My Story-The first few weeks

Help At Last

Dr. Saralee McGroarty was unlike any doctor I had ever known and believe me I have known a lot! For one thing, she didn't look like a doctor. What I mean is, she was rather well nourished, dressed in very casual clothes, and wore her thick dark brown hair in braids, (her menopause hairstyle as she called it). Not at all what you would picture a neurologist to look like. Her private office where each of us were escorted for our 15 minute appointments every couple of weeks was stacked high with magazines, books, literature, and paraphernalia of all kinds. She was kind and nurturing, gruff when it was needed and had no qualms about cussing out the insurance companies when they questioned her prescriptions.

Saralee, (as she preferred to be called) immediately set me up with a physical therapist who specialized in head injuries, and added occupational therapy and speech. She also ordered vision therapy. Medication was prescribed to help with the 24 hour headaches. For the next couple of years, I was to spend 3 or more days a week in therapy. Every couple of weeks I would see Saralee and update her on my progress. Once a month, she would meet with all my therapists and review my case. I really liked this team concept. Everyone knew what the other was doing, they compared notes and made recommendations.

Saralee also addressed another problem I was having. The months of anti-inflammatory medications had softened the ligaments in my hips, lower back and neck. Saralee was one of only eight doctors in Colorado at the time who did proprolatic injections. I resisted them for a long time. I hate needles to the point of crying and sometimes even passing out at the site of one. Plus these injections, I was told were very painful. Another reason in my mind to avoid them. It became a running joke with all my therapists and Saralee about how much I hated needles and refused to have the injections because of it. Finally the pain in my neck became so severe that I agreed to try them. They were almost as bad as I imagined them to be, but then something happened. A couple days after the injections, it was like I woke up. I have no other way to describe it. Saralee said that almost everyone gets pain relief from them, but she had never seen someone respond quite like I did. My head cleared a bit, I was able to think a little better, my vision and balance improved enough to be documented and many of the mental functions that I had lost began to return. In the end it was decided that my neck was so swollen from the whiplash that it was cutting off the blood flow to my brain. The injections relieved the swelling and restored the blood flow. It was amazing. For the first time I began to hope that I would be able to live a normal life again.

I began a series of injections in my neck, and lower back. The ligaments tightened, the pain became less and I started making a great deal of progress. Unfortunately, the injections weren't enough to solve the problems, but they made a significant improvement. I was sold. If you can find someone in your area that offers these injections, go have them if they are indicated. The solution that is injected is different for each area to be injected and what the desired result is, but all of the ingredients are naturally found in the body except the local anesthetic. They cause a temporary re-injury of the ligaments where it is injected, causing them to tighten up. For 7 days you cannot take any anti-inflamitories, no hot or cold packs or soak in a bath. You are encouraged to walk as much as possible. A couple of days after the injections, you see your physical therapist who makes sure that the ligaments are tightening properly, and in my case, pull my right leg down into position so the tightening ligaments will hold it in its proper place.

Christmas of 1998, I had surgery on my right hand to repair the torn ligament and dislocated thumb that occurred in my accident. The healing was at first fast, but then slowed down. The doctor wanted to fuse my thumb, but it would mean that I might lose most of the use of it. I refused and decided to live with the pain rather than have another surgery. I have learned to adapt to the weakness in my right thumb. New ways of using a can opener, (between my index and middle finger), holding a pencil or sculpting tools differently etc. The thumb is weak, and gets sore easily, but I do have good use of it. I have to be careful not to use it too much or it gets sore. I am grateful for this blessing.

In the fall of 1999 Saralee decided to retire. On her last day, which also happened to be her birthday, I gave her one of my dolls. She hugged me for a long time and wished me well. I miss her dearly. I have to say that she is probably one of the few if only doctor that I would have liked to have known as a friend. No pretenses, no "worship me for I am the great doctor" attitude. I could see her living on a farm, tending the chickens and driving the tractor, and chasing the coyotes away with a shotgun when they dared try to break into the chicken pen, cussing them out all the way!

Dr. Michael Shell took over the head injury part of her practice. He has continued with the team concept, also does the proprolatic injections as well as acupuncture and other Chinese medicines. He is an osteopath with a second residency in Chinese medicine. I like him a lot too, but I still miss Saralee. Next Back