Question about recovery

okwjoe · 09-26-2004, 07:35 PM

My son injury is C5-C6. His accident was a 4 weeks ago today. He has regained 3/5 strength in his deltoids, he is able to flex his elbows, extend his elbows,(weakly on the therapy table) he is also able to raise is arm off the wheelchair arm about 4 inches. I know this is C-5 , and C-7. But he has not regained C-6 the ability to cock his wrists. He has feeling down to his wrists. and down to his nipples. bilaterally. My question is why not he is able to cock his wrists? He has sensation at times in his anus and feels at times numbness in his butt.

Wise Young · 09-26-2004, 08:19 PM

okwjoe, if the injury is at C6, it may have damaged the gray matter (the neurons) at C6. This may explain the weak wrist extensors. However, this is unusual in my experience. If somebody gets return of the biceps and triceps, it is just a matter of time before the wrist extensors come back. This is partly because several muscles contribute to wrist movement, including the brachioradialis that is partly innervated by C5. It is still early after injury. It is a very good sign that he has sensation in his anal region. Wise.

okwjoe · 09-26-2004, 08:56 PM

Thank you Dr. Young. for the swift reply. God bless you for your work

09-26-2004, 07:35 PM	#1
okwjoe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: wesley hills, new york Posts: 174	Question about recovery My son injury is C5-C6. His accident was a 4 weeks ago today. He has regained 3/5 strength in his deltoids, he is able to flex his elbows, extend his elbows,(weakly on the therapy table) he is also able to raise is arm off the wheelchair arm about 4 inches. I know this is C-5 , and C-7. But he has not regained C-6 the ability to cock his wrists. He has feeling down to his wrists. and down to his nipples. bilaterally. My question is why not he is able to cock his wrists? He has sensation at times in his anus and feels at times numbness in his butt.

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09-26-2004, 08:19 PM	#2
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,975	okwjoe, if the injury is at C6, it may have damaged the gray matter (the neurons) at C6. This may explain the weak wrist extensors. However, this is unusual in my experience. If somebody gets return of the biceps and triceps, it is just a matter of time before the wrist extensors come back. This is partly because several muscles contribute to wrist movement, including the brachioradialis that is partly innervated by C5. It is still early after injury. It is a very good sign that he has sensation in his anal region. Wise.

09-26-2004, 08:56 PM	#3
okwjoe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: wesley hills, new york Posts: 174	Thank you Dr. Young. for the swift reply. God bless you for your work