Chapter One
It really didn’t hurt when we got hit. We were speeding along the interstate on our way to Mike’s grandparent’s cabin. It was going to be the weekend we both desperately needed. I was just finalizing my divorce and school was driving Mike crazy. I just wanted to chill out and do a little fishing. As we rounded the bend, just north of the city the traffic suddenly came to a halt. I stepped on the brakes and stopped only a foot or two short of the Honda in front of me. Just then, Mike said, “We’re gonna get hit.” Sure enough, a full-size Chevy pick-up slammed into my little Ford Escort. Mike and I watched as five other cars piled up behind us and one rolled onto its driver’s side.
Mike was training to be a cop and he put his training to use in making sure everyone was all right. Fortunately, most of us were uninjured. The Highway Patrol and the paramedics arrived and checked everyone out. By this time, Mike was coming out of his adrenaline shock and noticed the pain in his neck and back. He had injured his back two years earlier in a motorcycle accident. The paramedics loaded him into the ambulance as I looked around for a ride to the hospital. The girl in the car ahead of me offered me a lift and we were off.
I spent the next five hours in a downtown hospital listening to drunks, junkies and gang-bangers come and go. They had Mike strapped to a backboard and his neck was restrained in a hard collar. After all the x-rays and tests, the doctor decided that Mike was all right to go home. Our trip to the cabin now a wipe out, we called my brother to come and pick us up.
The next few weeks would find Mike spending many hours with a Chiropractor and me trying to get insurance companies to fix my poor car.
Over six months later, I was playing my weekly basketball game. A fiery and feisty big man I was in a tough guy mood that day and was wrestling hard for every shot and rebound. On one particular rebound I went up strong and stole the ball away from the other team’s big man. I quickly turned to find my point guard streaking out on the fast break. I laid a perfect overhead pass into his hands. He dribbled once and laid it in.
I began to move back into position for defense and found an odd stiffness in my back. I tried to stretch it out a bit and razor-sharp pain originated just above the small of my back and shot like a dart up to the base of my skull and down my left leg to my knee. I almost collapsed, but regained my balance and tried to “walk it off.” This time my back showed me how serious it was. My feet barely made it off the floor. It was as though they were unable to fulfil the orders my brain was sending them.
I asked for a sub and went straight to my car. I went home and took a hot shower, hoping to loosen things up. It helped a little, and I made it through the rest of the day. The next day would find me barely able to sit up in bed.
My girlfriend came over and insisted that I see her doctor. I argued that I had only started my new job six weeks earlier and I did not yet have insurance. I knew that there was no way I could afford any kind of treatment, let alone x-rays, CT scans and the like. Natasha said that the doctor was a friend of her family and had done a lot of work on her family members. He had done a Harrington Rod insertion to treat her sister for Scoliosis and he had fused three of her father’s vertebrae to correct a herniated disk. I argued that even if I could afford it, I would end up in some God awful steel and leather contraption that would make me look like I had a stick up my butt and keep me from doing anything I enjoyed. Natasha’s retort would put a stop to all of my arguments. First, she said, “I don’t think you’ll be doing much of anything in this condition.” O-kay, she had a point, but to punctuate her point she reminded me that Scoliosis runs in her family and that she had spent four years in a Milwaukee Brace to stop her curve. She made it clear that she knew all about “steel and leather contraptions”. Needless to say, I caved in and she called the doctor.
As a special favor, the doctor said he would see us during his lunch hour while the office was closed to regular patients. We showed up at 12:30 as instructed and he asked me to take off my shirt while he poked, pushed and x-rayed my aching back. When the x-rays came back it was obvious. Even with my untrained eyes, I could see the cracks in two of my vertebrae. My heart sunk as he confirmed my fears and we reconstructed the events that caused my break. We figured that the car accident cracked the vertebrae and the basketball caused them to slip a little causing the pain and the lack of muscle control. I had come dangerously close to severing my spinal chord.
I wanted to die as the doctor told me that I would be out of commission for at least a month, possibly as much as three months! No insurance, a new job, no family nearby to help out, how would I survive this one?
The Doctor James asked Natasha to leave us alone for a minute and she went out to the lobby. The plan that the doctor outlined seemed odd to say the least, but something inside me said it would be my ONLY chance to get well. He told me that he was in the process of doing research and needed subjects. My treatment would require me to spend three days in traction, two more months in a brace and six months of physical therapy. He proposed that following my stint in the brace I would be his subject in the researching of new brace technology and other “alternative” treatments. I agreed, with a great deal of fear.
I was then told that my condition would require what he called “Halo-Femoral Traction.” I said o-kay, not having a clue what that meant. I found out fast enough when he asked if I wanted a local or general anesthetic. Without thinking I replied, “local.” Doctor James walked to a drawer and withdrew a needle and syringe. He then brought out a small vial and filled the syringe. I was told to lay back on the table. He told me that this would likely hurt and that he wanted to restrain my hands and feet. I felt I had to agree and did. He then wrapped the leather cuffs around both wrists and both ankles and buckled them snugly.
He then left the room and returned with a metal ring in his hand and a sealed, black, plastic bag. He told me that he had asked Natasha to go home for an hour or two. I was really wondering what was in store, now. Doctor James asked me to lift my head off the table and he slid the metal ring around my head and marked four spots on my head. He then told me to relax as he slid the needle into my scalp near each spot and injected the fluid. I was then told that while the drug took effect, he would shave the areas. Being overly attached to my hair, I was not pleased with the prospect of four bald spots. Little did I know was to happen to those bald spots.
When he was through shaving, he poked the four spots and asked if I could feel it. I said no and he said, “Good, now lay back and relax. You’ll feel some pressure.” Another strap was attached to the table and wrapped around my skull, firmly securing it to the table. The next sight just about made me pass out.
The doctor withdrew what looked like a craftsman drill. “Relax” he demanded. He then brought the drill bit down to my skull and began to drill. I couldn’t feel any pain, but I felt the pressure and the vibration was nerve rattling. This was repeated on each of the remaining three spots. Each time the drill bit was left in my skull. Next he brought back the metal ring and slid it onto the pins. He told me that the “Halo” part was ready and now it was time for the femoral part.
I was still too shocked and scared to even asked what that was. Then I realized that the femur is the bone in the thigh. The needle was brought out again and inserted into my left thigh and again in my right leg. After a short wait, a scalpel was used to make small incisions into both sides of each thigh. The drill was brought in again, this time with a long bit. He inserted the bit into my leg and began drilling through my bone. This was done to both legs. He reached into the black bag and brought out two metal rods. One was threaded through each leg and secured on each side.
This is when I noticed the pulleys on the walls. Ropes were attached to each leg and two more to the ring around my skull. These were threaded through pulleys on opposite walls and inserted into what looked like a winch. Doctor James then slowly turned a knob and the slack was taken out of the ropes. I felt it begin to tug on my head and legs. Soon, it felt as though the top of my head would pop off, then it stopped. Doctor James then began to poke and prod at my mid section and my back. As he did I felt a couple of pops in my spine and tingling through my legs and arms. He told me that my spine was now properly aligned and that I would stay right here, like this for three days.
Without being told, I knew that being immobilized like that meant using the bathroom would take “assistance.” Sure enough, the catheters came next; just before Natasha returned. How embarrassing! There I was, in my boxers, with tubes coming out both ends, pins in my head and legs all tied to the wall. She kissed my cheek and tried to reassure me that I would be all right. Doctor James then said that he had to attend to other patients. He left the room and Natasha informed me that she had to run off to work. I was alone with my ropes and metal attachments.
Chapter Two
For the next two days, Natasha would come and go, as would the nurses and Dr. James. The nursed and doctor would poke and prod, offer medication for my discomfort and attempt to feed me, but my appetite was severely lacking. Once per day, Dr. James would return to the knob on the wall and tighten the pull on my already stretched spine. Each time, his only comment was, “We’re getting there.”
The lack of information and not knowing why I had to go through all this was driving me crazy. Dr. James was an intimidating man and his nurses although rather attractive, all acted as though they didn’t have time for my “trivial” needs. So, I laid there and conjured up thousands of ideas as to what they might be doing to do with me.
The pull on my head was so uncomfortable! I was sure that the top of my head would pop off. My hips felt as though they were about to slip out of their sockets. Oddly enough, my back was feeling a lot better, but my neck seemed to be taking the brunt of the pull and I wanted desperately to wiggle and move it around.
Tasha spent as much time with me as she could. Mostly, she was busy with finals at school and working at the department store. On the third day, Tasha showed up around 10:00am. I asked her why she wasn’t in her anthropology class. She replied that she was doing some “favors” for the instructor and was sure to ace the class. I knew what she meant by “favors” but I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not. So, I let it go.
Just then, Dr. James poked his head in and asked Tasha to step outside with him. For about 20 minutes the curiosity was killing me. What would they be discussing? I could be sure it was about me, but what? Was it bad news? Was it one of those, “I’m sorry Miss, your boyfriend will be an invalid for the rest of his life and you will be stuck caring for the poor slob.”
Just when I was ready to scream at Tasha to let me die instead of burdening her with my useless body, she returned. I was amazed to see her with her shirt off, wearing only her shorts, a bra and her sandals. Atop it all was a Milwaukee Brace with straps all over and a fairly high chin piece. I was in awe and very aroused by the sight of her in her bra and all that aluminum and restrictive leather and plastic. My jaw must have been resting on my chest because she shot me a nasty look and said, “Settle down tough guy. It’s just a Milwaukee. You’ll get yours!” I didn’t know what she meant by that, but she looked GOOD.
She came over to my side and asked what I thought. I asked where it came from. She reminded me that she had worn a similar brace for four years, starting when she was 11, to treat scoliosis. She went on, saying that Dr. James felt that her curve may be starting to return and that if they caught it early and she wore the brace for 18 hours per day for 9 months to a year she would finally be home free. Again she asked what I thought of the device. I told her it was fascinating and I asked her to come close. I ran my hands along the pelvic girdle and the aluminum rods. Then I whispered in her ear that I found it very erotic and exciting.
Just then, she reached into my boxers and caressed my testicles. I was already getting aroused and her touch really lit me up. She told me that I would certainly get mine. What did that mean, “get mine”. She had said it twice. Did she mean that once I was released from this medieval Rack apparatus, she would “give me some?” I certainly hoped so.
Just as Tasha withdrew her hand from my boxers, Dr. James returned and excused Tasha. A nurse soon followed. I immediately noticed that the nurse was wearing Reverse-pull Headgear. She caught me staring at it and smiled a smile that said, “This is nothing, compared to what you are getting.”
I was now officially scared and still somewhat aroused. Dr. James broke the silence and informed me that today I would be released from the traction, if everything went well. The nurse supported my thighs as Dr. James carefully disconnected the ropes from the pins in my thighs. The relief of not being pulled so hard was wonderful. Next, they removed the ropes from the Halo and allowed me to rest my head on the pillow, but only for a moment. Then Dr. James asked if I thought I could walk. I said I didn’t know. He ordered me to give it a try.
After three days of traction my coordination was poor, to put it lightly. I struggled to my feet, the pins still protruding from my thighs and the weight of the steel Halo teetering my head a little. After I took a step or two, I asked if they would remove the pins from my thighs. The nurse looked at the doctor and he replied that he was sure I wouldn’t be needing them anymore. I was instructed to sit in a nearby wheelchair. The leg rests were raised and I settled in. Dr. James began to look at the openings in my legs and moved the pin in my right leg just a little. I about jumped through the roof! The pain was incredible. With a disappointed look Dr. James reported that my bone had already begun to grow in around the metal pins. I was informed that due to other treatment plans for today, they could not give me any pain medication. Instead, my legs were strapped to the chair, followed by my arms. The nurse went to the cupboard and returned with what appeared to be a football-type mouthpiece. I was told to bite down on it and the nurse held my head back.
Dr. James turned the first pin 90 degrees and began to pull it out as my eyes bulged and I tried to scream despite the rubber mouthpiece. The procedure was repeated on my left leg and I laid my head back into the nurse’s arms. “He won’t feel like walking now. Would you wheel him down to the fitting room, Michelle?”
With that, me, my Halo and the nurse, Michelle went into the hallway and down a few doors and into a room with even more ropes, metal “racks” and pulleys. “Just relax. The doctor will be here in a minute.” The nurse told me softly. “You handled that very well. It hurts really bad, doesn’t it?” Still rattled by the pain and stressed out by all the strange “treatments” I snapped, “How would YOU know!” The nurse ran her fingers through my hair and replied that she had received similar treatment about a year ago. “Does it work?” I queried. “You bet! You just have to be patient.”
Dr. James arrived and turned to Michelle and ordered, “Get him hooked up.” Michelle helped me out of the wheelchair and walked me over a floor to ceiling, metal rack with ropes hanging down to brackets. I was told to stand in the center of the rack. Michelle made a comment about my height and retrieved a step stool from the corner. She stood atop the stool and fastened the brackets to my Halo. I knew what was coming more stretching. “I haven’t be stretched enough, eh?” I commented. “We’re casting you to make molds. This will only last three or four hours.” Dr. James said roughly.
When Michelle was finished she stepped back and Dr. James checked her work. He then went to a control panel and instructed me to look straight ahead. I heard him flip two switches and a motor began to turn. Once again, the slack went out of the ropes and I was stretched to the point of pain and the motor stopped. I was told that I needed “settle” for about 30 minutes and so there I hung, by four pins augured into my skull.
Dr. James returned and let out a sigh. I was afraid of this. Your muscles are too tight in your back. I don’t like doing this, but we’ve got to get the plaster on you, today. He lifted a phone and I heard him tell someone to bring an “Epidural.” I knew that women in labor are given epidurals to ease the pain of birth, but I am not in labor nor am I a woman. I asked what he was going to do, just as a nurse walked into the room with a huge hypodermic needle.
Dr. James explained that he had to get my muscles to relax and elongate my spine for casting. The epidural would be inserted like those used in childbirth, but mine would be done much higher, between my shoulder blades. “Relax, this will hurt some.” Dr. James ordered. I felt the chill of the antibiotic on my skin and then the most painful needle prick I have ever felt. I felt a tingle go throughout my body and my face must have shown the discomfort. The nurse informed me that the needle was now inside my spinal canal and the medication was being administered. I felt a slight burning as the needle was withdrawn and the nurse and doctor left the room.
For about 20 minutes, I hung there, wondering what the effect would be. Then my legs began to tingle and ceased to respond to my commands. I then realized that I was essentially paralyzed from my chest down.
A few minutes later, Dr. James and two nurses returned with a bucket of water and rolls of plaster. My feet were strapped to the floor and the ropes holding my head were tightened once more. I was wrapped in stockinet and the nurses began at my neck and covered all of my torso and legs with plaster. My arms stuck straight out with plaster down to my elbows. A second layer was added to my body cast as I began to feel claustrophobic.
Dr. James came and checked the nurses work and placed two pills in my mouth. “These are a sedative, it will keep you from feeling trapped or closed in.” A dixie cup was held to my lips and I swallowed the pills with a little water. Dr. James informed me that it would take two to three hours to dry and they would return later. I was alone again. I imagined that I looked like a huge snowman and that made me giggle. Then my mind drifted to Tasha and her Milwaukee brace and I began to get excited again. Until I realize that I didn’t have “room” to get excited. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her and that brace.