Intimacy after Injury

Intimacy after injury. It's a subject most people wouldn't want to talk about. Not only are you dealing with the physical aspects of the injury, but you are dealing with the emotional and psychological aspects too. 


Recovering from a traumatic injury is not only a physical but task, but a psychological one. I know from my own personal experience, being injured at the age of 26 there was a lot on my mind that went beyond just the physical healing. One of my first thoughts was, what about intimacy? My injuries were so traumatic that the nerve damage in my sacrum and pelvis caused issues with nerve function in the lower half of my body.I didn't know if I was ever going to heal completely. Lot's of questions came to mind. If you've ever suffered a traumatic injury,  I'm sure some of you can probably relate.  

These are just a few of the questions that came to my mind: 

Will women still find me attractive? 

Will I ever be in a relationship again? 

How will I ever find a partner who accepts me for who I am now? 

How will my body perform?

What if never fully heal? 

What if sex isn't the same? 

What if I can't perform at all? 

How will I please my partner?

Let's face it, being in my 20's...these things were all very important to me.


When I was ready to start dating again I "hid" my injury until after the first meeting. When I say, "hid"...I mean, I wore jeans. But was very up front in saying that I had suffered a traumatic injury, without giving away too many details up front. It was a personal choice. I wanted the other person to get to know me first as a person, before making a judgement based on my physical appearance alone. From my experience this has always worked for me. Fortunately, everyone I've dated has been very receptive and understanding of my injury. But what I did notice was that the most important thing with dating was to carry confidence with you wherever you go. I always kept my head held high and I walked like a rock star when I entered a room. Confidence and charisma go a long way.



Through my journey of healing I learned more than I could have ever imagined about intimacy. My thoughts on intimacy actually grew to a level I never understood before. With the right partner, I learned that intimacy goes beyond the physical. True intimacy is about making strong emotional connections and expressing those emotions in both physical and non-physical ways. I also learned that intimacy goes much deeper than physical attraction. Intimacy is about love and respect for another human being on so many levels. With the right person, intimacy after injury can be a wonderful thing. What I came to understand was that anyone who doesn't accept or love you for EXACTLY who you are, isn't worth your time. 


 
 

Climbing Mt. Woodson

If you live in the San Diego area, you might be familiar with Mt. Woodson (A.K.A. Potato Chip Rock) It is rightly named because of its unique "potato chip" shape. Part of the rock juts straight out and extends over a breathtaking drop that gives the impression you are sitting on the edge of the world. The infamous Potato Chip rock is located at the peak of Mt. Woodson in Poway at an elevation of 2300 ft.  There are two entrances to the Mt. Woodson trail. The Poway side entrance is a longer stretch, but has a flatter and steady terrain.  From the Ramona side, the trail to the top is very steep, with constant and strenuous inclines at roughly 4.2 miles roundtrip. It is no easy task for the average person to summit the peak with such steep inclines and rising daytime temperatures . But that has never stopped me before.

With my Ossur Reflex Shocks, hiking up the steady incline was much easier due to the energy return and impact absorption. The steep incline required a more forward lean, with more pressure placed on the "toes" of the prosthesis. This offered greater balance and better forward motion. Because of the superior performance of the Ossur Reflex Shocks, my hike to the top was much smoother and more comfortable than I had anticipated.

Reaching the summit took roughly 2 hours of steady climbing. But the time and sweat equity was well worth it. The panoramic view from the top is incredible. Not only that, but I had the fortune of meeting some other local hikers on my journey to the top. Everyone I encountered seemed genuinely amazed at my ability to complete such a task. I enjoy any opportunity that I can impact the way others think and offer inspiration.

We all face challenges in our day to day lives.  As an amputee living with prosthesis doesn't have to be a part of those challenges. With the right attitude, a positive outlook and determination anything is possible. I am living proof.

   

Chasing Energy-Finding clean energy without the jitters

One of the most difficult parts of my recovery was my constant lack of energy.  A combination of recovery medications, a change in mobility and my body adjusting to the trauma left me always in the process of chasing energy.  In the beginning of my recovery I turned to whatever source I could find to get through my day. I hate to admit it but I was guilty of jumping on the energy drink bandwagon, drinking 2-3 Monsters or Rock Stars a day, sometimes more. These highly caffeinated drinks were full of sugar  and left me feeling worse by the end of the day. Nothing really seemed to work. I found myself getting that crash after a long period of being overly jittery.  After doing some research, in the hopes of finding a better/healthier way to get energy back I started drinking teas, a healthy alternative to energy.

I started first enjoying Yerba Mate. It gave me a different kind of energy, more sustained and clear headed. I didn't get the jitters I had before with the energy drinks.  I continued my quest to find just the perfect tea for me, one that tasted great and kept me energized all day without the side effects of a caffeine and/or sugar crash and included the benefits of healthy antioxidants.

After doing some research on Amazon.com I came across a brand of tea called Runa.  I read some really great reviews from customers who had purchased the Runa brand and had nothing but good things to say about how the tea tasted and more importantly, how the tea made them feel.  I decided to try the loose leaf tea, because I prefer a really strong brew. I chose the Runa Clean Energy "Mint Guayusa".  It did not disappoint. I found myself quickly falling in love with the brand and the flavor of the Runa Mint Guayusa. I purchased the 1 lb. bag and now I literally use it every single day. It is my tea of choice. I cannot give credit enough to how great this brand is. It has been the best overall tea for providing me with that clean energy I need to get through my day. Not only that but the flavor is very uplifting and refreshing. I use the loose leaf tea to brew my own mint lattes and take them with me in my travel mug wherever I go.  I no longer have to worry about chasing energy. I attribute a lot of that to my choice of tea, my changed diet and healthier lifestyle. Runa has been a big part of that transition.  If you are experiencing a lack of energy and are looking for a natural and healthy source, be sure to try them out.

For more info on Runa go to :

http://runa.org/

My story

My name is Kevin Johnson. In 2009, I was doing what every typical guy in their 20's was doing...living life in the fast lane. In October of that year, life had other plans for me. This is my story.

As a survivor, living with traumatic injuries, every day presents its own challenges.  Depending on your mindset, you can look at these challenges as either obstacles or opportunities.  I choose to see them as opportunities to grow, to learn and to inspire others.

A special thanks to all of the staff, doctors, and nurses at UMC in Las Vegas for their kindness, compassion and the level of care I received.