I found this site while doing some research for a friend. My friends daughter was injured 3 years ago in a car accident. She was paralyzed at the L1-L2 level with no use of her legs or bladder/bowel control. At the time they said it was a complete injury and she would never walk. About 6 months ago she started being able to move one of her legs. She can move it from side to side while in a seating position. Does this mean it is not complete and she has some hope? She was recently flown to Shriners where they were very upset with her care so far. They said her wheelchair was wrong, also in FL where they live she was never fitted for AFOs or anything so her feet have dropped and she needs surgery on her feet and her hips. She just turned 11 and she is a happy kid. It is funny because we are all excited that maybe there is a possibility she can walk but she doesn't seem to care! lol

I'm a T12 Para, 'complete' injury but I can move my right leg a little. I can get it to go from side to side in when I'm sitting with my feet on the ground. I'd say its good that your friends daughter has that movement but I wouldn't pin massive hopes on it.

It's best just to wait and see what happens and celebrate the little improvements as they come. This is especially important with children because you don't want to put any additional pressure on them with high expectations, even though you don't intend to. It sounds to me like she has adapted to her situation better than the adults - and that's the best advice I can give; to make the most of what she has and not focus on what she doesn't have.

Excellent advice,, both.
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We aren't putting expectations on her we just got excited that it was the first movement she has had. She doesn't talk about life before the accident and doesnt talk about walking again or anything. In fact she'll tell you she doesn't want to talk about it. As long as she is happy we are happy. We just want the best for her.

I'm just speculating here, but injuries in the lumbar region get into the Cauda Equina area where it's possible for some regeneration to occur (according to what Simon has posted here). My guess is that the nerve root(s) that allow her to move her leg may have been spared total damage. If you google Cauda Equina Lesion you'll see what I mean. The spinal cord looks like a horses tail - hence the name. The nerves are the slowest part of the body to grow so the fact that it's been three years suggests that the nerve was damaged some but was able to heal.

There's always the possibility, but the probability is a long-shot. Over the summer I saw a story about a guy who was a paraplegic for something like 10-12 years and started regaining movement in his legs. But you don't here those stories very often - not often enough anyway.

I don't know, a guy I talked to with cpa started getting movement back after 15 years, another after 6. The old way of thinking that after 2 years, forget it is on the way out the door.

I 2nd the wait and see portion. BUT I'll add in that she is at one of the best places for a kid to go;Shriner's or Chidren's are probably better suited to help a kid than an adult hospital as kids are NOT simply smaller versions of adults. I went through Children's Hospital and they were amazing even gave my sister counseling to deal with HER behavior problems that were happening because of my injuries & recovery.