[Joed]

First let me say that I don't know if the following advice would apply to the classic spinal cord injury, but having spina-bifida, I have often been told by my doctors that any change in neuro symptoms is not a normal part of my disability, and should be looked into for the cause.

I had become complacent about having a life-long neuro defect, and so I didn't seem to recognize, or sense the seriousness of what it meant to have declining function. I guess I just thought that was part and parcel to the disability.

Do they know what caused the changes/decline in function?

As far as the question, 'when do you know'...regarding reaching full potential post-injury.....most of the information I've read here and elsewhere will range from 6 mos. to 15 yrs. (15 yrs. being at the very extreme end of the continuum, and is probably the rare exception). But the mainstream thinking seems to be two years in realizing all the significant improvements that you can achieve.

But 'significant' means entirely different things to different people. So much depends on if you're the one sitting in the wheelchair.