[Dawn_Marie044]

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend has been injured (C2) for nearly 10 months now. He was initially diagnosed as a compete injury, he is vent dependent. However, in the past 5 or 6 months, he has been regaining some movement. He has always said he has sensation in most of his body (with the exception of his left calf, actually) and he is now able to move both of his shoulders, bend his arms (he is able to do "curls" with a 2 lb. weight) and make a fist with both of his hands. His left side movement is much stronger than the right side, but he is making fists and moving his thumb and fingers on his left hand. He is also able to bend his legs (again, stronger on left side) and he has just begun wiggling his toes on his left foot.

He is scheduled to get a diaphragm pacer in a few weeks and he will then be back at a rehab facility for recovery/weaning/rehab. First, does anyone have any suggestions as to what our next step should be to ensure that he is utilizing all of his options to regain the utmost function he is physically able to? Second, and maybe this is for our own piece of mind, it seems like someone who was diagnosed as a complete injury having all of this sensation and movement is a good sign, right?

Any advice, suggestions or insight is greatly appreciated. We are new to the forum.

Thanks!

[Dawn_Marie044]

Further, he also has some trunk/abdominal control and can do little "crunches"... Its so new and mind blowing, any advice is helpful...

Thanks!

[Denny]

I have not had similar experience, but any improvement is good sign. Keep working on to improve what ever he is able to do. I was told at spinal hospital that most of the recovery happens with in first two years and they have seen many people with complete injury recover some functions below their injury level.

[Hikkakaru]

Dawn_Marie044, on Sep 12 2009, 10:07 AM, said:

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend has been injured (C2) for nearly 10 months now. He was initially diagnosed as a compete injury, he is vent dependent. However, in the past 5 or 6 months, he has been regaining some movement. He has always said he has sensation in most of his body (with the exception of his left calf, actually) and he is now able to move both of his shoulders, bend his arms (he is able to do "curls" with a 2 lb. weight) and make a fist with both of his hands. His left side movement is much stronger than the right side, but he is making fists and moving his thumb and fingers on his left hand. He is also able to bend his legs (again, stronger on left side) and he has just begun wiggling his toes on his left foot.

He is scheduled to get a diaphragm pacer in a few weeks and he will then be back at a rehab facility for recovery/weaning/rehab. First, does anyone have any suggestions as to what our next step should be to ensure that he is utilizing all of his options to regain the utmost function he is physically able to? Second, and maybe this is for our own piece of mind, it seems like someone who was diagnosed as a complete injury having all of this sensation and movement is a good sign, right?

Any advice, suggestions or insight is greatly appreciated. We are new to the forum.

Thanks!

Well, with volitional movement in lower extremities, he is no longer considered a complete injury...

However, therapists and doctors are going to be very weary with telling you guys' about your hopeful future, especially with a C2 injury and vent-dependency.

Don't let anyone tell you it's hopeless. I'm a walking C5 injured person whom was diagnosed as complete.

Just keep him working on anything he has and keep trying to do things he can't. Relearning/neuroplasticity and tried practice go hand-in-hand from what people can tell so far.

-Sam

[Dawn_Marie044]

Hikkakaru, on Sep 16 2009, 04:21 PM, said:

Dawn_Marie044, on Sep 12 2009, 10:07 AM, said:

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend has been injured (C2) for nearly 10 months now. He was initially diagnosed as a compete injury, he is vent dependent. However, in the past 5 or 6 months, he has been regaining some movement. He has always said he has sensation in most of his body (with the exception of his left calf, actually) and he is now able to move both of his shoulders, bend his arms (he is able to do "curls" with a 2 lb. weight) and make a fist with both of his hands. His left side movement is much stronger than the right side, but he is making fists and moving his thumb and fingers on his left hand. He is also able to bend his legs (again, stronger on left side) and he has just begun wiggling his toes on his left foot.

He is scheduled to get a diaphragm pacer in a few weeks and he will then be back at a rehab facility for recovery/weaning/rehab. First, does anyone have any suggestions as to what our next step should be to ensure that he is utilizing all of his options to regain the utmost function he is physically able to? Second, and maybe this is for our own piece of mind, it seems like someone who was diagnosed as a complete injury having all of this sensation and movement is a good sign, right?

Any advice, suggestions or insight is greatly appreciated. We are new to the forum.

Thanks!

Well, with volitional movement in lower extremities, he is no longer considered a complete injury...

However, therapists and doctors are going to be very weary with telling you guys' about your hopeful future, especially with a C2 injury and vent-dependency.

Don't let anyone tell you it's hopeless. I'm a walking C5 injured person whom was diagnosed as complete.

Just keep him working on anything he has and keep trying to do things he can't. Relearning/neuroplasticity and tried practice go hand-in-hand from what people can tell so far.

-Sam

Thank you for the words of encouragement, we really appreciate it!

[Catie]

They told us because my boyfriend was moving he was an incomplete, obviously. I'm also new to the forum and I too have a boyfriend with a C-1/C-2 injury and he is doing almost everything you have explained also. Its been five weeks since his accident and we're deflating his trache balloon tomorrow to see if he can keep his air way open on his own. I did read about that diaphram pace stimulator, I have heard some encouraging things, GOOD LUCK!

[Dawn_Marie044]

Catie, on Sep 28 2009, 04:20 AM, said:

They told us because my boyfriend was moving he was an incomplete, obviously. I'm also new to the forum and I too have a boyfriend with a C-1/C-2 injury and he is doing almost everything you have explained also. Its been five weeks since his accident and we're deflating his trache balloon tomorrow to see if he can keep his air way open on his own. I did read about that diaphram pace stimulator, I have heard some encouraging things, GOOD LUCK!

Thank you, I wish you and your boyfriend the best, so encouraging that he is making such improvement so soon!