[Originally written and posted on my Facebook Notes on 12/24.]

It's always something. I spent Tuesday evening [12/23] in the Emergency Room
of the local hospital after taking a 6 PM fall on the ice in the parking lot at work.

I fell hard on my right shoulder and heard a "crack" sound around my neck or
back. After I overcame the initial pain, I noticed alarming symptoms:
difficulty breathing and swallowing on the right side, tingling in the fingers
and toes on my right side, some visual distortions, mental fogginess, headache
and muscle aches, and even a metallic taste in the mouth.


When I got home, I called the 24-hour Nurse Consultant service provided by
my Health Provider and he said I should go to the Emergency Room and get
X-rays and maybe a CAT scan. After a long night the x-ray results were that I
did not have broken bones, but just contusions.

However, the symptoms continue although some are a little less. The "crack"
has not been explained and so I still have symptoms and concern. The
paperwork says that recovery may take days to weeks.

I've been in a fog mentally since the accident and can't seem to do more that
the minimum. I haven't done any of the preparation work for my Christmas meal
or for the appetizers. I am home, and VERY thankful for that. VERY thankful!

Update - 12/25/08 Christmas evening

Now that the widespread pain has decreased, the probable sites of the damage
are starting to reveal themselves. I do plan to follow up with my primary physician.
I want what cracked tracked down and treated.

I found a diagram in my health files from decades ago when I used a TENS unit
for lower back pain:



I suspect damage at C8-T1 since I can't raise my arm without having numbness,
like when I have to hold the phone to my ear. Also, I have tingling and
numb sensations in my hands even when they aren't elevated.

Also the T8 - T10 part of my spine hurts and I have pains in my upper abdomen.

I also have some difficulty swallowing which might be C4.

L4 & L5 too - with tingling and pain in the feet.

Hopefully all of this is just from swelling and pressures, but I did hear that crack,
and that wasn't the ice.

Some of the swelling has gone down in the neck region and I'm less mentally
cloudy.

My lower back above the waist hurts quite a bit and seems to be bulged on the
left side.

My spine hurts right between the shoulder blades when any pressure is put on it.

I can't stand for long at a stretch and even sitting is painful. When I bend forward
I have some strain breathing.

Last night the vertabre in my lower buttocks 'unfroze' which made that region
feel somewhat better.

I'll keep you posted. Please keep me in your prayers.