Spinal infarctions.

[Sue Pendleton]

I started getting the return below my injury after the 2 year mark. Currently though most doctors and therapists tend toward cutting therapy short the later any return begins. Those who get natural recovery tend to so early on and you are gaining back a lot early on. Keep at it. You may be able to help someone newer in the gym coming up when the therapists are too busy to load weights or adjust tightness on an Uppertone or other gym equipment where they only need things added then you go do your stuff and the newer person gets a few extra minutes that they may desperately need. Good luck!

[2timer]

I didn't realize there was a special thread for is. Haven't been here in a couple of years. I am an incomplete To from surgery 4 years ago to remove scar tissue from a surgery in '83. I haven't had any return. My spasms decreased then turned into this kicking thing that looks like I'm having a seizure. Baclofen has helped that but I am still spastic and my left leg spasms out when I lean back while my right leg draws under when I lean forward. This makes mornings a lot of fun until my body acclimates. Add a decub on the bottom of my foot from fighting the spasms last winter and being too tight to put shoes on. This has been the worst 4 years of my life.

I love hearing the stories of people who get return. It happened to me in '83 and I was able to have 25 productive years. Now every day is just an exercise in survival.

[Sue Pendleton]

Have you had any therapy since your surgery? And what level are you? Looks like auto-correct zapped your level in your post.

I didn't realize there was a special thread for is. Haven't been here in a couple of years. I am an incomplete To from surgery 4 years ago to remove scar tissue from a surgery in '83. I haven't had any return. My spasms decreased then turned into this kicking thing that looks like I'm having a seizure. Baclofen has helped that but I am still spastic and my left leg spasms out when I lean back while my right leg draws under when I lean forward. This makes mornings a lot of fun until my body acclimates. Add a decub on the bottom of my foot from fighting the spasms last winter and being too tight to put shoes on. This has been the worst 4 years of my life.

I love hearing the stories of people who get return. It happened to me in '83 and I was able to have 25 productive years. Now every day is just an exercise in survival.

[Heartbroken]

Paul,
just wondering how your recovery is progressing? My husband is t10/11 incomplete from spinal infarction, unknown cause. He was 43 when it happened and he had absolutely no warning signs at all, an executive job, fit, active, dad of 4, prior professional golfer. Hope is all that gets us through some days. He is in constant banding pain that is relentless. Do you have any banding? How far have you come in your return?

[Paul1712]

Hi,yes I do have the stiffness/banding! am doing ok though apart from thatHave taken some steps with a frame and my legs are still improving I think.My glutes are not very strong but my quads are quite strong.I keep thinking it's too late for significant improvement as my injury was over 2 years ago but I am told this is not the case.How is your husband doing?Has he had much improvement?Can he move his legs?I hope he's doing ok and you too.Keep fighting because you never know what will "come back"!

[lizfunk]

Glad to have found this thread, even though it's quite old. I guess my husband's injury is considered non-traumatic, though it feels pretty traumatic to both of us! He underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery in December and it's believed he has a T-7 complete injury due to spinal cord infarction. However, since he had scoliosis surgery as a child, MRIs are not useful--the Harrington rods in his back interfere with the imaging and we can't see anything below around T-1. He is currently paralyzed from the chest down--no sensation or function. I know the recovery process is incredibly long and complex, and we are both hoping that something eventually does come back, but right now he'd settle for being able to keep himself upright rather than slumping over to the left as a result of his scoliosis, and eventually to be able to transfer into and out of a chair.

[Sue Pendleton]

I found heat patches to the mid back help with the banding. These days Salon Pas brand of the caspacian kind of heat works best in my opinion. There is no smell and if put on well they stay put. Do check around the edges and after the first is removed to make sure the glue doesn't bother your skin. They direct a 4 hour limit but I've left one on over night occasionally without problems but your milege may vary. And wait until after PT or working out to apply them as they really relax your back muscles.

Lisfunk, has your husband seen a seating specialist for the scoliosis? If not, it would be a good idea. And definitely try to exercise the weaker side more than his strong side if possible. I have the car problem after 23 years in a chair and it is not an easy thing to fix.

[Bob Sullivan]

This is the first time I have seen and read this thread, it also seems to describe what effects the Bends (Caissons Disease) 1972 left me with. The doctors no matter how knowledgeable or willing to assess my symptoms as they they changed greatly over the years because I tried to compensate for my physical shortcomings, by toughing it through.

A couple of surgeries has helped me through some if not most of the pain that existed previously. But did little so far to making walking much easier. But the pain relief is a great help, if it could have been prevented or done years back, that would have been a plus. But the surgical procedures of the past are nothing like what is done today. Some of these guys are fantastic. I have one of those I believe. But as the doctor said what "he" corrected/fixed had nothing to do with my "original" problem the "bends". But fixing what I broke later, when struggling to make a living.

What is described in this thread better describes my symptoms than anything else that I have found. I can but hope writing this and posting this can help some other person. Isn't that the ultimate purpose of this site?