, hope you get better to tommy. __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

10-30-2002, 08:01 PM	#24
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,427 Images: 1	I have a reocurring bout of CRS. But a bud on mine is dissabled, he now owns and operates his own business, lawn equipement, sales and service. He doesn't have much use of his hands but he can work on small parts like a surgeon. And if he can't work on it , he can tell you how to work on it. I've gone offshore fishing with him a few times. He needs at least two people to go along to lower him in HIS boat and strap his chair in. He also deer hunts, his brothers put him in a trailer and pull him out in the field with an ATV and leave him there untill he shoots or it gets dark. Can't beat his outlook on life. He's got a better attitude than the four legged creatures I work with. __________________ [IMG]http://img287.echo.cx/img287/63/9130110x100a4vb.jpg

10-30-2002, 11:31 PM	#25
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,030 Images: 6	sounds like one tough guy and some real good buddies. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

10-31-2002, 10:59 AM	#26
taras Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Apt.402-24 Carlton st. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. R3C 1P1 Posts: 403	Spoke-person, that one I like. The trailer idea also sure is a good one, I never woulda thought of that. Would be nice if they COULD cure all of us. Good luck to your wife, but they have made a lot of advances over the years with the big c, my mother has been a survivior for 32 yrs. now so lets all kep our fingers crossed. __________________ If ya don't vote, don't ***** !!!

11-11-2002, 10:52 PM	#27
onearmedwillie Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1	i too know the dificulties of being disabled. a few years ago, i was struck by a full size car at 65 miles per hour, as a pedestrian by a drunk 17 year old girl who had gotten her drivers license only 3 days prior.the results of this were 4 months in the hospital, with 4 weeks of that being in intensive care. ive since made a full recovery (so to speak) but the results of the accident were devistating physically and mentally on me. as a result of the accident, i lost the use of both of my legs and one of my arms had to be removed just above the elbow. before the accident, i was a 5 day a week hunter as i live in an area were i can hunt everything from cotton tails to big brown bear, and everything in between. as a result of my accident, i found myself on a very limited income. last may, for my birthday, a bunch of my old hunting buddies all got together and bought me a used thompson contender which i instantly fell in love with. they even went further, and had a custom rest built for me to rest the pistol on to shoot attached to my chair. ive gotten to be pretty good with it ( if i do say so myself). i would like to get into hunting with this thing a little further, but im having a really really hard time finding barrels of different calibers for this thing that i can afford. ive saved around 300.00. i would like to get at least 2 or 3 barrels in different calibers, like .22 hornet,.223, .218 bee,300 whisper, ect. and possibly another conplete gun so i can equip. with 2 different calibers when i go, or at least have a backup. im sure most of you have been on a trip, and after getting all primed up and ready to go, find you have a problem with your gun. its easy to overcome if your a rifle shooter, as you most likely have a backup. i know when i was, i always did.right now, ive got a .44 magnum barrel in the super 14. can anyone help me find what im looking for?.. if anyone has anything there willing to part with, or knows of someone that might have what im lookin for at a price i can afford, PLEASE e mail me and let me know. tvjunky@netzero.net

11-12-2002, 03:41 PM	#28
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,030 Images: 6	hey Willy try the gun room that can help you out . see ya there

08-01-2003, 06:37 PM	#29
Wayne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Copperas Cove TX Posts: 313	tommy, Sounds like I am in the same boat . Was diagnosed last Jan with Cervical Spinal Stenosis with mylopethy.Lost a lot of the mobilility in my legs and the use of one of my arms.Had a 3 level ACDF with hardware[C4 through C6] in late March. Just now getting back on my feet and getting out and doing some shooting,just a 223 for now til the bone graft is totally healed. Don't know what I would do if it wasn't for one of my nephews, I got him into shooting at a young age and he really enjoys it.Don't do as much as I used to, but that is understandable except that some of my friends don't come around as much as they use to. Guess they feel uncomfortable around me because I had been a very active person. I have learned to accept my limitations. Like you said,"Disabled not disinterested" __________________ You give peace a chance. I'll stay back here and cover you, just in case it don't work out. Moderation is for Monks

08-01-2003, 10:53 PM	#30
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,030 Images: 6	hope do come out ok Wayne .i haven't shot any rifles over a .22 caliber sinse i got hurt.

08-06-2003, 02:00 AM	#31
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,737 Images: 1	im disabled too,still hunt but just from a tree stand (cant walk like i used to anymore) but still get out to shoot as much as possible! ive seen this forum before but when i stopped by there were no threads....so i moved on. but now i see its rollin! __________________ De oppresso liber !

08-06-2003, 12:12 PM	#32
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,030 Images: 6	i don't think i will ever be able to hunt with a rifle again but as for shooting at a range i think i got that part covered. being a (ex) welder /fitter.i drew up some plans for a gun bracket to take all the recoil of the gun.it mounts onto the tables at the range by my house and is adjustable.it does not hold the gun all it does is stop the recoil on the shoulder. but that's all i need it for i haven't made one yet but i will be making one in the near future and i will post some pics and let you guys know how it works out.

08-06-2003, 02:43 PM	#33
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,737 Images: 1	thats cool tommy! i was a fitter welder also! i made it up to piping superintendant and was a temporary construction manager a couple times before i had my accident. who did ya work for? __________________ De oppresso liber !

08-06-2003, 10:54 PM	#34
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Good to see this forum active again. I missed the post by onearmwillie. originally. Good Lord man.....what was the outcome of her trial? __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

08-07-2003, 12:31 AM	#35
7mmag6 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 337 Images: 1	I just stopped in this forum, to take a look, good god friends, i went through 2 years of combat with only a piece of a chicom grenade lodged somewhere in my sciatic nerve, my friends you hang in there, disability is better than the alternative, im not disabled, according to the va, but I will say a prayer for each and everyone of you, my friends, hang in there bros __________________ This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine

08-07-2003, 12:30 PM	#36
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,030 Images: 6	i was workin for american areo cranes at the time i got hurt .it was Weatherford Cranes. a part of weatherford entera but they sold us to american erao cranes.when i got hurt it was just a little slip on some oil i had alot worst falls on my dirt bikes then i did that day in fact i didn't even hit the ground . i popped my neck out when i tryed to stop my fall .the oil pressure guage line popped on the foke lift and leaked oil on my boot and the floor plate and when i went to get off the fork lift i sliped.when i started to slip i caught myself with my right hand to stop from falling well it worked .i didn't fall to the ground but i popped my neck out funny thing is at the time i was more madd because i had black oil on my new work pants. but the next day things started going down hill i started getting stiffer and the headaches started not to mention the bad arm shoulder pains and the rest is history..that was over 4 years ago.sinse then i have had two surgeries one fusion and a plate put in at the C 6/7 level and another fusion and a cervical cage put in at the C3/4 area and the dr's want to do another one but they ain't cutting on this ole boy anymore. it's time to settle the dr's say it's permenant my meds run about 400 dollars a month good thing comp pays for it. and they are fixin to go up cause the dr is going to increase them. comp won't like that

08-07-2003, 01:32 PM	#37
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,737 Images: 1	i feel for ya...i broke c-1 and c-3 and ten other vertibrae scattered thru the rest of my back and shattered me leg and pelvis (motor cycle wreck) it aint fun bro i know! __________________ De oppresso liber !

08-07-2003, 03:26 PM	#38
Wayne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Copperas Cove TX Posts: 313	My problems came on gradually. After being an Auto Body Technician for 30 years,started having problems with my left arm and lower back.Then my legs got to where they didn't want to cooperate.After having some X-rays they said it was JUST some arthriris.Went on for another year and came to the point where I could barely stand or walk.Changed Dr. and was immediately sent for an MRI where all the stenosis and nerve damage showed up. The surgery was done pretty quick because the nuero said that I could become paralyzed . I am getting around a little now but will never be back to normal. Yep ,nerve damage really sucks __________________ You give peace a chance. I'll stay back here and cover you, just in case it don't work out. Moderation is for Monks

08-07-2003, 11:35 PM	#39
tommy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: schriever la Posts: 4,030 Images: 6	yep the company left me like this and didn't do nuthin for 11 months . and i think thats why i have permenant nerve damage now. i know guys with the same injury as mine that are back at work. but they had thier surgery within a month of the injury . the longer you let it go the worst off you or going to get. i'm only 34 years old and i ain't gonna be able to work no more do you know how boring it is at home all day long.and then to be bored with pain is worst .life sucks.:nod: now i see why all them retired people get them rv and travel they get bored sitting in the house all the time. but atleast they had time to save money with a 401k or something to retire with i got good ole social security.

08-07-2003, 11:48 PM	#40
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,737 Images: 1	i know alltoo well how it feels man....it sucks! im 35 myself and way too young for this crap __________________ De oppresso liber !