[AndrewB]

Hello EVERYONE. Im very new here, as you can see by my Newbie status.

First of all i know all spinal cord injurys are different and this "method" is not for everyone, but id like to share how i gained return in both legs, and some trunk control. First off all i was lucky enough to have a physical therapist who was ba master in jiu jitsu and meditation (i dunno if i spelled that right).. but he noticed my spasms in my legs, and tought me to meditate on the spasms, and try to send signals down there, After a few days of doing this i could "Trigger" my spasms in my legs, i kept doing this repeatedly untill my legs completly shut down on me everynight, Then one day while doing this exersise i noticed i could clinch my toes, then i could wiggle my toes on my left foot. after one year of doing this (i was home from the hospital then of course) I got back into Physical therapy and my 2nd week there, I was doing dips on the parallel bars, and my legs slipped off, i went ahead and dipped all the way up, and my legs locked out underneath me.. i was standing, my therapist at the time ran over there and started holding my ankles down (as my legs were freaking out of course). he asked me if i wanted to take some steps, and of course, i did.. i walked up and down the bars about 4 times and was exhausted.

Now i walk with canes short distances, but for long distances, (mall, baseball game, concerts, Ect.) i still have my trusty Ti ZRA ready to roll.

So thats my story, sorry if i offend anyone or make anyone angry, If you CAN trigger your Spasms however, Do it continuosly and untill theres nothin' left in the tank.

This post has been edited by AndrewB: 04 December 2008 - 08:02 PM

[Hapahowlee]

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

Hubby and I are originally from STL. Well, hubby was born and raised there and I grew up around there, but we moved from STL to AZ in 2002.

Great that you are able to do some short distance walking. How long have you been SCI? Where did you do rehab?

My husband has been a quad for 23 years. He was very aggressive with therapy and was able to do some walking with the parallel bars in rehab and used a walker for a few short steps. He still practices in our pool. I throw the aluminum walker in and wrap an aqua belt around his waist and spot him from behind. However, he's one who can't walk as you can. It's not that he hasn't tried, he is just unable to do so.

I understand what you mean by triggering your spasms, I'm sure many people are able to do this, but this goes to show you everyone is different and not everyone is able to use the spasm as you have.

Thanks for sharing your story though. It's great that you have been able to channel your energy and spasms to walk short distances.

[AndrewB]

Hapahowlee, on Dec 4 2008, 02:40 PM, said:

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

Hubby and I are originally from STL. Well, hubby was born and raised there and I grew up around there, but we moved from STL to AZ in 2002.

Great that you are able to do some short distance walking. How long have you been SCI? Where did you do rehab?

My husband has been a quad for 23 years. He was very aggressive with therapy and was able to do some walking with the parallel bars in rehab and used a walker for a few short steps. He still practices in our pool. I throw the aluminum walker in and wrap an aqua belt around his waist and spot him from behind. However, he's one who can't walk as you can. It's not that he hasn't tried, he is just unable to do so.

I understand what you mean by triggering your spasms, I'm sure many people are able to do this, but this goes to show you everyone is different and not everyone is able to use the spasm as you have.

Thanks for sharing your story though. It's great that you have been able to channel your energy and spasms to walk short distances.

I know, and im not trying to offend, but i may possibly be able to help a few get somthing back.. i was injured january of 1998. i can go longer distances but my right leg eventually gives up on me.

[Hapahowlee]

Oh no offense here, I hope I did not offend you. This forum is wonderful b/c we are able to share things that work for a variety of issues regarding SCI. Very educational and most ideas are worth a try. I truly hope you will be able to handle the longer distances some day.

[AndrewB]

Well good luck to you and your hubby, And go ARIZONIA CARDINALS!!!! right??

[wriggley]

i use controlled spasms to stand and walk a few steps. if i arch my back my hip extensors spasm and kick my legs out straight under me. its handy for swimming too means my legs float out behind me. AS much as i love being able to stand but wow is it exhausting! People just arent meant to walk on there hands!

[Hapahowlee]

AndrewB, on Dec 4 2008, 04:31 PM, said:

Well good luck to you and your hubby, And go ARIZONIA CARDINALS!!!! right??

Thank you! Arizona Cardinals . . . well we decided this year to start being devoted fans, but we still have the Rams at heart. Will probably always be Baseball Cardinal fans!

BTW, thought maybe you'd be interested in reading this article (page 8). I posted this months ago in a thread about E-Stim. Mr. Hapa was involved in an E-Stim study conducted by Drs./Engineers for the Fulton School of Engineering at ASU. He had obtained a neuro-muscular stimulator while in rehab in 1985/86 that he primarily used on his abs. In the ASU study, he was using a more powerful stimulator. He did 3 sets of 12 sessions at home where I was able to help him. Usually after each session, he would get a "congratulations" which meant he had to add a 1/2 lb. weight to one or both of his ankle straps for the next session. After each set, he would go up to ASU for the data recording chip to be replaced and the unit would be recalibrated. It was great to see him be able to lift his leg and hold it in place for 10 seconds at a time and he actually gained about 9 lbs. of muscle from doing this study.

The study was 2-fold. This particular unit was being tested for FDA approval, which we were recently told has been approved and will be sold soon. Also the doctors were submitting the results to a major medical journal as part of report on the benefits of E-Stim on persons with SCI. We still do not know what journal would house this report, but Mr. Hapa is going to be listed anonymously. But for this particular article, he had to wear his Cardinal jersey since they were putting his pic in the Fulton School of Engineering Alumni Magazine! Here ya go . . .

http://www.fulton.asu.edu/fulton/news/publ...ll%20Circle.pdf

This post has been edited by Hapahowlee: 05 December 2008 - 01:28 AM

[E-DOG]

AndrewB,
For how long sir had you been injured when you noticed the return of motor function?
I ask because from what I understand, most of what we get back comes back in the first 6 months to 2 years.
If in fact you had significant return way after that, then it sounds like you may have a viable piece of info here.

I would need further explanation on how to do the meditation part. I can trigger spasms by touching, grabbing certain parts of my body, groin area etc.
I live in a house with another para and 2 quadlies and the caregiver here says my spasms are, by far, more pronounced than those of the others here.
I'm guessing that's a good start.

I have about a year and a half in the chair and quite frankly sir, if there's a chance I could walk again it would do wonders for my morale.
Course I have sense enough not to hope for a miracle, but what the hell, sounds inexpensive, no travel time involved and I've used up most of my surplus stem cells practicing on the neighborhood dogs and cats, regretably having forgotten to leave enough for my own treatment.

Ergo any help on this would be appreciated.
Plus, if it works, I'll buy you a new car.

thanx, your new pal,
E-dog

[AndrewB]

Ok... lay down flat on your back with your legs out in front of you, (this may or may not of caused some spastic activity in its self) clear your mind Completely.. (this is not a Jedi mind trick, i assure you.)

Now.. with your mind clear, Breath in deeply, breath out, Channel your energy from where ever you can, and focus hard on tightening your abdomen, and pelvis area.. See if you can get those legs/thighs/abdomen to shake, spasm, roll, Anything.. keep doing this until your exhausted completely.. when you recharge.. repeat.

This worked well for me, not everyone is the same.. But theres no harm in trying (i hope) message me, and ill help as much as i can.

[AndrewB]

E-DOG, on Dec 5 2008, 10:31 PM, said:

AndrewB,
For how long sir had you been injured when you noticed the return of motor function?
I ask because from what I understand, most of what we get back comes back in the first 6 months to 2 years.
If in fact you had significant return way after that, then it sounds like you may have a viable piece of info here.

I would need further explanation on how to do the meditation part. I can trigger spasms by touching, grabbing certain parts of my body, groin area etc.
I live in a house with another para and 2 quadlies and the caregiver here says my spasms are, by far, more pronounced than those of the others here.
I'm guessing that's a good start.

I have about a year and a half in the chair and quite frankly sir, if there's a chance I could walk again it would do wonders for my morale.
Course I have sense enough not to hope for a miracle, but what the hell, sounds inexpensive, no travel time involved and I've used up most of my surplus stem cells practicing on the neighborhood dogs and cats, regretably having forgotten to leave enough for my own treatment.

Ergo any help on this would be appreciated.
Plus, if it works, I'll buy you a new car.

thanx, your new pal,
E-dog

Motorcycle E-dog, motorcycle.

[Nichole]

This is how i first started getting some movement back too. It started with the controlled spasms and eventually i had regained enough strength in my muscles in my stomach/lower back to use them normally again.

I've had a hell of a time trying to explain to people how i did this but Andrew has a great way of describing it!

[nomis]

I'm with Andrew on this - works for me. Also, as an alternative, I find it works to roll on to my front, maybe do a slow arc stretch (that gets the abdominals excited) then relax with maybe some back twitches (lovely). And, as Andrew says, deep, slow breathing. Maybe doze 10mins then rise all floppy (this is the only way you can rise floppy )