36 replies to this topic

[Parachute]

Hi

How many walkers walk unaided? I would really like to hear from you. Could you please tell me what exercise you participate in?

I was injured while making a tackle playing rugby on Sun 29 March 2009. I was in hospital until Friday July 17 2009. My consultant claimed that I am the quickest ever to leave the Spinal Injury Unit which I was in.

I was on bed rest for six weeks. I am C3-4 incomplete. I have a background in sport and studied Sports Studies. I have walked unaided since mid August 2009.

I'm at work five days a week. I've always had in my mine that I would recover. I thought i'd be alright by 9pm on the day I was injured. Anyway, it was two days short of six weeks, when I was first in a wheelchair.

Some people doubt me. I asked my physio if i'd be able to run an half marathon, as I have completed eleven, she told me no. She said, I wont have the strengh and would get tired. She thinks that it will be a challenge to walk a half marathon. The physio also said I may only be able to run 800 metres. This was Weds 2 Dec 2009 when I was told this. I was nearly in tears.

Two days later I made a trip to see a guy called Wilf Paish. Wilf Paish was a senior coach with the British Athletic Association. He was well known for his coaching of many International Track and Field athletes but he also assisted
athletes of many other sports. I had trained with Wilf around eight years ago. Anyway, I told Wilf what had happened to me. After a brief chat, Wilf told me that if I trained with him, doing plyrometrics at my own level, I will get my movement back.

Over Xmas I went onto a tredmill a travelled at 7kmph for 4 mins. The next day, I did 10mins, at 7kmph. On Fri 22 Jan 2010 I turned up to Wilf's session to find out he had taken i'll. After the session, I went onto the track and did a lap in 2 mins 42secs, when I was healthy my best was 58 secs and that was timed in a 1500 metres race. I expected around 3 mins this time. I went to Wilf's session on Fri 29 Jan 2010, to learn that Wilf had passed away, in the morning. Anyway, I did the session and went to the track after and bettered last week's time by 21 secs, in a time of 2mins 21secs.

I had planned for a few weeks to take part in a 5km/3 mile run. I planned to trot for 400 metres and walk for 200 metres and keep doing that. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I ran none stop and finished in a time of 35mins 56 secs. When I was in good health my best was 19 mins 27 secs. If it wasn't for Wilf, I don't think I would have trotted on saturday.

Can't wait to see the physio on wednesday to tell her.

Edited by Parachute, 01 February 2010 - 09:03 PM.

[T11WALKER]

Parachute,
Nobody has responded to your topic, the no response in my mind says how lucky & fortunate we are to walk unaided. Each injury is different. I work out about 3 days a week, Treadmill, Bike & Arc trainer. My best time on the treadmill is 2 miles in 26 minutes. The max walk I've done is about 4 miles. I can't run, but sometimes I feel like i'm on the verge of just taking off in a full run. This coming June will be 2 years post injury.
Steve

[Tetracyclone]

Yes, I made no response to the initial post, but reveled in your accomplishments. It belongs in the "Let's celebrate" thread.

[Parachute]

T11WALKER, on Feb 3 2010, 03:55 PM, said:

Parachute,
Nobody has responded to your topic, the no response in my mind says how lucky & fortunate we are to walk unaided. Each injury is different. I work out about 3 days a week, Treadmill, Bike & Arc trainer. My best time on the treadmill is 2 miles in 26 minutes. The max walk I've done is about 4 miles. I can't run, but sometimes I feel like i'm on the verge of just taking off in a full run. This coming June will be 2 years post injury.
Steve

Hi Steve

You are good and I believe that you will get better. Goggle plyrometrics and have a look at some of the programmes. Adapt the programmes to the level that you can work at. I myself only do simple plyrometrics. Get a small cheap trampoline and run on the spot on it. Do as much stretching as you can especially arms extended either face down on the floor or standing. You will feel the difference by April.

Parachute

Ps. I also go to disabled athletics once a week.

[ClaraTaylor]

I guess I'm an (incomplete) non aid walker - or was until recently.

Does being too impatient to wait for other people to do x y z count as an exercise regime?

COngratulations on your achievements.

[T11WALKER]

I don't want anyone to think I'm on here bragging to Parachute. Each injury is different!!! There are thousands of people with SCI who bust there ass trying to walk again etc. I have my issues with my SCI, but I really feel they are minor compared to others out there with a SCI, does this make me feel good or better NO. My injury has changed my whole outlook on life, in someways I'm a better person because of it. Some would say I was a asshole before, but I believe I have changed. I've tried my best to inform people in my circle about SCI and about the disabled. Some people have no clue how good they have it and I was one of those people. I feel very humbled, grateful,blessed,fortunate and one lucky dumb ass for the recovery I have made.
Steve

[ericr]

thats great that you have gotten so much back. I dont think anyone feels like its bragging I feel inspired. Especially since you are a c3 and so recent. I am c5 hurt may24 2009 from a diving accident I have made great progress, moving both legs and even standing now. I sometimes feel bad in front of others but I think we all should be happy for each other and know there is hope for everyone.

[jules]

I agree its great that you have got so much back, and don't think you are bragging at all. I am a non walker, but still work out 5-6 times a week, when my lung disease allows.

[spot]

I am a c1/c2 incomplete, but more of a short distance shuffler than a walker. I stubbornly try not to use any walking aids. Some days I can "walk" about a mile, other days I can almost walk from the bedroom to the lavatory. I can't say why there is such variation. I know some of it is due to trying to walk that mile. The two or three days following such foolhardy efforts are "nerve recovery" days. On such days I can barely move, have very bad muscle spasms and may be forced to drag out the walker. As everyone says, every injury is different. It depends on just what is injured and how badly.

Sorry I can't match your achievements, but I congratulate you on yours.

[Parachute]

T11WALKER, on Feb 4 2010, 12:10 AM, said:

I don't want anyone to think I'm on here bragging to Parachute. Each injury is different!!! There are thousands of people with SCI who bust there ass trying to walk again etc. I have my issues with my SCI, but I really feel they are minor compared to others out there with a SCI, does this make me feel good or better NO. My injury has changed my whole outlook on life, in someways I'm a better person because of it. Some would say I was a asshole before, but I believe I have changed. I've tried my best to inform people in my circle about SCI and about the disabled. Some people have no clue how good they have it and I was one of those people. I feel very humbled, grateful,blessed,fortunate and one lucky dumb ass for the recovery I have made.
Steve

Hi T11WALKER, I for one know that you are not bragging. You are very very very lucky. I feel the similiar as you. I feel that I have had it easy compared to others. I am improving the way that I am because of many factors. One of the biggest factors is I studied Disabilities in Sport & Exercise not knowing that one day I would be disabled myself. The night that I got injured, I had the nursing staff massaging my hands and feet as I couldn't feel a thing. This is only because I knew that I needed to try and keep them active. My visitors would also massage me and also mobilise my arms. I was very lucky that I had this knowledge. Leeds has a easy access for facilities for disabled people. I get help for funding my physio sessions and work where there is a gym. That's how lucky I am. It would have been different if I had studied something else and also if I worked somewhere else (Sports College). I am a Health-Related Fitness & Health/ Sports Studies Graduate.

If I can now pass on the knowledge that I know to other Spinal Cord Injured people, it would mean so much to me. In April I am attending the Interspinal Unit Games at Stoke Mandeville. All being well, I will learn alot more from there. At the moment I read about Spinal Cord Injuries everyday but more on exercise, than anything else.

[Parachute]

spot, on Feb 4 2010, 02:42 AM, said:

I am a c1/c2 incomplete, but more of a short distance shuffler than a walker. I stubbornly try not to use any walking aids. Some days I can "walk" about a mile, other days I can almost walk from the bedroom to the lavatory. I can't say why there is such variation. I know some of it is due to trying to walk that mile. The two or three days following such foolhardy efforts are "nerve recovery" days. On such days I can barely move, have very bad muscle spasms and may be forced to drag out the walker. As everyone says, every injury is different. It depends on just what is injured and how badly.

Sorry I can't match your achievements, but I congratulate you on yours.

spot, you are doing so great with such a high level injury. Do you ever go on YouTube. If not you must start. www.youtube.com Search Spinal Cord Exercise. There might be something that you can use there. Also search plyrometrics.

Goodluck for the future


Parachute

[greybeard]

Parachute, on Feb 4 2010, 10:28 AM, said:

It would have been different if I had studied something else and also if I worked somewhere else (Sports College). I am a Health-Related Fitness & Health/ Sports Studies Graduate.

If I can now pass on the knowledge that I know to other Spinal Cord Injured people, it would mean so much to me. In April I am attending the Interspinal Unit Games at Stoke Mandeville. All being well, I will learn alot more from there. At the moment I read about Spinal Cord Injuries everyday but more on exercise, than anything else.

Hi Parachute,

Everyone here rejoices in your speedy recovery and will now doubt be impressed with your enthusiasm for your exercise regime..

But, if I may offer a gentle warning, please, please, don't ever make the mistake of antagonising many members in the way that some other ardent exercisers have done in the past, by posting anything that even hints of "The reason you are not getting any better is because you are not working hard enough". Not that you would, of course.

Edited by greybeard, 04 February 2010 - 01:09 PM.

[Parachute]

greybeard, on Feb 4 2010, 01:08 PM, said:

Parachute, on Feb 4 2010, 10:28 AM, said:

It would have been different if I had studied something else and also if I worked somewhere else (Sports College). I am a Health-Related Fitness & Health/ Sports Studies Graduate.

If I can now pass on the knowledge that I know to other Spinal Cord Injured people, it would mean so much to me. In April I am attending the Interspinal Unit Games at Stoke Mandeville. All being well, I will learn alot more from there. At the moment I read about Spinal Cord Injuries everyday but more on exercise, than anything else.

Hi Parachute,

Everyone here rejoices in your speedy recovery and will now doubt be impressed with your enthusiasm for your exercise regime..

But, if I may offer a gentle warning, please, please, don't ever make the mistake of antagonising many members in the way that some other ardent exercisers have done in the past, by posting anything that even hints of "The reason you are not getting any better is because you are not working hard enough". Not that you would, of course.

Hi greybeard

I know why people are not getting better, simply because their body can't/will not send messages to up and down the spinal cord, hense the words spinal cord injury. However, exercise for a walker may be of some help. Exercise for any level injury may be of some help. Then again, exercise may be of no help whatsoever. Depend on the individuals injury, genetic build, age, level of injury, incomplete/complete and many other factors including environment.

[spot]

Tortfeasors, on Feb 4 2010, 03:40 AM, said:

spot, on Feb 3 2010, 09:42 PM, said:

more of a short distance shuffler

Ha! I love it! Can I borrow this phrase?!!

Absolutely. Enjoy it.

[McTavish]

Hi Parachute, I am genuinely happy for you, it is so good to hear some good news from others.

[Parachute]

McTavish, on Feb 5 2010, 03:09 PM, said:

Hi Parachute, I am genuinely happy for you, it is so good to hear some good news from others.

McTavish

Thank you very much.




Parachute

[poizon74]

Hey Parachute,

I saw you posted on my thread too but felt like chiming in! I just started PT today in fact so I'll be interested to see how it works. I did PT in the hospital right out of surgery and then I didn't for a while, now I'm back on it. It's hard to say if it's really helped me or not... but maybe now starting back up I'll be able to tell if my improvements come faster or not.

My biggest issue is my toes don't wanna seem to go UP, and my ankle too. But that said I don't tend to trip on my feet, my issue with walking is always more about rolling my ankles (which happens a lot and I have to catch my balance).

I haven't tried to run yet but I notice walking faster helps, when I slow down my movements aren't as fluid and my balance is worse, when I sleep up I tend to forget more about the pain and weirdness and get into a stride easier.

[Parachute]

Yesterday I completed the Leeds Half Marathon in 2 hours 47 mins 10 seconds official time. My chip time was 2 hours 41 minutes 38 seconds. I didn't train for it, I just turned. My slowest time before I was injured was 1 hour 39 minutes. It was my twelve half marathon. On Weds 2 Dec 2009, I asked my physio if i'd ever run an Half Marathon again? I was told that I may never run 800 metres again. I proved her wrong and so can the rest of us at a lot of things.


Parachute

[Tetracyclone]

wonderful.

[DebbieR]

Yea!!!!!!! You give me such encourgement....

[Cajun]

I am a C1-2 incomplete, having been injured April 16, 2010. Prior to the accident, I was a runner, backpacker, cyclist and nordic skier. My fitness was a great aid as I was on the ventilator for 4 weeks, two of those with pneumonia. Some of my symptoms suggest central cord syndrome, stronger legs than arms, but my right side is also stronger than my left. My records show ASIA C at five days post injury. I started walking with assistive devices at four weeks. By two and a half months I could walk without an assistive device. It is now almost six months and I walk a mile several times a week. The longest that I have walked is one and a half miles. My challenges now are tone and stamina. My distance to exhaustion has not been making good progress. My left quad and adductor muscles are often somewhat tight. I was on 120mg of baclofen per day, but I have been reducing the dose because I don't like some of the side effects. I am now down to 45mg per day, and the tone doesn't seem much worse. I have been searching for other tone control techniques, but I haven't been very successful. My workouts are stretching, simple yoga, weights, walking, rowing machine, exercise bike and trike. I have also been searching for others experience with tone and stamina during the first years after injury. Any comments would be appreciated.

[pinkcloud]

Yeap parachute - me. Thanks for your advice early on in time on another thread, you helped me.

I walk un-aided all around the house, I walk with a stick outside. For me own safety and its great for balance. I'm only 6 months post-op and I am doing fantastic. Its only pain that slows me down. I actually have more trouble sitting and standing still.

I was told I wasnt going to be able to walk. Me first thought? Heck that I wont.

I used to do exercise around my daily activity. Now I am changing that and doing exercise and daily activity comes around that.

Considering what I had done and the short space of time post op and that I am a girl and not an ex rugby player. I guess I am easily on par with yourself. Except of course running is not an option - yet.

Grind me teeth thorough the pain and get on with it. Until my whole legs feel completly go numb and ting-ley. And they start turning in on themselves, wont do as they are told anymore and me knee collapses on me. I walk around looking at trees and lovely things - not grey pavements and roads. It distracts me from the pain. And keeps it being fun - not a boring chore. It helps now I am using my left side again (unconcious process) as me right side wonders whats going on and feels weak. Its not. Oh and massages off my physio to help them damn spasms at bay helps too.

Better than how I felt at first - in which I thought I would rather loose me legs than all the flipping effort it took to get them working.

Next mission,,,,,,,,,,,,driving Keep on going parachute - you never know the right medical people may listen and pass on that it is possible and that your way is the way - and their way - is the highway.

GB - we all work hard - its just some spinal cord and muscles are different to others. Them that do work hard - and dont see much progress means their bodies are just different. I belive my stamina and pain threshold comes from being injured for soooooo long I got used to it. And there are days I walk around half dead too. No matter how hard I try the body just dosnt want to work. You are a superstar GB. And like I said on me thread - we are all on par to the likes of parachute - just at our own different levels of how well we acheive - even if that is just making a cup of tea for the day

[pinkcloud]

[quote name='poizon74' timestamp='1265662984' post='148840']

Hi poizon - yeah I have trouble walking heel to toe etc - its all part of the nerve damage I am told by the spinal surgeon. Of course when we dont walk properly as nature intended, the muscles ache and the spine goes out of line (surgeons advice).

I just go along with it all naturally. At least they move. Thats a start.

[Ginny]

Hey, I was interested in this thread even though the last post took place awhile ago. I'm 10 months post injury of L1 and L5. I've been walking in some fashion for the past 5 months but not unaided. Recently, I hired a personal trainer and we put together a plan to get back to basics.....focusing on strength and flexibility, with the idea that balance, gait and all that would follow.

As part of this, my neighbors kindly loaned me their treadmill and I've been using it religiously for the past two weeks. It's hard to describe what a difference it has made! I'm able to walk for 30 minutes at a time, although at a very slow pace of 1 mph. However, having the hand rails helps me keep my balance and concentrate on walking as normal a gait as is possible. I think the use of the treadmill has helped more than single thing I've done so far. I'm also using a bike trainer as often as possible.

I'm not sure how all this will go since I have some SCI deficits that may limit my ability to progress to totally free walking. However, the mindset of strengh/flexibility focus makes sense to me. I expect that with improvements along those lines, I'll gain greater confidence that will allow me to reach for greater independence.

It's good to know what methods have worked for some on this site.

[Steven K]

Hi I'm newly injured and new to this forum. I have a T12 incomplete as of May 24th from falling from a tree while chopping it up. I was looking at the roof of a two story house when I fell. Anyways I could move my right leg slightly waiting for the ambulance.

I'm getting discharged tomorrow, June 25th, a month and a day after my accident. I can use a walker to do my locomotion. The PT I received at the hospital inpatient got my left leg working enough so I can move it around, but without a ton of strength. All my flexibility is back in my right leg but my left leg can't bend like it could before without hurting a ton. I also have a weird stomach pain no one can diagnose, they told me to live with it but it hurts when I move.

Finally, I have numbness on the back side of both my legs and can't feel my smallest 3 toes. I also can't feel the skin on my butt, penis, or balls, I have to take stool softeners to doodoo and catheter to pee. I have numb spots and neuropathic pain in strips above and below my area of injury on my torso.

I gave that long intro for two reasons.
A) Hopefully this will alleviate a newly injured person in the future with a similar injury and give them hope. I was horrified laying in the hospital until the 2nd week when I was finally able to twitch my left ankle up after a day of trying to move it. No one would tell me they thought I'd be able to walk, they said time will tell, plan for the worst which scared the heck out of me.
I want to tell people about myself since this is my first post, private message me and we can Skype chat.

A week ago, June 11th, I used a walker for the first time, went 10 feet and was out of breath, this was what I think of as day one.
June 13th I used it again and did 20 feet
June 14th I went 50 feet
June 15th I walkered for 100 feet.....
June 19th I walked with the walker for a little over 200 feet.
Yesterday, June 24, a month after the injury I did 400 feet outside.
Today I am writing this on June 25th at midnight (I guess the 26th now) laying in my hospital bed about to be discharged at 9:00 am when I wake up.

I plan on walking out of the hospital in my walker and Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs). I am going to pick up two paychecks from my jobs and then I'm going to play a game of diskgolf at Bandemer Park in Ann Arbor. It is a small 9 hole course and I'm going to try to do every one of them with a walker alone. Holes average 250 feet including the walk in between holes so times that by 9 and I get a little more than 2250 feet. A mile is 5260 feet in my book so I'm looking at close to a half mile with a walker.

Walkerless walking with AFOs, I can do 1 good step with my bad leg going forward. I can almost do 2 steps, left leg then right leg.

I ain't walking yet unassisted and may always need the AFOs but I know I will walk without a walker and will be joining the original poster in running 5ks if I am lucky enough. The rate of my recovery from virtually no motion below my injury to this is awesome so I figured it was worthy to tell this story in this post. Attached is the tree I fell out of, my head was above the ridge of the house (a ridge is the highest portion).

[Shane G]

Yes, I walk unaided. I broke T9 and T10 on March 16, 1997 racing dirtbikes and was lifeflighted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, TN. From Vanderbilt I was transferred to Stallworth Rehab for a short period of time then to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Doctors told me I would never walk again and that I needed to get used to being a paraplegic.

Today I'm training to ride a bicycle across the United States in the spring of 2013 to bring awareness to people with spinal cord injuries. I'm in the process of gathering sponsors, so if anyone can help, I would appreciate it. You can read more about my bicycle ride across the United States on my website and blog: www.ShaneGoddard.com

[Parachute]

Hi Shane G

Wow, some story you have. I have just added you to my favourites on my PC. I will get in touch with you in the next week. Ashame I can not meet you.

Good luck with your challenge and the training that you are doing. It is some challenge and such a feat to travel from coast to coast. I wish you all the best of luck and will speak to you very soon.


Parachute

[Shane G]

Thank you very much! You can follow me on twitter also #shanelgoddard

Parachute, on 20 October 2011 - 08:48 PM, said:

Hi Shane G

Wow, some story you have. I have just added you to my favourites on my PC. I will get in touch with you in the next week. Ashame I can not meet you.

Good luck with your challenge and the training that you are doing. It is some challenge and such a feat to travel from coast to coast. I wish you all the best of luck and will speak to you very soon.


Parachute