Adjusting and Enjoying Life with a Spinal Cord Injury

Great and inspiring thread Lara, being now nearly 2 years post accident I have had my low points now and again, but it is as you say you have to move forward and find ways to adjust to different things that you do. I am determined to get back on a cycle and have built a trike by converting one of my racing bikes with a kit  i purchased from a guy who had serious head injuries in a cycling  accident like me and has now got his balance back and is able to to use a normal cycle now. If i do things now I just have to take my time and take a rest now and again then carry on, sometime when I have done to much I do pay for it in a painful way, but this is something I have had to except and take it easy for a few days. When I go out with the family to the shops I just tell them to go on ahead and follow on slowly at my own pace.

barny, I think you are doing great to be able to keep your passion for riding alive. There are a few other trikers in this forum--post a thread about it and you will draw them out!

barny, I am looking at handcyles if I don't get back on top of my feet, as upper body is unaffected(except for all the weight I have gained). Please post pictures of your home made trike when you have it done. thanks.

Early on, someone told me to 'not think about what you were, but rather concentrate on who you want to be' This makes good sense, and yet at the same time is hard to do. Everyone is going to have some doubts, worries, bad days, etc. I had those before my injury as well. My advice is to let people know your feelings and discuss them fully with sympathetic folks. I am only 4 months into this and I realize the longer it goes, the harder it might be to 'get up'. I also find keeping a journal very useful.

Good luck to all.