[McRobb]

Hello all - I have not posted for some time as I have been having some other medical issues. I was injured in auto wreck 5 years ago. Since then, I have always been able to feel pressure on my legs so that if I ran into something with my knees or foot, I would feel the pressure and know that I needed to back up or whatever. If someone touched my feet, legs, or body below my injury level (T7 -T10) I could tell approximately where they touched me. No pain, or ability to move but I could tell a touch. IN addition, I could tell if I needed to have a BM immediately or within a half hour or so - could not control it but could feel the pressure building on the rectum and know that something needed to be done. Two years ago, I began to be able to "wave" the front part of my right foot when I wanted to - at least most of the time.

All of a sudden on April 23, when I went to bed that night ( I have assistance) I noticed that I could not feel where the water was hitting my butt when we finished my shower. Also noticed that I could not feel the pressure of a touch to my legs. In the next day or so, I reallized that my leg spasms were much less as they had always spasmed when I changed position (sat up in bed or from reclining position). Muscles did not tighten as hard, less pressure on inside, etc. In addition, I could "feel" a sensation run down the back of both legs - not pain but a difference in how things felt. My arms and hands are normal and I do not know of any changes above my injury level, just below.

Now, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer last fall and because of paralysis, doctors decided to do radiation therapy instead of surgery. So in Feb 2009, I had 12 exterior treatments to abdomen and 2 treatments to interior of uterous. Doctors said cancer was very early and dosage of radiation not high but still had to go through recovery from radiation - not fun but doable.

Obviously, I wonder if the treatments could have caused the change in my abilities - I go for checkup next week for the cancer but wondered if others have experienced changes in their abilities below SCI level. After 5 years, I would not expect many changes but all of a sudden, here they are. It does worry a person. If you experienced changes, what was the cause and what did you do? Did you go see a specific kind of doctor? Any help would be appreciated.