A Brief Survival Guide

A Brief Survival Guide is dedicated to the patients of CNS

A Brief Survival Guide as dictated to me by the patients of CNS.

During my time at CNS I learned a few of the many idiosyncratic terms of going here.  Many of these terms are both humorous and enlightening as one of the newbies to the Center.  

What follows are the many terms I learned and the patients who taught them to me.

The ARM-- The Auditory Rehabilitation Module.  Many times the Arm is brought up to give a break to the many patients who a struggling to regain and struggling to renew their cognitive faculties on a daily basis here at the Center.

Arm Bike--the bane of the OT gym and workroom. The dreaded bike which at first was difficult to use.  But after a while you get to know the bike intimately and your ability to pedal gets longer.

The Perfect Excuse--The excuse we all have that we easily laugh at when times are hard.  We often refer to our brain injury or stroke any time we need to.  We do this in jest but also with the utmost seriousness whether it is our fault or someone other that ourselves' fault.  We laugh but always try our best to heal and stay positive always.  

Constructed by the many patients at CNS, Anna Ortiz and by my

wonderful wife.

Stroke Rage--The sudden without warning idea that we will all go off on someone at a moments notice.  At least twice a day we all threaten to go off on someone without warning.  This is often threatened when the workers do not bring our lunch fast enough or our medication is not brought at the right time.  Without fail though we all manage to control our tempers and do our best to be productive.  

Stroke Rage was introduced to me by Cheryl Dixon.

Stroke Cold--the idea that no matter the temperature there are times when simply those that have had a traumatic brain injury feel cold more readily.  To quote Cameron Taylor, "I feel fine but my leg feels like it is half in Antarctica." As a victim of a stroke I have felt this personally.  My left leg has slowly started to acclimate to my brain injury but it does need my occasional attention because even when it is cold I feel a chill run through me.

Physical Torture-- Physical Therapy is what we normally  call it. One day one of the patients called it physical torture, and I  could not help but laugh.  As a joke the Eliptical machine used to haunt my dreams.  Four minutes on the eliptical felt like an eternity.  Now, like most of the patients I have adjusted to the workout, and I want to prove myself--I want to show my therapists and the other patients that I can do four minutes. In fact before my insurance mandated vacation I did 22 minutes alone.  But when I came back after my time on Insurance limbo I only did eight minutes.  So like always I strive to build up my time once again--and with the right help, God willing I will continue to improve.

Stroke Twins-- The basic idea that there is someone who is your twin at CNS.  This person may not look like you but in either race, religion or gender.  Your stroke twin may share similar attributes or may even just share the same date with you that you suffered your brain injury.  After four months I finally found my stroke twin.

Case Managers--The lifeline for every patient for the long hours and time at CNS. Every patient has one and they help navigated the problems and pitfalls of CNS.  They are perhaps the patient's first source and best resource at the Center.  For a number of reasons patients should know their case managers, and their names should be dropped at any sign or problem a patient should face.

The Good Fight--What each patient tries to do and pushes forward as our model, one session and day at a time.

Bridges--An fortifying regiment that strengthens the trunks and bodies of patients so that they will be able to stand for the anticipated time we all dream about standing.

Discharge Day--The day we all dream about which is whispered in our dreams.  Occasionally we hear the term muttered but we all dream of the day we will walk out of the center and be considered whole.

The Driving Simulator-- The dreaded driving simulator where patients learn to drive again. First most patients start off the simulator going almost fifty miles an hour and patients struggle to maintain normal speed, despite the simulators attempt to trick you.  To quote Randy a patient here at CNS, "If you don't plow through a group of school children there is probably something wrong with the simulator."

The Closet--  Bruce and Gerald in their struggle to motivate certain patients have threatened to shove us in a closet and torture us. Of course they are joking--at least I think they are.

More to come--each day brings humorous new terms and definitions.