New to Being Disabled

Author: Deborah-Lee Erb Renna
Published: 2009/08/02 - Updated: 2009/08/21
Category Topic: Blogs / Writings / Stories - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Struggling with my limitations and am frustrated with how the medical community tries to pigeonhole everyone into one category.

Introduction

I started my journey of being classified as disabled five years ago when I was injured at work. I crushed three vertebrae and was told that I would never be able to work again. I had a hard time accepting that as I was an active mother of six little girls.

Main Content

I started my journey of being classified as disabled five years ago when I was injured at work. I crushed three vertebrae and was told that I would never be able to work again.

I had a hard time accepting that as I was an active mother of six little girls. For the first year I was flat on my back and miserable.

As the time has gone on I have tried every treatment available-even buying an inversion table and hanging upside down.

Fast forward three years and I am now addicted to pain medication and suffering from debilitating seizures that from all indications are not from the pain meds.

So now I am taking less pain medication and trying different seizure medications in hopes of controlling them. All to no avail. I am still have major seizures and no better off. I have accepted that I have limitations and worry if I will get worse or ultimately die from a grand mall seizure. I have gained respect for others who have lived their whole lives with disabilities.

When I see people that I went to school with, they point and ask sarcastic questions about why I am not working etc. I don't get offended easily, but I find that I have had to get a thicker skin when people ask questions.

Anyway, I am not whining but I am wondering how others deal with these issues. I don't want to be seen as the miserable, unapproachable, mom at the school. People find the cane I need off putting.

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Citing and References

- APA | MLA | Chicago | Permalink

APA: Deborah-Lee Erb Renna. (2009, August 2 - Last revised: 2009, August 21). New to Being Disabled. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved November 15, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/blogs/new-disabled.php

MLA: Deborah-Lee Erb Renna. "New to Being Disabled." Disabled World (DW), 2 Aug. 2009, revised 21 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2025. <www.disabled-world.com/disability/blogs/new-disabled.php>.

Chicago: Deborah-Lee Erb Renna. "New to Being Disabled." Disabled World (DW). Last modified August 21, 2009. www.disabled-world.com/disability/blogs/new-disabled.php.

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/blogs/new-disabled.php">New to Being Disabled</a>: Struggling with my limitations and am frustrated with how the medical community tries to pigeonhole everyone into one category.

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