Dr Wise?Therapy?

shmily524 · 04-16-2003, 02:59 AM

Hi,

My husband was injured in March of 2002. He was attacked (stabbed) in the parking lot of his workplace (leaving at night). The knife severed (part?) of his spine at L1/L2.

He can feel to just below his right knee and to about quarter way down his left thigh. He has very strong quadricep muscles (which makes it possible for him to walk with a walker... with extreme difficulty). Of course, no bowel or bladder control and sexual issues.

My question is... He is currently doing outpatient physical therapy 2x week at Kessler in West Orange. He also does pool therapy once a week. He's been on an outpatient basis since September. My concern is that Kessler is being too complacent with his therapy. Since September they have been doing the exact same exercises (maybe increasing the weight a bit). Why can't they be more aggressive? or innovative? I feel like what they are doing is simply going to maintain where he is at!

We know that he will be able to walk with the special forearm crutches but he needs better therapy.

I am not a trained PT.. but I am a registered dietitian and I have a good deal of training in exercise physiology. I really think they could be doing more with Bob. We speak to other paras (that are walking with crutches) and their routines seem to be more aggressive. They have even told us about electrical stimulation.

What do you think? Would electrical stim help Bob to get stronger hamstrings? and Gluteal muscles? (he has some, very little strength in those muslces as well as his abductor muslces in his legs.

Should he be going to PT more than twice a week? Should he be getting electrical stimulation?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Positively,
Dee~World's most passionate behavioral nutritionist and Ever-loving wife, friend and lover to the sweetest guy on earth, Bob (L1/L2, March 2002)

SCI-Nurse · 04-17-2003, 08:09 AM

I am moving this over to the Care forum which is a more appropriate place for this discussion.

(KLD)

SCI-Nurse · 04-17-2003, 08:15 AM

I would request a meeting with his SCI physician and PT and lay all this out on the table. I know that the administration at Kessler has changed in the last few years, and they may not have as many options available there. You may want to explore other centers that provide a more aggressive program.

FES can be helpful for strengthening muscles that cannot be strengthened with exercise, especially those with a muscle grade of 1-2. You must be very cautious in using it on flaccid muscles in a lower motor neuron injury like this though, as such high electrical charges are needed in this circumstance that burns can occur.

(KLD)

04-16-2003, 02:59 AM	#1
shmily524 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lake Hiawatha NJ USA Posts: 29	Dr Wise?Therapy? Hi, My husband was injured in March of 2002. He was attacked (stabbed) in the parking lot of his workplace (leaving at night). The knife severed (part?) of his spine at L1/L2. He can feel to just below his right knee and to about quarter way down his left thigh. He has very strong quadricep muscles (which makes it possible for him to walk with a walker... with extreme difficulty). Of course, no bowel or bladder control and sexual issues. My question is... He is currently doing outpatient physical therapy 2x week at Kessler in West Orange. He also does pool therapy once a week. He's been on an outpatient basis since September. My concern is that Kessler is being too complacent with his therapy. Since September they have been doing the exact same exercises (maybe increasing the weight a bit). Why can't they be more aggressive? or innovative? I feel like what they are doing is simply going to maintain where he is at! We know that he will be able to walk with the special forearm crutches but he needs better therapy. I am not a trained PT.. but I am a registered dietitian and I have a good deal of training in exercise physiology. I really think they could be doing more with Bob. We speak to other paras (that are walking with crutches) and their routines seem to be more aggressive. They have even told us about electrical stimulation. What do you think? Would electrical stim help Bob to get stronger hamstrings? and Gluteal muscles? (he has some, very little strength in those muslces as well as his abductor muslces in his legs. Should he be going to PT more than twice a week? Should he be getting electrical stimulation? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Positively, Dee~World's most passionate behavioral nutritionist and Ever-loving wife, friend and lover to the sweetest guy on earth, Bob (L1/L2, March 2002)

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

04-17-2003, 08:09 AM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 30,225	I am moving this over to the Care forum which is a more appropriate place for this discussion. (KLD)

04-17-2003, 08:15 AM	#3
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 30,225	I would request a meeting with his SCI physician and PT and lay all this out on the table. I know that the administration at Kessler has changed in the last few years, and they may not have as many options available there. You may want to explore other centers that provide a more aggressive program. FES can be helpful for strengthening muscles that cannot be strengthened with exercise, especially those with a muscle grade of 1-2. You must be very cautious in using it on flaccid muscles in a lower motor neuron injury like this though, as such high electrical charges are needed in this circumstance that burns can occur. (KLD)