ok so let me introduce myself my name is jay, i turned 21 may 7th, iam paraplegic (T4) i got shot in the side last july and the bullet traveled through to my spine making me unable to walk...heres a pic of me:





now, my question is does anyone here know somebody that has been shot in the spine and is currently walking??? i mean, is it even possible to walk again after having a bullet stuck in your spine?? of course i have faith in God but i just wanted to hear some success stories....im just so anxious to stand up on my two feet again im willing to do anything....its been a year now and still no movement and i guess im at that stage where i have to just face reality but i dont want to!.....and never will! lol but seriously somebody help me out.

ok so i wasnt shot but i was told id never walk again. im c5 btw. im battling blood pressure issues but a year and almost a month later im able to walk some. (video of me on here titled walking). with God all things are possible. but the most important thing is to know that Gods plan for you is far better than your own. trust in Him. ill be praying for your complete healing.

Glad to see you're hanging in there. I'm not sure about being shot in the spine. Either way, everyone's situation is different and possibilities will change from person to person. All you can do is hope for the best and not lose hope.

My god man, why on earth would you EVER want to walk again? Do you know what a decent pair of shoes cost these days?
And think of the killer parking spots ya get.
No more hoping there's a seat left at the movies, concerts etc.
Consider yourself lucky m'boy. Hell, ya might even get a check from the government. Fer doin' absolutely nuthin'!

And here's the kicker there j-man, you found us! Sargent Simon's great big group o' gimps n' gimpettes.

E-dog

Or here's an idea! Let yer fingers do the walking!

Hi,

If it's been a year since your initial injury, and there is no return of sensation of movement, then the chances of enough return of function to enable independant walking are usually quite slim.

There have been rare cases where additional movement has returned following similar injuries, but those were when the bullet was putting pressure on the spinal cord, causing paralysis. After the bullet was removed, the pressure on the spinal cord was lifted (laminectomy), and some return of function returned. However, this was a high risk procedure, and there was residual movement and sensation after the initial injury.

You are still quite early into you post injury recovery, so you should still keep up your physio to maximise your potential. If you want to stand as a form of therapy, to get you back on your feet, then you could look into buying a standing frame, but this will not enable you to walk around obviously.

Even if you don't recover any function, you still have a long life ahead of you, which you can either let slip from your grasp, or hold on tight, and turn it into one great big roller coaster ride!

Welcome to the forum.

Simon.

Welcome abroad dajuiceman!
Like others have said, each SC injury is different! There are NO two same SCI. Not to discurage you, but I've been shot a 15 years ago and I am still in wheelchair! But remeber, life can be (and for myself is) an awesome on my wheels. It's mostly up to you what do you want out of life at this point! Good luck bud!

Hi there.

Usually the diagnosis is more important than the way you got your SCI. Did the medical team tell you if your injury is complete or incomplete? Typically if the bullet traveled through any nervous tissue, it'll be complete-- however if the bullet traveled through extraneous tissue, causing swelling, which in turn caused your injury--then it might be incomplete. The reason I ask is because that is usually the easiest cut and dry way for anyone to predict anyone else's future recovery.

If after a year you still see no recovery in terms of sensation/movement/etc , even though it is still early, chances are very slim that you'll walk again.


Slim, not impossible.

Sam

thanxs everybody for the support i appreciate it





T4 incomplete my spine is still swole and i only have feeling in my thighs....when i first got shot i was really mad at everybody so when my doctor tried to tell me what happened i kinda pissed him off and he never told me







lol your right now that i think about it....

Personal feelings have nothing to do with the doctors occupational duty , and that said he should have training in dealing with a patient's response to his medical problems. If he withheld information from you as a means of revenge, there would be no way I would allow him to continue being my doctor, if I were you.

If you're talking about your surgeon,, they are all,, or at least,, all that I've met,,, ASSHOLES. They might be good in the operating room,, but face to face,, they don't have a clue.

Ask your OT or PT for names of good SCI doctors,, you'll be glad you did.

Oh,, by the way,, welcome.

If you have some feeling at all below you injury site, you would be considered an incomplete,, and if you still have swelling,, you have a probably not gotten back all that you will. That's not to say you will be as lucky as Jaquie,, but keep up the physical therapy as long as you can. Even if you get no more return,, staying fit and strong will be awful important.

You've happened upon a great site with some amazing people,,, don't forget the address.
ed

There are no guarantees. But I think most of the cases where function or sensation was regained......happens most often in the 1st 12mo. after the injury. I'm an incomplete but most of my improvements physically had come with in the 1st 3-10mo. & after that not so much "improving".

Life may be harder from a chair but it can also be just as fulfilling. Welcome to the forum.