I was told that there would be a slim chance that I would walk again,by 3 doctors.Another said that my chances of recovery were less than people that had had a break,because I had had an infection,and not a broken back/neck.But,just lately,my legs are definately getting stronger,and it is only 13 months postop.This morning,I took 7 steps,albeit small ones and holding onto the walls for balance.

The thing that is concerning me though is,the sensation in my lower half doesn't seem to be improving,nor the muscles need to stop me being incontinent.When I was in the hospital,there was a bloke there that broke his neck 2 years earlier,and he was using leg weights!(A SQUAT machine!)He said that the doctors said that he was a miracle.But,when I asked him,he said that his sensation still wasn't normal.Why is this?Does sensation(and continence)take longer to recover?Will it ever recover?

Motor function and sensation have different nerve roots, dont' they?

I used to love watching the swifts and swallows,last year just after my op,Greybeard.I used to think,"They spend 95% of their time in the air,so why do they need bloody legs?!I wish I was a swift!"

eh, better than a suzuki swift, it spends 95% of its time in a garage.

Motor and sensory nerves have different pathways. Just because you have return in one doesn't automatically mean you'll have return in the other. It all depends on where the damage was done and how much was done. As you still have at least part of your motor pathway intact work on this however don't expect a return in sensation.

Like everyone said, function and sensation are two totally different pathways. You can have one without the other, or have one be a lot stronger than the other and you may be able to use your legs/muscles even if you can't feel them.

Try to keep in mind,,,, any return is a good thing.

Keep working it , tho. The fact that anything gets thru, gives the possibility of periferal regeneration.

Ya never know...
ed

Oh dear. You've done it now! Once started on this subject I can quickly become very boring indeed!

Actually the Latin name for Common Swifts (Apus apus) is usually translated as "Footless" or "Without feet". They have evolved so well as flying creatures that they have all but lost the use of their legs and cannot support themselves on them like other birds. In their nesting places, which are the only places where they will ever touch a solid surface in their lives, they move around on their bellies by levering themselves along with their folded wings.

They do have incredibly sharp, strong claws though, as many bird ringers have discovered, with which they can hang onto vertical surfaces while prospecting for nesting holes.

But see them in the air.............. Wow !! They take your breath away.

LOL Fatdave!

And actually,Greybeard,that's interesting.

And,yes,I know I shouldn't demean my recovery.Makes me seem spoilt.But,I do wish the feeling would return.I have seen that most people would rather have movement than feeling,but,I am in the minority here,and would rather have the feeling back.I was always a lazy sod anyway!

I have very limited sensation in my hips all the way to my feet, but I have weakened movement in both knees and hips. Just keep with the standing and walking. They told me I wouldn't walk again, bollocks!

I am starting to think that Doctors tell people things to try to piss them off.

Rjeez,

I think the more you walk the better, I think it causes every thing to try to work including sensation. Are you walking on a treadmill or useing a FES bike ? I'm T11 incomplete and I can walk up to 4 miles with no assistance, on a treadmill I've got my 2 miles under 26 minutes. I still have some areas were my sensation is still not normal. Everybody's injury is different, keep on working on it!! One my problems now is I've been falling down more than I ever have because I forget about my limitations, Its a good problem though.

Steve