How I found fun and adventure post-injury

When I sustained an injury to my spinal cord, everything changed in an instant. Coming to terms with doing basic things in a completely different way, and changing your entire life, is a lot to process. For a long time, I never stopped to really think about how I would start doing things that I loved again. I thought that my recreation and leisure activities were things of the past, lost with the injury. I almost felt the need to get used to a lifestyle without much of a sense of adventure or fun.

After some time, and meeting the right people, I found ways and means to do a lot of the things I enjoyed before my injury. Finding genuine pleasure and joy in leisure activities after a spinal cord injury is a seriously incredible feeling. There is such a depth of appreciation for the activities and experiences you can have, when you had almost felt like giving up on achieving those feelings again.

I now realise that such a big component of the barriers I faced were mental, and that physical hurdles can be overcome when approached with the right attitude.

Here are some tips and a list of things I have had the opportunity to get into again after my spinal cord injury.

Cycling:

I used to enjoy cycling before my spinal cord injury and when I heard about the Jeetrike, I wondered whether somebody with a high level, C4 spinal injury could really use something like this. I was lucky to borrow a friend’s one to trial, and applied through the NDIS with an assistive technology request to secure funding to purchase my own. It’s by far the most enjoyable and fun hobby that I’ve had a chance to do again since my injury.

Kayaking:

My favourite hobby – and something I did with great passion and interest before my injury – was kayaking. Getting back out on the water is a feeling that’s hard to describe. The legends at Access Adventures make this a possibility with modified kayaks to suit any level of spinal injury.

 
Bushwalking:

After I was discharged from hospital I relocated back to my home suburb of Berowra in northern Sydney, which has a lot of bushland surrounding it, and some beautiful walks and scenery through the national parks. All of this was now completely inaccessible to me until I used the Extreme X8 all-terrain wheelchair. This piece of equipment has given me the confidence and ability to tackle a bush trail and re-immerse myself in nature.

Fishing:

Spending time at Sargood on Collaroy, a resort designed for people with spinal cord injury, has been great way to try new things again, like fishing. With the resort’s in-house 3D printer, we were able to create a rod holder that I could use with minimal hand function. Pulling in my first fish after my injury was a moment when I realised there are still a lot of ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Photography:

Photography has been something I’ve enjoyed in the past, and since my injury, have learned more about. Being able to fly a drone to capture new perspectives of your surroundings, and editing the images, is a great hobby.

Swimming:

Getting out in the saltwater is something I have always loved and, post-injury, thought I would have never had the chance to do again. But many surf clubs have beach access chairs that you can use and float out into the water. Call your local surf lifesaving club to inquire about hiring these chairs. Most lifesavers are happy to help you physically access the water safely, as well. The feeling of weightlessness and the cleansing saltwater is a great way to relax.

There are so many ways to enjoy recreational activities after a spinal cord injury. It’s just a matter of knowing how to do them and giving things a try.

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