[McRobb]

I thought I got this posted last week but guess it did not go for some reason.

I am a para 5 years post accident and about 2 months ago, I realized that I had lost some of my ability to feel below my injury level. I won't go into a lot of detail but did have pressure sensation over most of my legs and lower torso but most of that just stopped one day. I see no difference in my abilities/sensation above the injury level, Thank Good. But below there has been a definite change.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so, do you know why the change happened? I have talked to a couple of my doctors by as they are not SCI specialists, they have not ventured any opinion - just to say that what I see they for is probably NOT a factor.

Would appreciate any help on this one. Thanks.

[wheeliebear75]

I have lost a lot of sensation & strength post injury. The "John Wayne" style of walking I was doing caused myself further nerve damage. Are you/were you able to walk or could something similar to this be what happened with you?

[CR_L1]

Hi Mcrobb,

I am at a different level (incomplete) injury to you & for nearly a year been in a chair, very little motion in left leg none in my right or sensation, however sensation comes & goes in left leg as & when it feels like it.
I was told this is just down to the nerve damage I have.

[Avocado Baby]

CR_L1, on Jun 3 2009, 05:54 PM, said:

Hi Mcrobb,

I am at a different level (incomplete) injury to you & for nearly a year been in a chair, very little motion in left leg none in my right or sensation, however sensation comes & goes in left leg as & when it feels like it.
I was told this is just down to the nerve damage I have.

I'm a bit different as I have Spina Bifida so have always been paralysed but I used to be able to move my legs and feel much lower than I can now. When I was 13 I had some kind of spinal cord stroke and lost use of my legs and now I can only feel to my ribs. I've been told it's due to the nerves degenerating.

[Murray]

Re: returning movement/sensation

First, I think we'd all agree that the jury's still out on how these bodies (and minds) of ours work. Second, traditional medicine remains slow to acknowledge healing systems belonging to any hemispheres but the Western. Finally, there's nothing inherently wrong with the don't-knock-it-til-you've-tried-it school. I am currently practicing Qi Gong, observing a strenuous exercise regimen, reading a good deal about Native Americans and Zen Buddhism, and doing a kind of self-taught meditation. I am a T6 incomplete, T11 complete para, five years post. I am healthy. Before a few weeks ago, I would have agreed with the neurosurgeon that I will never regain movement or sensation below the loi. Now, however, I can move my right foot about 1/8th inch on command, and - more importantly - I can feel a distinct tingling up the back of my calf and into the thigh when I give the command. I have 2-way communication with muscle tissue that is not supposed to receive from, much less send information to the central nervous system.

I am convinced that the patient - you and I - determine to a large degree the amount and type of recovery we will experience.

Have a good one.

Lynn

[Travelling Blackbird]

Murray, on Jun 4 2009, 12:29 AM, said:

I am convinced that the patient - you and I - determine to a large degree the amount and type of recovery we will experience.

Very true. Everyone has a different experience of healing, but the common themes are one's own role, and how mood, attitude and support network can affect the healing process.

[Travelling Blackbird]

McRobb, on Jun 3 2009, 02:34 AM, said:

I won't go into a lot of detail but did have pressure sensation over most of my legs and lower torso but most of that just stopped one day. I see no difference in my abilities/sensation above the injury level, Thank Good. But below there has been a definite change.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so, do you know why the change happened?

Some people experience reductions in sensation, others return in sensation, and some see fluctuations. The nervous system is such a complex construction and a good neurologist will admit that they don't understand it completely.

I had an increase in sensation in my left side and left leg from around 2002 to 2006, and then it just went away again. I was offered the explanation that there might be nerves that tore in some movement, or that there was an overload of sensation that shut the nerves down. I was also advised to pursue the issue with specialist neurologists with experience of injury to the medulla and spine. Unfortunately, my insurance company wouldn't cover it, so I never did learn more.

[McRobb]

Thanks for all the replies. I have considered going to a neurologist but have not pursued that at this point. I have not seen one since my rehab was over and don't know where I would go for sure if I wanted to pursue this.

And, I don't really know what difference it makes as my abilities above SCI do not seem to have changed. If something else happens, perhaps that will motivate me to seek doctor advise but I just HATE to think of going through all those tests again!

Good luck to all.

[Travelling Blackbird]

McRobb, on Jun 4 2009, 02:34 AM, said:

Thanks for all the replies. I have considered going to a neurologist but have not pursued that at this point. I have not seen one since my rehab was over and don't know where I would go for sure if I wanted to pursue this.

And, I don't really know what difference it makes as my abilities above SCI do not seem to have changed. If something else happens, perhaps that will motivate me to seek doctor advise but I just HATE to think of going through all those tests again!

Good luck to all.

I can understand not wanting to go through all the tests again, but my advice would be to go see a neurologist because this is a change in your symptoms, it's worth checking out, and it's worth getting some advice on any changes to the way you do things that you might need to make.