Question For a friend C6/C7

skareb · 04-04-2004, 08:17 PM

Hi I'm new in this forum and so glad I found you guys on the net, before this I was like really lost in the ocean with no directions, ok,

my friend who is 38 had an accident (18/3/04)at his work place (Construction site) a metal rod 1 meter long 100cm diameter fell on his head from 20 meters up, thank god he had his safety hats on and was not killed. He fracture C6/C7 dislocated the vetebre. He had surgery done and titanium 18 hrs later.

2nd day He can move his arms and have feelings if you press hard below the injury, No motor, no pain feelings 10cm above nipples. He was in ICU for 3 days then moved to HDU for 12 days due to AD (low blood pressure)

10 days later his senses are better he can feel your fingers just touching them, he regain complete strenght on his arms, fingers wrist all like normal. But still no motor & pains below injury. But injury level drop 5 cm below nipple.

Now 18 days later his doctor went overseas and a substitute doc are taking care of him and who doesn't even know what is a spinal shock! he is just left there lying on his bed no therapy until a friend suggest fixing pulleys and bars so he can lift his legs slightly just let the blood flow.

I called for a reflexiology/leg massage guy to do a 1 hr session for him ( I don't know if it will do good or bad)

We're all not sure if he'll ever walk again but just keeping our fingers cross and we're all at lost here and no confidence with the doc at the hospital, so please I need help here what shall we do what shall we ask and monitor? I was even thinking of changing hospital since he is ok and blood presure stable. what shall I check with new hospital if they're good with SCI patience.

dogger · 04-04-2004, 08:48 PM

Skareb , it might be helpful if you could tell us what country, city and hospital your friend is in please . we have members from all over the world here and perhaps someone from your area maybe able to advise on Hospitals/Doctors etc . he definitely should be getting some therapy at this stage . i am sure either the SCI Nurses or Dr Young will give information on that . sorry for your friend , but i believe you have found the best SCI site on the web .
thank you ,
dogger
P.S. i had a C5/6 injury and am a '' walker'' , so it is possible .
every day i wake up is a good one .

Chris Chappell · 04-04-2004, 08:53 PM

skareb, dogger's right. Can you offer more detail?

skareb · 04-04-2004, 09:09 PM

Thanks guys that was fast, I'm In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Hosp is DAMANSARA SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, what other details do you need I'll get them.

dogger · 04-04-2004, 10:54 PM

Skareb , in my opinion he should have a physiotherapist visiting him daily to start his therapy , and do ''range of movements '' . your ''just lying there '' statement worries me . i hope he is getting rolled at least every 4 hours to prevent pressure sores . i worked in Malaysia in Butterworth for 2 1/2years in the early 80's . this was before i was SCI . at that time [ and please don't take offence at this ] , if i had been injured like your friend and had the money i think i would have gone to Singapore for treatment . things may well have changed in the last 20 years . i tried to find the website for the Hospital he is in but it is down . one thing i think that is a must , is to get him into a hospital with a specialist SCI unit and Doctors/Nurses/Therapists . my only suggestion in how to find a Hospital like this is to perhaps connect this Facility in Singapore and ask if they could suggest a hospital and/or Doctor in Malaysia .
National Neuroscience Institute
11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng
Singapore 308433
Republic of Singapore

Tel (65) 6357-7095
(65) 9637-9718
from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
Fax: (65) 6357-7103

another suggestion is to find a support group to give you advice . once again i couldn't find one in Malaysia , but think that this Singapore site could be worth trying to get a contact .. www.DPA.org.sg . knowledge is very important in facing the challenge of SCI .

i'm not sure if this helps you , but hope it does .
thank you ,
dogger

every day i wake up is a good one .

skareb · 04-05-2004, 06:36 AM

Thanks dogger your info are important to me at least I know its NOT normal for him to be lying there idling. His bro is in Singapore I'll ask him to check it out.

Do you think massage is good for him? and nobody is turning him pressure sore are showing up on his lower back his skin are also drying up quickly.

SCI-Nurse · 04-05-2004, 09:35 AM

He needs to be turned every 2 hours at this stage in his injury. Keep him off his back if there is already breakdown there. He should be on a pressure reducing mattress (not just a plain hospital bed mattress).

Massage to his legs should be avoided. He is at high risk right now for clots in his legs, and massage could break these off and cause a serious or even fatal complication called pulmonary embolism. He should be on anticoagulant (blood thinner) meds to help prevent this, but it can still occur, especially if he is not getting out of bed or getting any passive exercise to his legs.

In your country do workers have special insurance for on-the-job injuries like they have in the USA? This might pay for his care in Singapore. Don't delay...it sounds like he is at a critical stage and needs to get moved ASAP to an appropriate center. He needs a good friend like you to get this moving.

(KLD)

skareb · 04-05-2004, 09:52 AM

OMG I've ask the doc and he allowed massage infact this few days when I was there I did the massage myself. This is horrible it seem they really doesn't know what they're doing.

Yes he has insurance and he's in a private hospital but I don't think so the insurance will cover the cost for overseas treatment.

If no massage then do you think therapy is good idea? like self exercise, we put a cloth under his thigh and feet, 4 pulleys and rope tied to the cloth. He lift his thight about 1 inch from the bed and lift his feet 2/3 inches simple exercise just to keep the legs moving. I'll get a picture tomorrow if I've time.

Objection!

SCI-Nurse · 04-05-2004, 12:05 PM

This little movement is OK, but he should be getting daily full range of motion to prevent contractures that could cause stiff joints. Here is a site that shows how this is done by another person. You could do this for him 1-2X daily:

http://www.hcinteractive.com/program.../mobil140.html

(KLD)

skareb · 04-06-2004, 08:24 AM

No I've check with the nurse he is not been given any anticoagulant medication, according to them its because they exercise him once a day.

Exercise: fold the thigh 90º angle up, knee bend 90º and twist the ankle like warm up stretching ... you get me?

Also pressure sores are beginning to show and imagine these, I was ask by the nurse to go and get this medication (Aqueous cream) which the hospital do not have!!!!

Objection!

04-04-2004, 08:17 PM	#1
skareb Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 23	Question For a friend C6/C7 Hi I'm new in this forum and so glad I found you guys on the net, before this I was like really lost in the ocean with no directions, ok, my friend who is 38 had an accident (18/3/04)at his work place (Construction site) a metal rod 1 meter long 100cm diameter fell on his head from 20 meters up, thank god he had his safety hats on and was not killed. He fracture C6/C7 dislocated the vetebre. He had surgery done and titanium 18 hrs later. 2nd day He can move his arms and have feelings if you press hard below the injury, No motor, no pain feelings 10cm above nipples. He was in ICU for 3 days then moved to HDU for 12 days due to AD (low blood pressure) 10 days later his senses are better he can feel your fingers just touching them, he regain complete strenght on his arms, fingers wrist all like normal. But still no motor & pains below injury. But injury level drop 5 cm below nipple. Now 18 days later his doctor went overseas and a substitute doc are taking care of him and who doesn't even know what is a spinal shock! he is just left there lying on his bed no therapy until a friend suggest fixing pulleys and bars so he can lift his legs slightly just let the blood flow. I called for a reflexiology/leg massage guy to do a 1 hr session for him ( I don't know if it will do good or bad) We're all not sure if he'll ever walk again but just keeping our fingers cross and we're all at lost here and no confidence with the doc at the hospital, so please I need help here what shall we do what shall we ask and monitor? I was even thinking of changing hospital since he is ok and blood presure stable. what shall I check with new hospital if they're good with SCI patience.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

04-04-2004, 08:48 PM	#2
dogger Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mitchell , Qld. Australia Posts: 2,239	Skareb , it might be helpful if you could tell us what country, city and hospital your friend is in please . we have members from all over the world here and perhaps someone from your area maybe able to advise on Hospitals/Doctors etc . he definitely should be getting some therapy at this stage . i am sure either the SCI Nurses or Dr Young will give information on that . sorry for your friend , but i believe you have found the best SCI site on the web . thank you , dogger P.S. i had a C5/6 injury and am a '' walker'' , so it is possible . every day i wake up is a good one .

04-04-2004, 08:53 PM	#3
Chris Chappell Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7,035	skareb, dogger's right. Can you offer more detail?

04-04-2004, 09:09 PM	#4
skareb Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 23	Thanks guys that was fast, I'm In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Hosp is DAMANSARA SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, what other details do you need I'll get them.

04-04-2004, 10:54 PM	#5
dogger Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mitchell , Qld. Australia Posts: 2,239	Skareb , in my opinion he should have a physiotherapist visiting him daily to start his therapy , and do ''range of movements '' . your ''just lying there '' statement worries me . i hope he is getting rolled at least every 4 hours to prevent pressure sores . i worked in Malaysia in Butterworth for 2 1/2years in the early 80's . this was before i was SCI . at that time [ and please don't take offence at this ] , if i had been injured like your friend and had the money i think i would have gone to Singapore for treatment . things may well have changed in the last 20 years . i tried to find the website for the Hospital he is in but it is down . one thing i think that is a must , is to get him into a hospital with a specialist SCI unit and Doctors/Nurses/Therapists . my only suggestion in how to find a Hospital like this is to perhaps connect this Facility in Singapore and ask if they could suggest a hospital and/or Doctor in Malaysia . National Neuroscience Institute 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore 308433 Republic of Singapore Tel (65) 6357-7095 (65) 9637-9718 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Fax: (65) 6357-7103 another suggestion is to find a support group to give you advice . once again i couldn't find one in Malaysia , but think that this Singapore site could be worth trying to get a contact .. www.DPA.org.sg . knowledge is very important in facing the challenge of SCI . i'm not sure if this helps you , but hope it does . thank you , dogger every day i wake up is a good one .

04-05-2004, 06:36 AM	#6
skareb Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 23	Thanks dogger your info are important to me at least I know its NOT normal for him to be lying there idling. His bro is in Singapore I'll ask him to check it out. Do you think massage is good for him? and nobody is turning him pressure sore are showing up on his lower back his skin are also drying up quickly.

04-05-2004, 09:35 AM	#7
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,520	He needs to be turned every 2 hours at this stage in his injury. Keep him off his back if there is already breakdown there. He should be on a pressure reducing mattress (not just a plain hospital bed mattress). Massage to his legs should be avoided. He is at high risk right now for clots in his legs, and massage could break these off and cause a serious or even fatal complication called pulmonary embolism. He should be on anticoagulant (blood thinner) meds to help prevent this, but it can still occur, especially if he is not getting out of bed or getting any passive exercise to his legs. In your country do workers have special insurance for on-the-job injuries like they have in the USA? This might pay for his care in Singapore. Don't delay...it sounds like he is at a critical stage and needs to get moved ASAP to an appropriate center. He needs a good friend like you to get this moving. (KLD)

04-05-2004, 09:52 AM	#8
skareb Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 23	OMG I've ask the doc and he allowed massage infact this few days when I was there I did the massage myself. This is horrible it seem they really doesn't know what they're doing. Yes he has insurance and he's in a private hospital but I don't think so the insurance will cover the cost for overseas treatment. If no massage then do you think therapy is good idea? like self exercise, we put a cloth under his thigh and feet, 4 pulleys and rope tied to the cloth. He lift his thight about 1 inch from the bed and lift his feet 2/3 inches simple exercise just to keep the legs moving. I'll get a picture tomorrow if I've time. Objection!

04-05-2004, 12:05 PM	#9
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,520	This little movement is OK, but he should be getting daily full range of motion to prevent contractures that could cause stiff joints. Here is a site that shows how this is done by another person. You could do this for him 1-2X daily: http://www.hcinteractive.com/program.../mobil140.html (KLD)

04-06-2004, 08:24 AM	#10
skareb Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 23	No I've check with the nurse he is not been given any anticoagulant medication, according to them its because they exercise him once a day. Exercise: fold the thigh 90º angle up, knee bend 90º and twist the ankle like warm up stretching ... you get me? Also pressure sores are beginning to show and imagine these, I was ask by the nurse to go and get this medication (Aqueous cream) which the hospital do not have!!!! Objection!