[WonderDerek]

Ok, I know the difference between them but what determines complete or incomplete and how do doctors know? I was classified as a complete T10 para but now have T12 movement. They said I would not get anything back, my spinal cord was to severely damaged but have gotten all movement in my torso back. Does this mean that I am incomplete? I can SOMETIMES move a two or three and can make my muscles spasm SOMETIMES and I was told I am complete . I'm so confused, also I woke up with no feeling from the bellybutton down and now can sometimes feel light touch sensitivity on my legs and the cathaters sometimes burn as well as the suppositories. Is it possible I could be incomplete with these symptoms? And if I am incomplete, what comes back? I'm waiting all the time for something new, should I be?

[benok]

Quote

I'm waiting all the time for something new, should I be?

Time will tell, keep on hoping for the best inasmuch as you were diagnosed complete but there are enervations in some areas much lower (T12) is a positive sign. I was diagnosed incomplete and can walk around now with loftstrand crutches. It has been four long years. Still working on strengthening my muscles because I tire easily. Hope for your continued recovery

[knightrider]

Derek Im the same iM T6 complete and have the same feelings as you and can feel when my legs are tight and need to move when sitting in one spot for awhile, need the loo etc. And can actually move some of my stomach muscles which if i was complete how can that be possibe. Im abit confused too.

[WonderDerek]

Thanks, guys.

Knightrider, doctors are confusing but prove em wrong ... When I try to move my toe(right foot) really hard and concentrate on it, it moves in a spasm like sense. But it ONLY does it when I try to move my toe(s). I also can sometimes get a certain muscle on my foot to start spasming when I try but it is SO exhausting. It's like trying to push a ton with your big toe .

Another thing I forgot, how is y'all balance? Since I was a T10 my balance was HORRIBLE! I had to hold myself up with my arms and now I can balance myself MUCH better as now I have T12 movement. The only thing is, my balance still isn't great because I went 2+ months without using my lower torso muscles so they shrank to about nothing and now they are rebuilding slowly. Will I eventually get my balance close to what it used to be?

And you guys think I'm complete or incomplete??

And good luck to you all I'll keep y'all in my prayers.

[Chilepepper]

HI knightrider

If you can move your ABS I suggest that you start doing some sit-ups. This will help in your balance. When you do stretching, for example when you put a tower or a band under your foot so that you can raise your leg and stretch the hamstrings. Once your in that position, bring your leg down to about the 10 o’clock position and try and squeeze your abs so that you can lift your shoulders off the ground, well at the same time try and suck your belly button into your spine and hold it there for a few seconds. Repeat this until your gut burns a bit.

Another good ABS exercise is to grab a kitchen table chair or what ever chair. Now lay down and put your legs over the seat. Once this is done, try lifting your butt up and squeeze in your gut and hold for a few seconds. You will not be able to lift your butt off the ground or maybe you can. Anyway now try to squeeze your gut into your belly button, while at the same time squeeze your butt cheeks together and lift your hips up as far as you can lift and hold for a few seconds. If you put your hands onto your butt cheeks, you will be able to feel that you are in fact working the butt.... I know it sounds crazy, but you are actually exercising your glubs.

You can also work obleks this ways for there are a number of exercises you can do while your legs are over the chair seat. These exercises will strengthen your CORE muscles, which will in time help in your balance. Do these sit-ups every other day. Try mixing up these different types of sit-ups, because muscles have memory in that if you keep doing the same sit-ups, in the same order, your muscles will get used to it and you will not get any results, plus you are wasting your time. The whole idea is to tire the ABS. To take it even further, use a five pound weight and hold it over behind your head with both hands on the weight and try lifting your shoulder off the ground, and be sure to try and keep your neck straight, because you do not want to strain your neck like I've done a few times in the past..... Anyway it will feel like you are not lifting your shoulders off the ground and maybe your not, the idea is to add more pressure to the ABS, and that is what you are aiming for(your looking for resistance).

Here is a link to some different types of sit-up exercises. Another good ABS exercise is called the Plunk and this is how it works: For even more types of sit-up surf the net for there tons of different one that you or any body else that is in a chair and wants improve your CORE muscles.

Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor. Push off the floor, raising hips and resting on the elbows. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to hips. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for 3-5 reps. Here is a picture of a guy doing it but he is able body, so of course you will not be able to it that way. Just keep your hips off the ground. That is a really good gut burner.

reps. http://exercise.abou...blsampleabs.htmOf course you will not be able to do must of them for you are not an able body person. Just try to use some of them that you think you can do. Just try and do them when you are stretching so that you can incorporate them into the stretching. Makes life easier that way. I hope that helps for anybody who wants to strength their CORE muscles.
Myself I'm T9 incomplete and this has helped my balance quite a bit. I have now a four pack, because you can now see well defined ABS to the end of mine ribs. Of course below that is where there is not much muscle strength or tone, but when I do my sit-up I can feel all the ABS muscles to my groin. This has also helped in losing weight to the midsection. I've been doing them now for quite a long time. They are part of my lower body stretching routine.

Now I never have an exercise as to not wanting to do them.

[knightrider]

Thanks Chillipepper for the very useful tips I have been doing the 'Plank' exercise which does help and one of the best for the core muscles. I have recently got an ab roller from my brother who works in the fitness industry and been trying that out which is quite hard at the moment because the muscles are weak,but after time it should improve. The plank is also good for the lower back muscles too which will help with the balance.
I have a standing frame so when im in it i pull in my stomach muscles in and try and stand still for as long as possible not holding on which is good for the stomach and back. If you have one try it, you can feel the burn after a while. Anyway thanks for your tips i'll try them out and see how they go.

[WonderDerek]

An excersize I was taught in the hospital(no name) was to do a push up laying on my stomach. I can not do a normal push-up, however, I can do one keeping my hips on the ground and now I do it and raise my whole pelvis off of the ground by using my ab and lower back muscles to hold the pelvis in the air. I can not do this for long as you might guess. I am hoping that this will aid in more muscles coming back, lower than the waist. Good luck guys!

[Chilepepper]

Another good one is when you’re lifting yourself off the chair to relieve pressure on your butt, to raise your pelvic forward and suck in your gut and hold for as long as you can. I don't have a standing machine, though I wish I did Anyway when I've finished my stretching and am still on floor I'll crawl up to the bed and get my self up so that I’m kneeling at the side of the bed, with both hands on the bed so to keep my balance. I thin push my hips forward as far as I can push. Do the motion that you’re doing it doggy style with your mate. Just do little strokes. Then when your hips are pushed forward towards the bed try and squeeze your gut in and of course hold for a few seconds or so. This is great for stretching the hips, but also great for the ABS.

I checked that AB roller. I agree that looks to be hard. I think for me that would be difficult, as level of injury a little to high for that machine. I remember as a kid my mom had this gadget that was comprised of a small wheel and handles coming out of both sides. She would roll forward then backwards. Though I'm sure I would not be able roll myself back I would be able to roll out. I must look into this since this conversation is bring back memories

[Avocado Baby]

Hi...

I'm new to this. Can you please explain the complete/incomplete thing? Thanks!

[In The Wind]

If you have feeling/movement below your level of injury you are incomplete.

[Avocado Baby]

oh OK. Thanks. This is a guess but about T6 complete

[Joed]

I read an article awhile back about this topic. Apparently, even the medical world is confused about the distinctions between complete and incomplete paraplegia. A symposium was held to discuss this issue with the hopes to define the terms universally, as there are a lot of gray areas in the current definitions.

I've been told that I'm incomplete by one doctor, and complete by another, so I guess it depends on who you're asking too!

[Apparelyzed]

Well,

I have a spinal cord injury which is called Anterior Cord Syndrome.

That means that I am motor complete, no movement below C5/6, but I'm sensory incomplete, which means I can feel touch all over my body.

I cannot feel temperature, light pain, and joint position can be patchy.

For all it's worth, functionally, I'm complete, but I can feel if I'm sitting on a crease, it's just that I can't do much about it!

There's a bit more on complete/incomplete injuries here: http://www.apparelyz.../paralysis.html

Regards

Simon.

[In The Wind]

I also have anterior cord syndrome and it is just as you describe, but it's still just a location of injury, and our chances for recovery later are greater...

This post has been edited by In The Wind: 29 May 2006 - 01:51 PM

[Avocado Baby]

I can feel something when my lower body goes into spasm. It's more like pressure than an actual sensation though. Also, if I tickle my leg, I can feel something extremely faint that I know is coming from my lower body, although it's nothing I can describe or compare to any feeling I've experienced where I have full sensation.

People often ask me what I can feel in my legs and if it's like pins and needles...no!