Hi Everyone! :wave:

My name is Katherine, I'm 18 years old and have CP. I came to this board in hopes of finding someone to talk to, because I feel like no one that I know in real life can fully relate to what I'm going through (and I just feel like I could NEVER talk about this with my family... it's like the forbidden subject in our house). I've also had a bit of a rough time figuring out where I "fit in", because my CP is pretty mild. It seems like people only talk about the severely disabled, or the non-disabled, and I don't fall into either of those categories. Anyways, you all seem very nice and I hope to make many new friends here! :)

Hello again,
you never had any disabled friends growing up? I bet you attended all AB (able bodied) schools? Do you use any type of walking aid like a crutch or cane?

I know EXACTLY what you mean!! In fact, I wrote almost the exact post you did in the past. Hi! =0) Glad to talk to someone else.

Hey there,

It's always nice to read a post from someone new. You have come to the right place to talk about CP. We are all "eyes" so type away and I am sure that any one of us should be able to help you in any way we can.
Actually it sounds like you and Nutcase16 have a lot in common.

Welcome to the boards...........

Lastramy

Nice to meet you, Musicmaker and nutcase!

I just recently made my first disabled friend... I've gone to regular schools all my life. I used to wear braces, and used a walker occasionally when I was little. After I had my right foot pretty much reconstructed I had to learn how to walk all over again (I was around 5 I think). I wanted to use a walker or cane, but my doctor said no.

I wore braces up until I was in 3rd or 4th grade, then I got sick of them and stopped wearing them. I was in full leg braces and a wheelchair after I had my tendons lengthened a couple years ago, but I haven't needed any since :)

It's so good to know there's people out there who feel the same way I do!

Wow, seriously are you my twin?

I used to wear a brace, too, but got sick of it after elementary school, so I only wore it occasionally. Around 8th or 9th grade I started wearing it again because I started seeing an orthopedist. Then in December 2000 (9th grade) I had surgery to lengthen my hamstrings, my right achilles tendon and aductors (?) and also haven't needed them since. :D

Hey Lastramy! I didn't see your post before I posted my reply... didn't mean to forget about ya! :)

Nutcase- sounds like it! You seem more like me than my real life twin, hahaha

Hi Katherine,

I´m Katherine too:) but I´m a bit older than you. English is not my native language and isn´t very strong but I hope you will understand :)
I also have CP, I can walk unaided, I´ve gone to regular schools too, like you. When I was younger and at this age sometimes happens too that I feel like I don´t fit in;), so you are not alone! :D
When I was 5 I underwent Achilles tendon surgery but I have never worn braces.
I would like to ask you if you have regained muscle strenghts after those surgeries? Many specialists say that the most common surgeries for CP (muscle lengthenings) weaken the muscles.

Bye-bye!

Hi Katherine!

After I had my hamstrings lengthened I never regained the full strength and/or balance I had before. My favorite things in the whole world used to be skateboarding and surfing, but I haven't been able to do them since the surgery. I'm very glad you posted because I never knew that was a common complication, it sure explains a lot :)

I never knew that either, it does explain a lot!

I had my hamstrings lengthened too, plus I had several operations on my knees, ankles and feet. I rode a bike until my knees were made stiff

So you don't ride one anymore? :( Was it really from problems with your knees?

Hello again nutcase16,
I am over 6 feet tall, I was this tall at 14. I had my last knee operation at age 11. Before the op, I could bend my knees to touch my heels to my butt, but after the op I could only bend my knees to 45 degrees. When you sit in a chair with your feet on the floor, your knees are bent to 90 degrees. The bike I rode when I could ride, was a 26 inch trike (3-wheels) that had special pedals to hold my feet and knees straight. I just couldn't bend my knees enough to get my feet on the pedals any more... but I didn't have to ever wear braces ever again :)

Hi Katherine, nice to hear from you. Like you, I just recently found this Forum and have been reading through as much of it as I possibly can. The information I've found here has helped me "connect the dots" so to speak and things that I thought were just signs of getting older or related to my lumbar disc surgery now appear to be directly linked to the CP. Just hearing from other people who live with (and through) this like I do has helped me more than all the doctors I've seen and all the "advice" :rolleyes: they've given me.

Like you, I wore the leg braces until age seven or eight and then refused to put them back on because of the pain they caused (as well as the attention and teasing they drew from AB kids), no surgeries here though. BTW I'm 36/m, left hemiplegic with spasticity. You'll find out as you read through these threads that most of us who are "less than severely" disabled (that one was for musicmaker :D ) are walking that same tightrope between living in an able-bodied world with all its expectations and accepting that we have very real physical limitations. Read through prisc1125's thread "Battling fatigue" and you'll see you're miles away from being alone -- thanks prisc and Lastramy, that thread is helping me as much as it is the two of you!

In my experience, most AB friends and acquaintances only see the surface of how we present ourselves in daily life. They have no idea how much of a struggle it is or how painful it can be just to do the simplest things. On good days I barely notice my disability but on bad days it's frustratingly painful, deeply depressing and feels utterly pointless. All we can do is keep moving forward as best we can, try to keep a positive attitude and draw from each other's strength.

You're among friends here of all ages and disability ranges, as well as relatives of people living with CP. No matter what questions you may have, someone here has experience they can share.

Jack

Welcome, this is a great site! :bouncing:

Jack, that was a wonderful post! You just put into words exactly how I've been feeling these last 18 years (something I've never been able to do)... just knowing this board is here is helping me more than I ever thought possible :)

In my experience, most AB friends and acquaintances only see the surface of how we present ourselves in daily life. They have no idea how much of a struggle it is or how painful it can be just to do the simplest things. On good days I barely notice my disability but on bad days it's frustratingly painful, deeply depressing and feels utterly pointless. All we can do is keep moving forward as best we can, try to keep a positive attitude and draw from each other's strength.

AMEN to that :cool:

You'll find out as you read through these threads that most of us who are "less than severely" disabled (that one was for musicmaker :D ) are walking that same tightrope between living in an able-bodied world with all its expectations and accepting that we have very real physical limitations. Read through prisc1125's thread "Battling fatigue" and you'll see you're miles away from being alone -- thanks prisc and Lastramy, that thread is helping me as much as it is the two of you!



Yes, the best thing about this board is that there are so many "less than severely disabled" people here. Many services and organisations mainly seem to target people who use wheelchairs, can't talk etc. We, who only are a little clumsy or limpy are seen as having no problems at all. :(

I'm 17 year old girl who has mild CP and uses crutches. Believe me i know how you feel :)

Yes, the best thing about this board is that there are so many "less than severely disabled" people here. Many services and organisations mainly seem to target people who use wheelchairs, can't talk etc. We, who only are a little clumsy or limpy are seen as having no problems at all. :(

That's what motivated me to find this board in the first place!