check out the diving bell and the butterfly, movie adaptation of a first hand account of someone who went through this. incredibly powerful film, and the physical is only half of the nightmare. because the man who had become completely paralyzed (apart from one functional eyelid - his other eye was drying out and had to be sewn shut while he helplessly screamed in silence begging the doctor not to bring the needle near his eye) had a rather unflatteringly messy personal life, and was in a position of witnessing all of his dirty laundry being aired between his mistress, and his wife, and his dying father.

all while he was completely competent mentally, but completely incapable of representing himself in any of the intrigues that were unearthed consequent to his injury. all a true story, written by the author while being locked in, one agonizing eye blank at a time with the aid of a nurse who finally figured out he was conscious.

Still can't believe I read that freshman year of high school as part of the English curriculum there. Book has stuck with me all these years. Good times.