[quadinva]

Hey yall...Im a c-7 quad with no hand function. Ive recently started researching and begun debating the pros and cons of having the tendon transfer series of surgeries. Heres what Ive come up with so far:

-Cons-
-ill have no use of my hands for six weeks after each surgery (4 different phases of surgery) thus a serious a,mount of loss of strength
-what i can do with my hands now, i wont be able to do for quite some time
-no surgery is a guaranteed success and i could end up no better or possibly worse off after all the trouble

-Pros-
-If it is successful I would gain a level of independence I wouldnt have been able to otherwise

I know ultimately it is a personal decision/gamble that only i can make, but after reading up on the info on tendon transfer (on this site and others) I was wondering if anybody on here has had the operation (or knows anything about it) and could share their experiences to help me with mine.

Thanks so much
Richard

[DaveP]

I'm a C6/7 and my hands are good. You need to use them and exercise them and the muscles that do work will get stronger and you'll find ways and techniques to get things done.

Instead of taking the easy option and getting a special hand grip/glove for knife and fork, use them as best you can. Use a manual tooth brush, manual razor, normal cups and glasses, etc. Push yourself and don't let people push you.

Learn to transfer on your own and practice with buttons and zips, get dresses on your own.

I am totally independent and, over the years, have managed to live on my own no problem at all. I transfer in to my car, take my wheelchair apart etc. There's no reason why other people with my level of SCI can't do the same.

[allis53ca]

i considered tt also...but as a c5 w/no hand func, i eventually adapted and i'm 100% independent also and doing the tt at this point would make me dependent again for an undetermined amount of time with no guarantee of results...decided too risky for me

[Fixer_27]

i am a c5 and had a few tendon transfers four total two in each arm. i had 3 with success and one distroyed by infection. find a good doc and do it. mine were well worth it.

[spitfire_mk7]

Hey all,
sorry for being a little late on the posts, but I was bored tonight and saw this post randomly. I'm a C6 quad for five years now that had no hand function 3 years ago, only the ability to bend my wrist back which was strong enough for a doctor at shriners hospital for children to have him ask me about a possible tendon transfer surgery I had never heard of. Of course I jumped into it and got it done as soon as I could since I was nearing 21 years old at the time in which case I'd no longer be eligible for services from Shriners. I was lucky and had the surgeries done before turning 21 and have been grateful from the outcome. They did bilateral pinch and grasp on both hands. I have a long scar that runs up and down the inside of my forearm and a small one on each thumb, but well worth it. The recovery as I remember was quite painful and very hard though. After using them for about 6 months to a year I maxed out on strengthening pretty much but gained approx. 5 pounds of pinch for each thumb, about 10 pounds of grasp on my left hand and 15 on my right hand. I still don't have the ability to open my hands, but I just wrap my fingers around whatever I need to hold like a pop can/bottle or anything else. It really helps me grip the rims of my manual wheelchair and makes it easier to push up ramps and go down ramps slowly. All the small things are so much easier these days, not the same but much easier than having nothing. With the pinch on my thumbs I can hold pencils and pens now which makes it easier to write and draw like I used to. Holding everyday things like a cell phone or picking up small things are made possible now without struggle. Feeding myself with no devices is also possible. I hated that universal cuff thing and never used it which made me struggle with eating, but now after the surgery I can use utensils better, besides using a knife with a fork and trying to cut things like steak. Still really hard for me for some reason. Anyways I've been fortunate enough to have them done and it's only helped. I used to shoot competitively before the injury, I haven't since. But after the tendon transfers I was able to do one of the things I loved most which was shooting my guns again. The grasp gave me a strong enough trigger finger when I close all four fingers. Hope this helps a little. Any questions about the surgery just e-mail me.