Recovered Quadriplegic Inspires People with Spinal Cord Injuries

manouli · 06-02-2011, 09:28 AM

Recovered Quadriplegic Inspires People with Spinal Cord Injuries
After breaking his neck in several places, Pat Rummerfield can walk and run

Pat Rummerfield is used to being described as a walking miracle. More than three decades after breaking his neck in several places, Rummerfield cannot only walk, he can also run and is considered to be a fully-functional quadriplegic.

'Walking miracle'

The human spinal cord is a crucial pathway for nerves connecting the brain with the rest of the body. Unlike most critical body parts, the spinal cord does not repair itself if damaged. While there have been promising advances in research in recent years, there is currently no cure for spinal cord injury. Still, there are a few extraordinary cases of people, like Rummerfield, who have recovered.

continue....

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/...122959523.html

mcferguson · 06-02-2011, 09:38 AM

“Rehab was very very intense. Five hours a day. Whatever moved, I would lift a weight with it. And you know very slowly things started coming back. It took about three and a half years but I could drag my right side for about 100 feet (30 meters). Then I had to sit down and rest or take a nap.”

seems you need to have something move first, then you can recover.

alan · 06-02-2011, 01:39 PM

Recovery stories are nice, but far too rare.

chris arnold · 06-03-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan

Recovery stories are nice, but far too rare.

Quite so. How much research is put into looking for some common factor that may unite the "miracles"?

slgiblin · 06-04-2011, 11:19 PM

It is the hope that fuels my 30+ hours per week rehab/workout!

Christopher Paddon · 06-05-2011, 12:38 AM

I guess the danger here is for other people to think, I never recovered so I am lazy and useless. Or for other people to think that about you.

On the other hand, it would really be worth studying his MRI scans closely to see how it is that he walks. Whether perhaps some fibres grew back or reconnected because of the years of exercise.

Surely, though, he was quite incomplete because he said if it moved he exercised it. To walk everything must have moved a bit. A true Asia A injury means nothing moves.

06-02-2011, 09:28 AM	#1
manouli Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: florida Posts: 9,356	Recovered Quadriplegic Inspires People with Spinal Cord Injuries Recovered Quadriplegic Inspires People with Spinal Cord Injuries After breaking his neck in several places, Pat Rummerfield can walk and run Pat Rummerfield is used to being described as a walking miracle. More than three decades after breaking his neck in several places, Rummerfield cannot only walk, he can also run and is considered to be a fully-functional quadriplegic. 'Walking miracle' The human spinal cord is a crucial pathway for nerves connecting the brain with the rest of the body. Unlike most critical body parts, the spinal cord does not repair itself if damaged. While there have been promising advances in research in recent years, there is currently no cure for spinal cord injury. Still, there are a few extraordinary cases of people, like Rummerfield, who have recovered. continue.... http://www.voanews.com/english/news/...122959523.html

06-02-2011, 09:38 AM	#2
mcferguson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 134	“Rehab was very very intense. Five hours a day. Whatever moved, I would lift a weight with it. And you know very slowly things started coming back. It took about three and a half years but I could drag my right side for about 100 feet (30 meters). Then I had to sit down and rest or take a nap.” seems you need to have something move first, then you can recover. __________________ T5/6, ASIA A, injured 30 Nov 08 Future SCI Alumnus. I don't want to dance in the rain, I want to soar above the storm.

06-02-2011, 01:39 PM	#3
alan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 6,185	Recovery stories are nice, but far too rare. __________________ Alan Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

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06-04-2011, 11:19 PM	#5
slgiblin Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 22	It is the hope that fuels my 30+ hours per week rehab/workout!

06-05-2011, 12:38 AM	#6
Christopher Paddon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: New Zealand Posts: 3,207	I guess the danger here is for other people to think, I never recovered so I am lazy and useless. Or for other people to think that about you. On the other hand, it would really be worth studying his MRI scans closely to see how it is that he walks. Whether perhaps some fibres grew back or reconnected because of the years of exercise. Surely, though, he was quite incomplete because he said if it moved he exercised it. To walk everything must have moved a bit. A true Asia A injury means nothing moves.