17 replies to this topic

[warchi81]

Introducing myself on this very informative site. I was injured in a motorcycle accident just shy of three months. I'm from the cape in MA. and was med flighted to Boston Medical Center (BMC) where i underwent all the lovely surgeries and spinal fusion. I was there for about 10 days or so and then went to The Sheperd Center in Atlanta, GA. for my rehab. I did very well there transitiong to the wheel chair and became comfortable at shepered. I spent about 2 months there with no signs of movement returning until my last day there my right big toe I was able to move.

I have had feeling all along but just not normal. My legs and everything below my injury always feel like they are cold or asleep with the tingles. Also I have heard that people sometimes tend to have the feeling that they have a band around there wasit? I always feel like I have a binder on. The thing they make you were for blood pressure. Does this feeling go away? I know its so hard to look at other people because everyones injury is so different and the recovery process is aswell, but its still hard not to comapre.

Now I'm awaiting to start my therapy back in NC where I moved to my sisters new house and will be doing therapy at Wake Med. Is anyone familar with Wake Med? Anyways I'll stop rambling but would love to hear some thoughts other people have. Thanks

[E-DOG]

Alrighty then.
You haven't filled out the personal profile so I don't know if yer male or female. Are you hiding something?
What feels like a metal band going around your torso at about the place where your injury is will probably never go away completely. But you'll get used to it.

I'm a t-4 incomplete and for the first four months I had no motor function at all. Then I woke up one morning and I thought maybe my big toe on the left foot was moving. I tore the sheet away and tried to get the toe to move. It did. I started screaming for the nurses and doctors and I'm telling everyone about the amazing progress I'd made and how I was gonna walk again and yadda ya.

Any way, here it is 2 years later and a lot of motor has in fact returned but I sure as shit can't walk.

Welcome to the site,
E-dog

[Bnagore141]

warchi81, on Aug 4 2009, 04:47 PM, said:

Introducing myself on this very informative site. I was injured in a motorcycle accident just shy of three months. I'm from the cape in MA. and was med flighted to Boston Medical Center (BMC) where i underwent all the lovely surgeries and spinal fusion. I was there for about 10 days or so and then went to The Sheperd Center in Atlanta, GA. for my rehab. I did very well there transitiong to the wheel chair and became comfortable at shepered. I spent about 2 months there with no signs of movement returning until my last day there my right big toe I was able to move.

I have had feeling all along but just not normal. My legs and everything below my injury always feel like they are cold or asleep with the tingles. Also I have heard that people sometimes tend to have the feeling that they have a band around there wasit? I always feel like I have a binder on. The thing they make you were for blood pressure. Does this feeling go away? I know its so hard to look at other people because everyones injury is so different and the recovery process is aswell, but its still hard not to comapre.

Now I'm awaiting to start my therapy back in NC where I moved to my sisters new house and will be doing therapy at Wake Med. Is anyone familar with Wake Med? Anyways I'll stop rambling but would love to hear some thoughts other people have. Thanks

my husband has the same feelings, his injury was 4 1/2 months ago. He had it around his nipples then he did get feeling back down to belt line, now he has the same thing there but nothing yet

[wheeliebear75]

I kind of liken it to a heavy fanny pack always pulling into the lower back.......I broke L2. Yeah well you're already doing good just by realizing that we are all different & therefor have different outcomes......even for "the same injury". If you've got something it's a better sign than if you had no sensation what so ever. I am able to walk for tiny bits.....but it is a lot like having my legs been shot up by the dentist. I can move my legs on command but when I feel/touch my own arm it feels "normal" & when I touch my legs it doesn't quite feel normal......I can still feel where I am being touched but it has a prickly sensation where ever I am being touched. I don't think there is anyway of guessing if you'll have enough function to walk with some sort of assistiv devices or 100% wheelchair........but there are members here with a wide range of abilities, & I'm sure all will share what bits of help they can.

[warchi81]

Thanks all for welcoming me to the site. I apreciate all the responses. I also was wondering if anyone was familar with this center and type of therapy http://www.centerimt.com/home.asp there all over and seemed like a different approach to regular therapy.

[Karl187]

Welcome to the site warchi.

I was in a motorcycle accident myself and I'm T12 complete. The tingling sensation your feeling in your legs, I don't reckon, will ever go away. Every para I've ever met talks about it, one guy I know even reckons it gets worse when he smokes! I get the same thing in my legs, 'phantom feeling' I call it. Sometimes it can be very annoying as it is kind of deceptive- something there when its really not. Distract yourself and it will usually go away.

As for using your legs again- never say never. Post-surgery I couldn't do anything with my legs, but gradually some movement has returned to my right knee- I can twitch it well and move it a little, but it is of no help to do anything, but I'm glad its there. I know a para with the same injury as me who can move his toes, it doesn't help him walk but technically he shouldn't be able to do it- its still something.

Take it one day at a time and put in lots of time in physio. You'll see the benefits, trust me.

[Johnny V]

You can move your toe. That seems to be a start. My guess would be to move that toe as much as possible.

Edited by Johnny V, 17 September 2009 - 04:56 AM.

[rollingpix]

Johnny V, on Sep 17 2009, 03:12 AM, said:

You can move your toe. That seems to be a start. My guess would be to move that toe as much as possible.

Definitely a good start! Keep coming back these forums rock!

[shawman]

warchi81, on Aug 4 2009, 07:47 PM, said:

Introducing myself on this very informative site. I was injured in a motorcycle accident just shy of three months. I'm from the cape in MA. and was med flighted to Boston Medical Center (BMC) where i underwent all the lovely surgeries and spinal fusion. I was there for about 10 days or so and then went to The Sheperd Center in Atlanta, GA. for my rehab. I did very well there transitiong to the wheel chair and became comfortable at shepered. I spent about 2 months there with no signs of movement returning until my last day there my right big toe I was able to move.

I have had feeling all along but just not normal. My legs and everything below my injury always feel like they are cold or asleep with the tingles. Also I have heard that people sometimes tend to have the feeling that they have a band around there wasit? I always feel like I have a binder on. The thing they make you were for blood pressure. Does this feeling go away? I know its so hard to look at other people because everyones injury is so different and the recovery process is aswell, but its still hard not to comapre.

Now I'm awaiting to start my therapy back in NC where I moved to my sisters new house and will be doing therapy at Wake Med. Is anyone familar with Wake Med? Anyways I'll stop rambling but would love to hear some thoughts other people have. Thanks

my husband was also in a motorcycle accident, now 7 months ago. He to has had the same feeling as you. He says it has gottin better and at times does'nt even get to him. He is like you, he to didnt have movement in his legs but could feel a touch. now he is in therapy and able to walk with help. (just a few short steps but thats progress)
you like him will get better you only have to want it. good luck to you.

[T11WALKER]

Bust your ass in therapy. Each injury is different. I was at Shepherd for 3 months, its a great place.

Steve

Edited by T11WALKER, 13 January 2010 - 12:49 PM.

[Soryfam]

warchi81, on Aug 4 2009, 04:47 PM, said:

Introducing myself on this very informative site. I was injured in a motorcycle accident just shy of three months. I'm from the cape in MA. and was med flighted to Boston Medical Center (BMC) where i underwent all the lovely surgeries and spinal fusion. I was there for about 10 days or so and then went to The Sheperd Center in Atlanta, GA. for my rehab. I did very well there transitiong to the wheel chair and became comfortable at shepered. I spent about 2 months there with no signs of movement returning until my last day there my right big toe I was able to move.

I have had feeling all along but just not normal. My legs and everything below my injury always feel like they are cold or asleep with the tingles. Also I have heard that people sometimes tend to have the feeling that they have a band around there wasit? I always feel like I have a binder on. The thing they make you were for blood pressure. Does this feeling go away? I know its so hard to look at other people because everyones injury is so different and the recovery process is aswell, but its still hard not to comapre.

Now I'm awaiting to start my therapy back in NC where I moved to my sisters new house and will be doing therapy at Wake Med. Is anyone familar with Wake Med? Anyways I'll stop rambling but would love to hear some thoughts other people have. Thanks

[Soryfam]

It's great that you're getting some feeling back. It takes time, and sometimes a lot happens at once, and other times it feels like a drought.
Both of my legs from the knees down to my toes have a tight, kind of tingly feeling. It's been 2 years now, so I think that is how it will be. I am able to walk, with a cane, but my legs get weak and tired so sometimes it's back to the ealker or chair.
I had the tight feeling around my middle for quite awhile. It was really irritating and sometimes almost scary. The people at the hospital didn't knowwhat I was talking about. Eventually it faded away, but I'd say it took over a year. I kind of think it had to do with the skin on my back being stretched during the surgeries.
What I'm finding is that sometimes things go along great, and then something pops up and has to be taken care of. The most important thing I've found is to listen to my body and tell my doctors when something's not right, even if they don't see it. I recently had to have a laminectomy. It was very successful, but I had to be persistant with the doctors that I was having pain that was different from the original injury.
Good luck to you.

Sandy

[airart1]

yes bust your butt in therapy, the nerve that wiggles your big toe is called the sciatic nerve, that means his nerve is making connection all the way from the brain to his feet, not saying he will walk, but a very good sign...........

[Sticks82]

Warchi,

Quick bit of background about me, I was involved in a helicopter crash almost 3 years ago and suffered burst fractures at T5 and T8, leaving me with incomplete paralysis from T8 down.

What I found the most uplifting and helpful process in the GYM for the first couple of months was being strapped into the standing frame (after I stopped fainting every time they tried).

It took about 3 months but eventually I was able to move on to full leg calipers which although being an unbelievable pain in the ass to put on again lifted my spirirts as it felt like I was actually moving around of my own accord.

Long process mate, but I found the Gym became addictive and would spend all day down there watching and learning from others and talking to the physios.

Very short reply but let me know if I can tell you anymore as I've been through everything that you have coming.

Good Luck

[25femalepara]

Lol @ ed!
I'm a t7 injuried this past march. I get the tingling in my legs, a burning sensation in my butt, and the band around my waist.

[airart1]

enjoy what u get back and do alot of rehab...........

[aainme]

I was in a car accident last dec,i have an incomplete t4-5 sci ,at first i had nothing but pain in my leg on the right. I had the feeling in my chest and back like cement was in my torso, very scary, no one told me that was normal for a sci so i was very scared. About 1 month in the ICU and some acupuncture on the leg my big toe started to move. Everyone was so excited, i was not believing it was a big deal.I really thought i would never walk again, the pain was so intense and even the doctors thought i would never walk. i went to a rehab here in santa fe and those nurses and physical therapists never gave up. My first days were so awful they had to move my big butt with a tiny board, i slid back and forth from the bed to the wheelchair,the first time i had to go to the bathroom 5 people had to drag and lift me on there. like i said it was awful for me, the first day they left me in my wheelchair in the bathroom with a wash cloth and toothbrush,it was then for the first time i looked at me in the mirror and said "this is it" i can either get into bed and pull the covers over my head or i can fight like hell to get some of my life back. I worked like crazy i did everything they asked of me and i left there walking short spurts i think my max was 51 steps with the walker
. There are so many with the same injuries that have so many different results. I walk now with pain ,but i walk.....in each day even with the pain i find reasons to be grateful...now reading posts, and meeting people from this site is another reason for gratitude...i am not alone with the crazy things that happen to my body on any given day.

[twentieth]

T-6 (pretty much complete but able to have 5 kids post injury). 20 years post injury. Tingling remains. Spasms have lessened slightly (if you use tobbacco and stop they will lessen dramatically). "zone of injury pain" is mostly constant unless lying flat on my back (but its manageable). Have a painful "ring of fire" at my injury level when I eat or drink the wrong things. Wimpy cough and tend to lean to my right when sitting. Otherwise I am perfect! LOL.