CASE HISTORY 16
NAME: Stella
AGE: Early fifties at time of accident in 1992
SEX: Female
COMPLAINTS & DURATION
Motor vehicle accident
PREVIOUS TREATMENT:
Not significant
PROGNOSIS:
Poor. Guarded as far as future mobility was concerned.
DISCUSSION
The salient features of this case are:
- Multiple bone fractures:
- Fracture of right upper ramus,
- Fracture of right lower ramus,
- Fracture of left pubic bone,
- Fracture of the vertebral column at level T3,
- Slight displacement of left sacroiliac joint.
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone.It can be the result of high force impact or stress, or trivial injury as a result of certain medical conditions that weaken the bones.
Diagnosis A bone fracture can be diagnosed clinically based on the history given and the physical examination performed. X-ray is performed to view the bone suspected of being fractured. In situations where x ray alone is insufficient, a CT scan may be performed.
Treatment
Treatment of bone fractures are broadly classified as surgical or conservative, the latter basically referring to any non-surgical procedure
Immobilization
Since bone healing is a natural process, fracture treatment aims to ensure the best possible function of the injured part after healing. Bone fractures are treated by restoring the fractured pieces of bone to their natural positions and maintaining those positions while the bone heals.
Surgery
Surgery is done only if conservative treatment has failed or is likely to fail. With some fractures such as fractures, surgery is offered routinely, because of the danger of complications.
Complications
Some fractures can lead to serious complications which can result in amputation of the affected limb. Other complications may include non-union, where the fractured bone fails to heal or mal-union, where the fractured bone heals in a deformed manner.
Effects of yoga and meditation
Stella got seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1992.
In 1992, an early Sunday morning, my husband and myself were on a motorcycle heading for the market. A lorry coming at full speed hit the motorcycle.**
“In the blink of an eye, I found myself violently projected off my seat. I could hardly understand what was happening. Sensing danger, my thoughts flew to God and I called His name. I hit the ground hard. Pain coursed throughout my body but the worst was yet to come. Lying on the ground, I was helpless. One of the lorry’s tyres passed on my lower body, crushing me. The pain was unbearable, beyond imagination and beyond limit. I felt death knocking at my door!”**
It was a hit and run case. She was left lying on the road until passers-by came to help.
“I was not able to breathe. I was terrified. I could not inhale anymore through my nostrils. My lower body was badly injured but it seemed that even my lungs were damaged. My chest was hurting terribly. After what seemed an eternity, I managed to inhale some air through my mouth. I could not feel the lower half of my body anymore.”**
At the hospital, doctors found multiple injuries, fracture of right upper ramus, fracture of right lower ramus, fracture of left pubic bone, fracture of the vertebral column at level T3, slight displacement of left sacroiliac joint. I also had laceration and bleeding of the upper lip. My injuries were extremely serious.**
Her case was very serious considering the extent and nature of her injuries. At the hospital, when she could no longer tolerate the pain she would try to meditate. This would give her some solace. Sometimes all pain would even disappear.
(“…mes douleurs atroces que le mondre geste accentuait. Quelque chose d’exraordinaire se produisit le lendemain tandis que je meditais pour mieux supporter ma suplice. A ma grande joie mes deux jambs se croiserent en lotus sans que je ressente la moindre douleur. ”)*
English translation: The least movement would worsen the already appalling pain. Something extraordinary occurred the next day. While I was meditating to decrease my agony, to my great joy my legs spontaneously crossed into the lotus position without the least effort or any pain whatsoever.
(“Si jamais mes douleurs devenaient intolerable, je meditais…”)*
English translation: Whenever the pain became unbearable, I used to meditate…”
“Lying helpless in hospital, I tried my best to meditate. I felt arising within, a powerful force that gave me courage and endurance. Each day I would get spontaneous light movements that gradually helped me move my joints.”**
She was always at risk of permanent disability. She continued to meditate whenever she was awake. After 17 days she was discharged form hospital and sent to her place. She was told it would be another month before she could expect to be able to hold herself on her legs. Yet to everybody’s surprise, she could walk the very next day.
(“Le risque d’une infirmite permanente me guettait toujours….)*
Translation: There was always the risk of permanent disability.
(Si bien que le lendemain meme de mon retour..a la surprise generale, je me mis a marcher sans l’aide de quiquonque…)*
Translation: The very next day after my discharge from hospital, to everyone’s consternation, I started walking unaided, without any support…
(“Aujourd’hui mon corps est plus souple qu’il ne l’etait vingt ans plus tot.)*
Translation: Today my body is more supple than it was 20 years before.
Being a senior nurse, Stella could understand the gravity of her condition. She was well aware she could have lost her life. She could have been bedridden or seriously handicapped for life. Yet, she escaped these dire consequences thanks to her meditation and yoga. Whatever meditation she could do, helped her through the crucial first few weeks. The extra prana she could gather from meditation went directly to all injured parts of her body and accelerated the healing process. Later the practice of yoga postures would reinforce the effects of meditation and she would be completely healed.
“Anyone with such injuries would either be bedridden for life or even worse, lose his life.
Yet, with… the practice of meditation and yoga, I am fully recovered and as active and serene as ever. Today the practice of yoga keeps me in good health.”**
(*Excerpts from article, Stella Magazine 2000 P74)
(**Excerpts from article, Stella Magazine 2011 P71-73)
Conclusion
After such a major accident, and in consideration of the extent of her injuries, anyone else would have been physically disabled and mentally traumatized.
In the beginning she could hardly concentrate or meditate. But convinced that meditation alone could save her, she tried her best. The little meditation she could manage would help maintain the prana’s rhythmic action throughout her system.
Slowly she started getting spontaneous joint movements during meditation, which is typical of siddha kundalini meditation. The prana accelerated her healing while still bedridden. She did not have to cross the stage of temporary disability and could straight away be on her legs the day after her discharge.
It is indeed surprising she did not have any serious sequelae, either physical or mental. Yoga and meditation were able to heal her body and mind in a truly holistic manner.