C1-c2 Stroke Options

[bob11]

Hi, my name is Bob. I had a brain tumor (Medulla Blastoma 4/4) which was extracted on December 2008. During the surgery, I had a spinal cord stroke C1-C2. After the surgery in ICU, one drug affected my nerves (I do not recall its name). I woke up from the surgery in bad shape. I could only move my right arm involuntarily. I started to speak after three weeks. And until now, my speech is not 100%. I have gone though radiation therapy. And I have been at the rehab center since April 2009. My status now is as follows: My speech is much better. My strength is way much better than before. I can move my legs more. I can even push myself on my chair with my legs. I have more feelings in my legs (mainly around the calves area). But I still cannot stand up or walk. My arms are way stronger than before. I can type. I can eat. I can do some of my care. I still have problems in my bladder and my bowel movements. So, I use a catheter for my bladder and I have to have induced bowel movements.

The rehab center folks are discharging me saying that is it. My surgeon is saying otherwise. He is saying that it is still too early to give up. He said that the nerves will heal with time.

Has anyone else gone through similar circumstances? Do you have any advise for me?

[Texas Angel Ang]

Welcome Bob! From what it sounds like you are recovering very fast and above and beyond people's expectations/statistics.

Being a C1 C2 spinal cord injury I always listened to my surgeon rather than my physical therapists... good thing I did or else I wouldn't have progressed to where I am today (although I am not as strong as I used to be due to my own reasons).

Don't give up and hang in there!

[Pwuff]

Bob,

I too would have been in trouble if I had listened to anyone other than my surgeon. He saw the tissue, others did not.

Pat