The accident was 6 weeks ago, she fractured her C-5. We were told to expect a few months (commonly 6 or so) without menstruation, however it returned this week. Does the early return say anything about the healing process? What does it mean?

Also, does menstruation always cause Autonomic Dysreflexia? If so, are pain pills like Percocet the most effective way of dealing with the pain/AD? Or would you recommend a non-narcotic form of keeping the pain at bay?

Lastly, and un-related, we learned that her spinal cord has a contusion (or bruise). Does a contusion heal like a normal bruise? Or is it like a bruise on a banana, and it will always be a bruise?

Thanks.

Hmm.. I dont know the Medical terminology to explain the menstruation but its goes something like this. Her body completely prioritized itself upon injury. Menstruation ceased as a result.. simply put.

As for the contusion, I don't know.

A contusion is a bruise that can cause bleeding in the spinal column. Such bleeding can produce pressure on nerve cells that can cause those cells to die. That's all I got for ya.

As for Menstruation, I don't know if her getting her menstrual cycle back as early means anything but I was told when I started again (2 months afterwards) it was a good sign. Now I don't know for sure though.

When I'm on my cycle, a week before and during, I go through dysreflexia. I have severe cramps and breakout in sweats. I usually take midol and if that does not work, I will take a pain pill. For me that stops the sweating/dysreflexia.

The Contusions-- every SCI is different -- there's just no way of knowing. Don't give up though!

Oh yeah, Midol def helps more than other meds.

yeah, I don't go for the pain pills until the pain/dysreflexia is unbearable! Sadly, the first two days I end up taking the pain pills.

Hi Crhindc.

I got my period back during my just after my operation and it has been regular ever since, but as far as the healing process its hard to say as my injury is incomplete so I have had feeling and movement return, but this is more due to not having a completely damage spinal cord!

I dont suffer from Autonomic Dysreflexia so I cant help you there!

And sorry I have no information on contusions.

I had about 5 months without a period. However I am a complete injury so there return didn't really signal much in terms of recovery. I assume my body no longer felt under so much stress and, should the desire arise, could now deal with pregnancy (physically, not mentally!)

As far as a contusion goes, when an injury happens the body can heal itself provided it has enough nutrients to feed it and enough blood flow to remove the waste products, however sometimes cells are unable to regenerate and in this case the damage is permanent. Only time can tell what sort of returns she will get.