[poizon74]

Hello,

This is the second forum like this I now joined. In general I just wanted to share my story and get some support. I am a 27 yr old male and in Nov 09 I fell about 3 stories from a roof while working and suffered a burst fracture of my L-1. There was bruising to my cord but it was incomplete and I'm told at a slightly lower spot than the L-1.

When I first hit the ground I couldn't feel below my waist at all, but I noticed I could move my legs. In the ambulance ride to the hospital feeling started to come back but it was intense pain (like lightning bolts shooting down each of my legs back and forth!). They rushed me into surgery and preformed a fusion from my T-12 to L-2 with some metal rods. When I woke up from surgery my legs felt much better, but still I had ton's of pain in my feet (especially to the touch!).

They got me up and walking with a walker the day after surgery and I learned that I still had a lot of strength in my legs, just not my feet and ankles. I was on a walker for about a week, then crutches, then one crutch, and I left the hospital rehab with a cane. After about a month (about a month ago now) I ditched the cane after I realized I could walk decently without it. At first walking was awkward, I would lose my balance often and it was very painful on my feet. As I walked more and more though (and I started classes - which pushed me a bit) my strength and balance got better. Now my balance is pretty decent, my ankles are stronger and I can walk up on them (a test I couldn't do back in rehab). Because there were some issues with my WC case I'm only just now starting PT, but I'm hoping it helps. I've tried to remain positive throughout the whole thing, there is no reason not to. I have been told different things from doctors, that I may have a full recovery and that I may not.

Mainly I'm coping with the pain and sensations in my feet, still very weak toe movement (especially on my right foot), and general fatigue (I can only walk or stand for about 20 mins before I get tired). I don't have many of the b&b problems typical of an L-1 (I guess because my bruising was lower). Still my butt feels weird to the touch (penis too without going into detail), but I have control.

I know I'm only 3 months out and I know every case is so different but I'm wondering how much I can expect to keep improving. From what I've read it sounds like most improvement is within the first year. They originally told me 6 months to a year until the pain would get better, but only 3 months in it is absolutely gotten better. I do still get pain but it comes and goes. After surgery I couldn't move my right toes at all, now I can (as I've said). So these things keep me optimistic but I have a feeling no matter how much better things get they won't ever quite be the same.

Another question is about my back in general. Sometimes I get pain in my lower and upper back, but that's rare. Usually there's just this persistent tight awkward feeling in my back. It's not painful but annoying. They told me that would eventually go away, but 3 months in and i still feel it a lot. I'm wondering if from this kind of fusion after some period of time will it feel at all normal again?

I'm still in my Jewett brace for just another week. It is really annoying to me and even painful after sitting in it for a while, so by recommendation by my personal doctor (and against my surgeon's instructions) I take it off from time to time (maybe off about 1/4 of the time I'm up). I can notice the strange feeling in my back more without it, but it is also much more comfortable without it and (perhaps this is just psychological) I feel like I can actually walk better without it.

So really just some basic questions for people with a similar injury: Will the weird feeling in my back subside? about how long? What can I expect in terms of leg/feet/ankle strength return? again, how long? also, once I'm able to start exercise again what's off limits? I used to love pull-ups, will I be able to try them again?

My main goal has always been to run again (I used to love to run), but right now driving would be good too. for this kind of injury how long until I can try these things about?

Thanks a ton in advance and I look forward to visiting this forum often!

Take care everyone!

[Trinity]

Hey Poizon and welcome!

Congratulations on your recovery so far, you certainly seem to have the right attitude and the drive to achieve your goals.

SCI is full of uncertainties and no 2 injuries are the same.

Try everything, nothing is off limits, most things are doable, just sometimes some adaption may be needed

Good Luck!

[Tetracyclone]

Poizon,

Weird feelings. Mine never went away ( am 20 months out) but after about 9 months they seemed more familiar and less like "How did I get in this weird body????"

"I have a feeling no matter how much better things get they won't ever quite be the same."
That is a safe bet. Best of luck, but you are already ne of the luckier ones.

[greybeard]

Hi Mate. Welcome to the club. You will find plenty of information here. If you haven't already found it, there is a search button, top right of the screen to help you look stuff up for yourself.
Hope you continue to make progress.

[CrazyLucky]

Welcome and good luck. I've learned that my experience with an incomplete has been a mixed bag each day as far as symptoms are concerned. The inconsistency tends to be what is consistent. Keep working as hard as you can on the physical therapy. Mine continued to improve until a bit more than a year out. I was a runner as well. I can't run well anymore because my foot catches and then gravity takes. That said, I would try getting on a stationary bike or a road bike on a trainer if you can't walk/run at this point. The motion keeps those ankle, foot, and lower leg muscles interested in participating. And the muscle tone helps with balance. I'm not sure if you've had a lot of fatigue post-injury, but don't be surprised if cardio is a bit of a slow go at first. It will come back. 2.5 years out I actually ride a lot now and it's been helpful in keeping my leg strength. It's a great physical activity that doesn't seem to feel as awkward as those things I do when my feet are planted on the ground. Feel free to shoot me a message and I'd be happy to lend advice along the way.

[Parachute]

poizon74


Wow, this really is great news. There is no factual answers to the questions that you are asking but I can tell you this. If you keep training your limbs to what ever activity you wish to participate in, that/those limbs will begin to adapt.

You say that you want to do pull ups. Try doing weight training. You may have to use one or two plates on a fixed weight machine. The exercises that you need to practice are up to you. If you are not strong enough to do weights, keep trying until you are able. Sounds to me like there may be a good chance of running. CrazyLucky came up with some good ideas. To get better at anything you must practice it. Walking will get better the more you walk. Practice squats in fact practice what ever you think of. There will be things that you can't do YET, so adapt the activity.

I will get back to you in a day or two, with some more ideas from the web. But until then, keep up the great work. Oh, one more thing. Get yourself a diary and write an account of your activities. See the results by the end of February.



Parachute

[T11WALKER]

Poizon 74,

We have similiar injuries, mine was a burst fracture at T-11. I fell 22' off a ladder. My back is fused, screws & rods from T10 to L1 ? Most of my pain at first was from the donor area. Give it time and the body will heal very slowly. You need to bust your ass working out etc. It took me about 9 months to get off the pain meds. It will be 2 years this June since my fall. I'm sure your thankfull your alive and walking.
Steve

[poizon74]

Thanks everyone for all the awesome support! I'm certainly glad I joined this forum!

I'm still on spine precaution from my surgeon (though that ends when I meet with his this Wednesday), so right now I'm still not supposed to try any exercises involving my back. I'm anxious to try though (hence why I posted the question), I'm sort of just wondering once I'm off of my precaution what type of exercises I'll be able to try and if anyone specifically knew if pull ups were ok. My thought is that I probably lost quite a bit of muscle (I know I lost weight) so it might be hard starting back up but I'd love to continue my pre-injury running/pull-ups work out routine.

Just had my first physical therapy today, it went well. We tried a few exercises and stretches and all with no pain so I feel pretty positive today! I just can't wait to get this jewett brace off... it is so uncomfortable especially when sitting....

I'll continue to check back and let everyone know how I'm doing and try to follow along with other people I meet. This is really a great place for support, we are not alone!

take care everyone

[Parachute]

Hi Poizon74

Only time will tell as to if you will be able to do pull ups again. Can't see why not tough. I would have thought that the more you practice the better you will get. However, don't start to try and do pull ups until your medical team advise you to. Before you try to do the pull ups, try Lateral Pulldowns on a fixed weight machine. This exercise not only works the back muscles but also the biceps muscles and the muscles of the forearms, improving the strength of your grip. It is a good exercise for beginners because it allows them to build up strength before progressing to body-weight pull-ups and chin-ups.

I highly recommend a book called 'The Wharton's Back Book' by Jim & Phil Wharton, with Bev Browning. It is a book that I have had since before I was injured and also a book that I asked to be given to me while I was in hospital. As for walking, try to walk as far as you can. If you can walk quiet well, make sure that you walk at least a mile a day.

If you lived not too far, I would have met you, if you were up for it. Not to worry. I am thinking about video recording some exercises that I do, which may be of help to you and others.

[poizon74]

So I just got back from my 3 month followup with my surgeon. He sounded pretty positive. Said I could certainly try pull ups and running as well as driving but just to take it slow. Also (much to my surprise) he said I won't have any restrictions on bending/lifting/twisting, I asked if there was a weight limit I should not try to lift and he said no. As long as I lift things correctly (using arms and legs NOT back) that I don't have a limit, but again to take it slow for a while still. The great news is that I can start to come out of my brace a few hours a day and more and more for the next 5 weeks! That alone feels awesome (I hate my jewett brace, so uncomfortable)!

Still I cannot lift my big toe on my right foot much at all. The left is weak but there, the right is basically nothing. Ankles have gotten a bit stronger but still not full strength, and still rather weak on lifting. I can stand up and even walk on the balls of my feet but I can't stand on my heels really. It's only been 3 months so that may get better (and hopefully with physical therapy), but I may have to live with "dropfoot" (I think it's called).

Anywho, just wanna say again how awesome this forum is and how great it feels to connect with others and share stories etc, hanging out with people in my daily life sometimes I feel detached from them because of my injury, it feels great to connect with people about this!

And to anyone with a similar injury or very early in their injury trust me when I say give it time. In the first month after my injury I thought my life was over, it's certainly changed forever but as the weeks roll by I feel better not just physically but mentally too! I would just say hang in there, keep as positive as you can, and most of all be patient.