Is it just a tease?

[silversol]

I have heard It can take up to two years to come out of "shock" I was clasified as a asia A complete T10. Im a year and a half in the last few months things Have woke up I have feeling/sensation all over have hot and cold senstion even have some control of bowel function blatter is still gone. My knees are sore some mornings till i move them around. Now for the movement I can clench my butt cheeks and move my toes and feet a bit. Its nice to feel that im actually sitting. And kinda know where my legs are. But Its kinda a tease Its seems like its just enough to piss me off! If I can get movement I can work it and make it work. Does anyone else have this issue?

[avictoria]

It's Not a Tease
Get your MD to rx some aquatherapy sessions with a PT or OT experienced with aquatherapy. After a few sessions in the water they should be able to authorize you to do aquatherapy on your own. Also, safely reduce or discontinue as much as possible anti-spasmodic medications such as baclofen, valium and pain medications. Make sure you work closely with your doc in decreasing or discontinuing those medications.

A degree of spasticity and tone is useful...it's possible to exercise and gradually repattern spasms and tone into voluntary movement.


Nobody knows how much regeneration and functional strengthening might occur post injury, but the potential is obviously there. Physical therapy, especially aquatherapy, is the only way to maximixe it.


You might encounter the attitude that 'well you'll never walk independently no matter' but any functional return you have will make your life easier and healthier.

best of luck!

[Wills77]

I know how you feel I'm a c6 incomplete and will be a year and a half post this month. I regained dull feeling and some movement in my toes and legs. I went to physical therapy for a year and continue to do it at home now but I feel like I hit a dead end. I'm not gaining anymore movement and the movement I do have isn't getting stronger. I can twitch a lot of muscles and lift my feet a little bit but its not enough to be functional. I just looked at your profile, your injury happened 2 days after mine.

[silversol]

Yeah I dont take meds for spasticity and it has increased alot! I have not been in therapy In about a year Now When I was in therapy I got kinda upset when the pt see's asia A on your file I felt like I was being treated as a lost cause and I was tired of learing wheelchair transfers. Im getting back into therapy at home doing what I can. Standing with a walker working out Also Have a e stem that has helped a bit. Im staying hope full on walking again Nothing was broke in my back so I dont have any pins/ rods ect to worry about.

[avictoria]

If you can stand with a walker absolutely totally get into an aquatherapy program or just find a gym pool to practice standing/walking.

[silversol]

I can stand with a walker for a few mins my knees still dont lock completely so trying to walk would probably end badly.

[Colin83]

You're T10 Asia A and you can stand ?

[silversol]

yes sir I can stand with a walker. I have to lift a bit with the walker from a seated position to get me knees to lock. when I was first injured I was a T10 asia A Im almost positive im incomplete not that I have some feeling/sensation in my legs and feeling in my anus.

[smashms]

i think they need to do another ASIA exam!! i would talk with your SCI doctor and have them do a reclassification to me you sound more like a asia b or c but i am no expert. get your doc to do another exam.

[avictoria]

Originally Posted by silversol

I can stand with a walker for a few mins my knees still dont lock completely so trying to walk would probably end badly.

That's the crucial reason you start strengthening in a pool. Use the wall or a walker for support and stand about hipdeep. If your knees buckle you'll just be sitting in the water, not falling to a hard floor.