So I am almost a year into my injury, I have recentally noticed getting something out of the microwave(not very hot), wheeling to the table with it on my leg and I did notice I could feel some heat from it, not as much as i should but some. I am diagnosed as a complete. Anyone else? is this common?

Definately NOT common in my book. You may want a second opinion on that.

What IS common is a misdiagnosis of complete vs. incomplete.

most people are diagnosed as complete

And not to minimize what you are feeling by any means but there is also fantom feelings. Kinda like what you hear about amputees having fantom pain in the limb that is missing. I got a return of feeling back in my feet (nothing else from chest to ankles though) and before I got the feeling back I thought I felt things a number of times. After continuous feeling every time I thought I should have felt something then I realized after over 2 weeks that I got the feeling back. It isnt uncommon to think you feel something and then later on try to reproduce it over and over and not get anything later.

Just keep that in mind, but if you are able to continuously reproduce the feeling then I would definatly get a 2nd opinion on your status.

so are you saying you think it could be all in my head? because i know i thought it could be in my head, just doesnt seem right, but i keep feeling a little warmness when putting something fairly warm on my legs!

It may be in your head, it may not. Sometimes our brains expect something to happen and it we can get fantom pain or feeling. I have experienced it before myself. Although I am not saying it isnt possible you have some return. What I would suggest is putting something on your lap that is hot (not hot enough to burn) or cold and see if you can reproduce it several times. My feet are more sensitive to cold than hot which I know is the case for some others as well although it is minor so very hot or very cold seems warm and cool on my feet. So try to reproduct hot and cold and other stimulus. You may only have hot and if so just try to reproduce it several times. If after a week or so you can reproduce that feeling every time you try, then I would say you definatly have feeling back. If it only comes back a couple times in that period then it might be fantom.

If you know its not fantom, I would go back to your doc or find a new one for a 2nd opinion and have the re-evaluate you.

It could be your head imagining it or it could indicate that maybe you're not a complete and some sensory nerves are still intact. You'd need to experiment more.

I don't think it'd be a surprise for the imagination to step in - you've spent most of your life knowing that such an action will trigger that warm sensation and you can see it plainly with your eyes and the brain might just jump to the next conclusion. But, then again, it might be genuine and only you will be able to learn which is which.

Now, what are you doing putting hot things on your lap? Microwave heating is notoriously deceptive and your legs can burn only too easily. Naughty naughty - you take care.

thanks for all the suggestions
ha ha putting things on my lap.. not hot enough to burn..
(well havnt gotten burnt yet) knock on wood!
=]

Hello Jackiefff, I have some sensation of hot (and cold) too. It is not just in my head. I still fit one of the common definitions of 'complete'. I feel that due to multiple definitions the term causes confusion. Unless a person explains which definition they are using for a particular discussion we all chime in without stating the definition we are using. For the record I am using the ASIA definition - Complete: No motor or sensory function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-S5.

If you use this definition and are complete by this definition, it is not a contradiction to have some sensory or motor function below your level of injury.

Regardless, I am happy to hear that you are able to feel the heat. Every shower I take a few moments to check that the areas where I can feel the warmth are still working and hoping for more to return.

That's so cool! Haha. My husband recently found out that he can feel cold and hot on his legs too. It started just like you; something hot out of the microwave. Then he could feel like a cold soda or something if it was between his legs. Now, he can feel when his lower legs are cold like sticking out of the covers at night.

I would say definitely experiment! If you're concerned about them being phantom feelings, have someone help you by putting something hot (not too hot, obviously) against parts of your legs while you close your eyes and see if you can feel it. ??

I think that if it is real, you may not be a complete... And like others have said, it's not uncommon to be misdiagnosed. I think, too, that one can change from complete to incomplete? I don't know, there are so many differing opinions on that matter...

Good luck!!!