8 replies to this topic

[snowqueeneh]

I am holding on to anything I can at this point... wondering if this is a possible sign of signifigant return. I am aware that we never get answers (time will tell) but I am posting this anyway (c;

My spouse is a c5/c6 asia A - 4 month post now. He has all sorts of "sensations" and I was wondering how to get the best results from them.

He feels his caths "fully" he knows where it goes in his body and also feels a burning sensation when I pull it out.

He feels his hips espcially when his legs are hyper extended. The bones rub and "clunk" around and he can't stand it.

He can now twich his baby toe and whole foot on his right side on command although it wears out after a few tries.

He also has some back muscles and I believe perhaps a little stomach as well.

He just started getting muscle spasms really strong in his legs. His spasams have always been strong in his arms.

The rehab center only works with physio 1 hour a day 5 days a week. I feel he needs more. I do his stretches and range everyday. I make him focus on all parts of his body everyday. I just don't want to accept the asia A thing.

I think the spasms are good for his muscles but they are crappy for him. The hospital just started him on Gavapentin (bad spelling?) I just don't want him full out medicated when he is getting sensations all over. I want to push him on physio. Excersice! All the time! I'm obsessed! He doesn't mind excersising either. He could move everything all day (and we do) with no assistance lol.

I want to know that this is not a waste of time. Should we have any hope? It this the right thing to do? Or do we let the hosital dope him up and just accept that Asia A will not change?

[jaquie_farmer]

i was also c5/c6 asia a. now 9 months later im asia d and can take a few steps on my own. all those are good signs. never give up hope.

[Hapahowlee]

My husband is not a member of this forum, but I have him read posts once in a while and asks his opinion. He's was injured in a diving accident in 1985. I wasn't around then, he was married to his first wife who wasn't much help. It's so great you're doing everything you can for your husband.

Does your husband have to take the meds? My husband is prescribed diazepam for his spasms. He went to PT every chance he got. Plus, he would go to his parent's house after PT at the hospital to work out even more. So the very aggressive workouts and E-Stim along with his mom's good cooking and vitamins, got him in really good shape. He could use a walker if someone was with him to help. When he did PT, he didn't take any meds for spasms b/c they made him tired and his spasms weren't too bad back then and he actually liked that they made his muscles stronger. Guess like having a workout.

Check with your husband's doctor to see if he can skip the meds when he needs to be alert to do PT (or try another medication). Then just have him take them when he's winding down for the day. Your hubby and you are doing great. So keep up the good work. There are lots of exercises and PT stuff you can do at home with him. You just need to figure out how to do it safely at home. When I met my husband, I would start doing things for him like stretching his hands or move his limbs, especially his legs in different ways. I don't have any PT experience at all, but I just thought of ways his joints would normally move if he were AB and I'd follow it up with a massage and he loved it. Still does.

It would be good to check into getting a standing frame. It's good for the entire body and especially for stretching the leg muscles. And as Jaquie wrote, never give up hope.

I wish you both all the best ~ Hapa

[ForJordan]

New to this site. My little brother Jordan was hurt yesterday in c5-c6. Hope you get this message - What is Asia A? How is your husband now? We are holding onto hope and trying to understand. Please tell me how your coping and how he's doing. Thank you

[hooplady]

ForJordan, on Jan 13 2010, 11:19 AM, said:

What is Asia A?

Hi ForJordan,
"ASIA" is a classification system used to describe not only the level of injury but the level and type of sensation and motor control. ASIA stands for American Spinal Injury Association. "A" is a complete injury and "E" is normal sensation.

http://en.wikipedia....nal_cord_injury

I know, it's a heckuva lot to learn!

[Apparelyzed]

Hi,

I thought Jordan was your cousin, not your brother?

Simon.

[ForJordan]

Apparelyzed, on Jan 13 2010, 01:45 PM, said:

Hi,

I thought Jordan was your cousin, not your brother?

Simon.

He is technically my 18 year old cousin, I call him my little brother - sorry. I don't see why I'm needing to explain myself and my relation to him. I'm new here and new to SCI - his accident happened around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday. I'm just trying to get more information about how serious his condition is and if there is hope for him to return to life as he had before. I ask questions to the doctors and they say a whole bunch of stuff that I really don't understand and beat around the bush. I want to know if he'll walk again, will he use his hands, what things should we be worrying about now. What about a preductive life if he can't walk? The doctors can't tell us that - I need some guidance so I am seeking others help who have similar injuries - knowing each case is different - but for me it is some type of answer. I'm trying to be patient and take each day as it comes. Thanks to those for their support and advice and prayers and everything else. I'm doing this for Jordan. He's my concern right now! Again sorry for being inconsistant in what relation he is to me.

[ForJordan]

hooplady, on Jan 13 2010, 01:35 PM, said:

ForJordan, on Jan 13 2010, 11:19 AM, said:

What is Asia A?

Hi ForJordan,
"ASIA" is a classification system used to describe not only the level of injury but the level and type of sensation and motor control. ASIA stands for American Spinal Injury Association. "A" is a complete injury and "E" is normal sensation.

http://en.wikipedia....nal_cord_injury

I know, it's a heckuva lot to learn!

Thanks for the info. I will have to ask what his case is - he can feel our touching and knows what position his legs are placed - he even moved both legs when asked -is this hope that his injury isn't as serious as we thought. He has no ventalator and is in a neck and back brace instead of a halo. He also fractured some thorasic bones, but they are letting those heal on their own. He may be out of the ICU today and his injury was just on Tuesday. Does this mean he will walk again or at least be able to have finger control? Too many questions - sorry, I'm a worry wart. Thanks again for your help

[Apparelyzed]

ForJordan, on Jan 14 2010, 04:15 PM, said:

Apparelyzed, on Jan 13 2010, 01:45 PM, said:

Hi,

I thought Jordan was your cousin, not your brother?

Simon.

He is technically my 18 year old cousin, I call him my little brother - sorry. I don't see why I'm needing to explain myself and my relation to him.

Hi,

As your relationship was inconsistant, I just wanted to verify that you were not making the story up. You'd be suprised what kind of weirdo's we get sometimes on this forum, some even faking injuries to get attention.

It's nothing personal, but it's something that needed verifying just in case.

After looking at your profile, I'm happy that you are a genuine person, so please feel free to stick around and ask any questions you may have.

Regards

Simon.