Christopher Reeve: Paralysed actor can move toes

Mum · 09-10-2002, 08:41 AM

From the BBC News website

Tuesday, 10 September, 2002

Paralysed actor can move toes

Actor Christopher Reeve, best known for his Superman films, can now move some fingers and toes after being paralysed in a horseriding accident in 1995.

The star can feel a pin prick over most of his body and can distinguish between hot and cold, and sharp and dull sensations.

His doctors said the progress could one day lead to a full recovery, something Reeve has always said would happen.

The actor, 49, told People magazine, in the US, that he could feel the hugs of his wife, Dana and his three children again.

Great progress

"To be able to feel just the lightest touch is really a gift," he told the magazine.

His doctors said Reeve had already made great progress.

"No-one who has suffered an injury as severe as Chris's and failed to have any initial recovery has regained the amount of motor and sensory function he has," said Dr John McDonald, from the Washington University School of Medicine.
The actor has spent about £280,000 a year in medical bills and has been hoping stem cell research will one day aid his recovery.

Goal

His therapy has included a combination of electrical muscle stimulation and repetitive motion exercises to help restart his motor skills.
Reeve had always hoped to be able to walk by his 50th birthday, later this month, but now he recognises he will will not achieve that goal.
But he remains optimistic about the future.

"The fact is that even if your body doesn't work the way it used to, the heart and the mind and the spirit are not diminished. It's as simple as that

Life is what happens to us while we're making other plans. - John Lennon

[This message was edited by seneca on Sep 10, 2002 at 12:35 PM.]

starlightangel · 09-10-2002, 08:59 AM

Great news. I wonder what kind of treatments he had been using?

antiquity · 09-10-2002, 09:46 AM

.c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (Sept. 10) - Christopher Reeve has regained some movement and sensation in his hands and feet, seven years after a horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

The ''Superman'' star also can breathe on his own for 90 minutes at a time, according to an article in the Sept. 23 issue of People magazine.

''To be able to feel the just lightest touch is really a gift,'' Reeve said.

The actor has received treatment for the past three years through the ''activity-based recovery program'' that his doctor, John McDonald, created. The therapy consists of electrical muscle stimulation combined with repetitive motion exercises.

The results: Reeve can move the fingers on his left hand and the toes on both feet. He can feel a pin prick on most parts of his body and can tell the difference between hot and cold, and sharp and dull.

''No one who has suffered an injury as severe as Chris', and failed to have any initial recovery, has regained the amount of motor and sensory function he has,'' said McDonald, the medical director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Reeve had hoped to walk again by his 50th birthday, Sept. 25. But he says he's still encouraged, even though he won't reach that goal.

''The fact is that even if your body doesn't work the way it used to, the heart and the mind and the spirit are not diminished,'' he told the magazine. ''It's as simple as that.''

Reeve documents his progress in a new book, ''Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life,'' and in an ABC program airing Sept. 18.

AP-NY-09-10-02 1057EDT

antiquity · 09-10-2002, 09:51 AM

For CR to be able to breath on his own for 90 minutes at a time is even more impressive than the sensory and motor return.

Way to go Dr. McDonald!

[This message was edited by seneca on Sep 10, 2002 at 02:38 PM.]

kilgore · 09-10-2002, 10:30 AM

I'm sorry, but I don't see this as especially good news. Few have the resources to get the equipment and therapists for these exercises, not to mention the hours spent every day, all for a tiny, non-functional recovery after seven years. I'd thought that a cure in any form would be acceptable to me, but this just doesn't seem fast enough to be worthwhile. It's just a pleasant side effect for someone who wanted to use e-stim for exercise.

giambjj · 09-10-2002, 11:35 AM

You would think that $500,000/ year would get more than that? He could go to France and see Albert 2/year and get the same effect for $5,000/year!

09-10-2002, 12:13 PM

For this kind of money at least 10 Omental Transposition surgeries could be done for TEN different people. The very surgery which would most likely insure that Reeve could say goodbye to his respirator for ever.

$500,000 a year; for how many years now?

How many other people may have been helped with this amount of money?

At least 10 other people per year. EVEN MORE PEOPLE, when the cost comes down as the Omental Transposition procedure gains more and more acceptance and it's value is recognized in this country as it is THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Where is all this money coming from?

Who is this guy for; other than himself?

I can't even raise a stinking $50,000. I guess you have to be a star.

Meeker

jrm design art studio

cheesecake · 09-10-2002, 01:43 PM

The amount listed for CR's care is for ALL of his care, not just this therapy. Look at UAB website for an analysis of the year costs for a vent patient. His are not out of the norm.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia!"----- Charles Schultz

09-10-2002, 01:55 PM

So why not take about $50,000 of that (a one time expense) and see if we can't get him off of that respirator.

Meeker

jrm design art studio

X-racer... · 09-10-2002, 03:00 PM

meeker

Christopher Reeve's obviously has the money maybe he doesn't take the 50k and get Omental transposition because he's not just seeing what he wants to see like some people. I applaud Reeve's for seeing things as they really are when it comes to Omental transpositon and not having the surgery.

LIVE IT UP AND LIVE IT LARGE!!!!

09-10-2002, 08:41 AM	#1
Mum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: UK Posts: 72	Christopher Reeve: Paralysed actor can move toes From the BBC News website Tuesday, 10 September, 2002 Paralysed actor can move toes Actor Christopher Reeve, best known for his Superman films, can now move some fingers and toes after being paralysed in a horseriding accident in 1995. The star can feel a pin prick over most of his body and can distinguish between hot and cold, and sharp and dull sensations. His doctors said the progress could one day lead to a full recovery, something Reeve has always said would happen. The actor, 49, told People magazine, in the US, that he could feel the hugs of his wife, Dana and his three children again. Great progress "To be able to feel just the lightest touch is really a gift," he told the magazine. His doctors said Reeve had already made great progress. "No-one who has suffered an injury as severe as Chris's and failed to have any initial recovery has regained the amount of motor and sensory function he has," said Dr John McDonald, from the Washington University School of Medicine. The actor has spent about £280,000 a year in medical bills and has been hoping stem cell research will one day aid his recovery. Goal His therapy has included a combination of electrical muscle stimulation and repetitive motion exercises to help restart his motor skills. Reeve had always hoped to be able to walk by his 50th birthday, later this month, but now he recognises he will will not achieve that goal. But he remains optimistic about the future. "The fact is that even if your body doesn't work the way it used to, the heart and the mind and the spirit are not diminished. It's as simple as that Life is what happens to us while we're making other plans. - John Lennon [This message was edited by seneca on Sep 10, 2002 at 12:35 PM.]

09-10-2002, 08:59 AM	#2
starlightangel Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,211	Wow... Great news. I wonder what kind of treatments he had been using?

09-10-2002, 10:30 AM	#5
kilgore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Madison, WI USA Posts: 157	A little pessimism... I'm sorry, but I don't see this as especially good news. Few have the resources to get the equipment and therapists for these exercises, not to mention the hours spent every day, all for a tiny, non-functional recovery after seven years. I'd thought that a cure in any form would be acceptable to me, but this just doesn't seem fast enough to be worthwhile. It's just a pleasant side effect for someone who wanted to use e-stim for exercise.

09-10-2002, 11:35 AM	#6
giambjj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Auburn, AL,USA Posts: 1,866	mucho dinero! You would think that $500,000/ year would get more than that? He could go to France and see Albert 2/year and get the same effect for $5,000/year!

09-10-2002, 12:13 PM	#7
none Guest Posts: n/a	$500,000 a Year For this kind of money at least 10 Omental Transposition surgeries could be done for TEN different people. The very surgery which would most likely insure that Reeve could say goodbye to his respirator for ever. $500,000 a year; for how many years now? How many other people may have been helped with this amount of money? At least 10 other people per year. EVEN MORE PEOPLE, when the cost comes down as the Omental Transposition procedure gains more and more acceptance and it's value is recognized in this country as it is THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD. Where is all this money coming from? Who is this guy for; other than himself? I can't even raise a stinking $50,000. I guess you have to be a star. Meeker jrm design art studio

09-10-2002, 09:46 AM	#3
antiquity Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 14,540	.c The Associated Press NEW YORK (Sept. 10) - Christopher Reeve has regained some movement and sensation in his hands and feet, seven years after a horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. The ''Superman'' star also can breathe on his own for 90 minutes at a time, according to an article in the Sept. 23 issue of People magazine. ''To be able to feel the just lightest touch is really a gift,'' Reeve said. The actor has received treatment for the past three years through the ''activity-based recovery program'' that his doctor, John McDonald, created. The therapy consists of electrical muscle stimulation combined with repetitive motion exercises. The results: Reeve can move the fingers on his left hand and the toes on both feet. He can feel a pin prick on most parts of his body and can tell the difference between hot and cold, and sharp and dull. ''No one who has suffered an injury as severe as Chris', and failed to have any initial recovery, has regained the amount of motor and sensory function he has,'' said McDonald, the medical director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Reeve had hoped to walk again by his 50th birthday, Sept. 25. But he says he's still encouraged, even though he won't reach that goal. ''The fact is that even if your body doesn't work the way it used to, the heart and the mind and the spirit are not diminished,'' he told the magazine. ''It's as simple as that.'' Reeve documents his progress in a new book, ''Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life,'' and in an ABC program airing Sept. 18. AP-NY-09-10-02 1057EDT

09-10-2002, 09:51 AM	#4
antiquity Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 14,540	For CR to be able to breath on his own for 90 minutes at a time is even more impressive than the sensory and motor return. Way to go Dr. McDonald! [This message was edited by seneca on Sep 10, 2002 at 02:38 PM.]

09-10-2002, 01:43 PM	#8
cheesecake Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,522	$$$$ Reference The amount listed for CR's care is for ALL of his care, not just this therapy. Look at UAB website for an analysis of the year costs for a vent patient. His are not out of the norm. "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia!"----- Charles Schultz

09-10-2002, 01:55 PM	#9
none Guest Posts: n/a	$$$ So why not take about $50,000 of that (a one time expense) and see if we can't get him off of that respirator. Meeker jrm design art studio

09-10-2002, 03:00 PM	#10
X-racer... Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 283	meeker Christopher Reeve's obviously has the money maybe he doesn't take the 50k and get Omental transposition because he's not just seeing what he wants to see like some people. I applaud Reeve's for seeing things as they really are when it comes to Omental transpositon and not having the surgery. LIVE IT UP AND LIVE IT LARGE!!!!

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