37 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

Thought I'd better add a Para poll, I don't want them to feel left out!

Simon

[Avocado Baby]

Thank you!

I'd definately chose to become pain free because everything is so much worse and more difficult to cope with when you're in pain!

[FROG]

I most want sensation. I miss that more than not walking and the pain I can live with.

[lune14]

Easy... bladder/bowel! No question for me.

I am very fortunate not to have pain issues and although there are things I miss doing being ambulatory, the bladder/bowel are always dictating my schedule more than anything else. Sigh

[Joed]

Well, since I inadvertently replied to the quad poll *blush*, I thought I'd go ahead and cast my vote here too.

I'd choose to be pain-free, because it's currently the main thing that keeps me from doing what I want. I'd even be happy with having 'predictable pain' so I could better work my schedule around it.

[xMaddiex]

jason said he'd prefer to have bowel and bladder back as thats the most complicated and annoying thing to deal with as a para.

[Lucky]

I think if we really had the chance (even me) it'd be to walk properly & unaided again....

Edited by Lucky, 27 December 2006 - 09:24 AM.

[Apparelyzed]

Quote

Seeing I'm lucky enough to have my pins (legs), I'd like a proper good old wa#*.

And before anyone asks, No, I'm not adding that to the Poll!

Simon

[mttb14]

Hi,

If I was answering for John in a selfish capacity I would say sensation, so we could have our sex life back, but as that is only a small part of any day, I knew he would pick pain free as he is in chronic pain 24/7.

I asked him and his vote has been cast, and as I already knew he would chose pain free and he did.

Maria


PS can we have a pole on our opinions of how people are treated by doctors, or hospitals.

[gsp23]

Just saw this older poll and decided to revive it.

Without question... bowels. I was just telling my boyfriend yesterday how I have been able to adapt pretty well to everything else but the bowels are the thing that I just am struggeling to deal with.

[Tarkus]

gsp23, on Dec 19 2006, 02:02 PM, said:

Just saw this older poll and decided to revive it.

Without question... bowels. I was just telling my boyfriend yesterday how I have been able to adapt pretty well to everything else but the bowels are the thing that I just am struggeling to deal with.

I'm with you !!

All I want is to take a good dump when I need to and not pee my pants when out in public !!!


Alan

[sweetie]

I have to say legs I would love to be able to stand again, I am lucky in the fact I do not get any pain.
I do have slight feeling where it matters, or its in my mind and would not mind carrying on doing my own bowels just for a few steps.

[mulepower]

Sensation in my private area. I suppose that would go hand in hand with bowel and bladder functions.

When i have told others those functions are gone,they had no idea. It seems most AB people don't know.

[BillS]

I chose legs. I assume that means fully funtional walking, running, climbing etc.

Bladder function for me is fine with a suprapubic tube and a leg bag. Bowel functions are handled very well with a supository and manual stimulation every other day. I have some pain but not a whole lot really. Getting feeling back without movement would almost be a curse in some ways because you'd feel all of the aches and pains without too much reward and sex is nice but feeling your penis isn't everything.

On the other hand being able to walk in the woods, on the beach, climb in the mountains, get up and run, not have to worry about using a wheeldchair, not having to worry about the snow, walking up steps into someone house and all of the other things that happen when you can wal;k would be great.

[icarus_melt76]

sry....(not a para)

Edited by icarus_melt76, 20 December 2006 - 03:35 AM.

[Survivor35]

There are tons of ambulatory things that I miss doing, and sensations are always great to have, and I miss them as well, on many different levels, as I am a complete para, but I'd have to say the whole bowel and bladder thing is the hardest. Everyone has told me that being less than a year in, it will get easier to deal with, routines will become pat and what have you, but...

I mean, its hard to think of dating and introducing those issues in life.... and then when you make it around to spending the evening together, while not having the sensation would be disappointing, and upsetting no doubt, I'd really not have to worry about peeing all over him on top of it, or lord forbid, having a bowel hiccup... How humilating would that be???

Of course, I'm still getting used to all of it, but still. That would have to be my vote.

[RacingAxe]

I'd choose walking without a doubt! I am lucky like some of the others in that my pains are minimal so that allows me to more easily choose. I'd like to be able to lift things, stand, sit down, and easily move around. I can deal with the loss of sensation and the extra work invlovled with my bowel/bladder management better than not being able to do many of the things I love to do like fixing things, riding a bicycle with my boys, going to friends houses and walking in, moving around in bed (easily)...I better stop with this or I might get depressed.

[rkzenrage]

Pain free.

[Texaswheelz]

hmmm over the years I've leaned one way or another on this, some times is sensation(normally during sex), sometimes it's bladder & bowel function(normally after a accident) and sometimes it's painfree(of course when i feel as if i'm dieing and nothing helps) but after alot of thought, i don't think there is anything I would like more then to walk across a grassy field barefoot and then set on the edge of a pond and dangle my feet into the water. So i voted for the legs.

[WheelsWithAttitude]

Texaswheelz, on Dec 26 2006, 07:01 PM, said:

hmmm over the years I've leaned one way or another on this, some times is sensation(normally during sex), sometimes it's bladder & bowel function(normally after a accident) and sometimes it's painfree(of course when i feel as if i'm dieing and nothing helps) but after alot of thought, i don't think there is anything I would like more then to walk across a grassy field barefoot and then set on the edge of a pond and dangle my feet into the water. So i voted for the legs.

Fortunately, I have no pain issues. No sensations at all beneath the injury.
Don't know if that is a blessing or curse.

Anyway, I voted for bladder and bowels, because this is my biggest issue even though I can manage ok with that, most times.

Second would be sensation. Still weird to not be able to tell whats going on unless I look at it and touching the paralyzed areas still feels weird to my hands (and my head) , sometimes more than other days.

To be able to stand or walk, I miss that too.
I have a lot of days, where in my mind, I wanna jump up and run somewhere full speed.
It is the weirdest feeling, like a inner restlessness. I feel it gets better when I throw a few baskets or some other activities.
Must be that urge to move and burn energy or something, that I have to compensate for.

[Texaswheelz]

WheelsWithAttitude, on Dec 27 2006, 02:01 AM, said:

To be able to stand or walk, I miss that too.
I have a lot of days, where in my mind, I wanna jump up and run somewhere full speed.
It is the weirdest feeling, like a inner restlessness. I feel it gets better when I throw a few baskets or some other activities.
Must be that urge to move and burn energy or something, that I have to compensate for.

Yeah i still get that regurarly. Normally at night when I haven't done anything all day long. I have tons of energy and while i can go make my arms numb rolling around the park outside, it doesn't get rid of the energy i need to burn.

[Shiraz]

I definitely vote for Pain-Free, when you find me standing in the house and I later relate to you that I am a paraplegic you will be shocked. Most of those things you guys wish look to be everything, but I guess to every one of us there is something that we visualize everyday that, should that be okay, life will be good as heaven is.

I still perform my bowel and bladder program and believe me; I can leave with those any day, and look I still feel like having sex normally like before, yes its not the same, but I get normal erection, which I will trade any time to be pain-free.

[Gabriella17]

BillS, on Dec 20 2006, 12:38 AM, said:

I chose legs. I assume that means fully funtional walking, running, climbing etc.

Bladder function for me is fine with a suprapubic tube and a leg bag. Bowel functions are handled very well with a supository and manual stimulation every other day. I have some pain but not a whole lot really. Getting feeling back without movement would almost be a curse in some ways because you'd feel all of the aches and pains without too much reward and sex is nice but feeling your penis isn't everything.

On the other hand being able to walk in the woods, on the beach, climb in the mountains, get up and run, not have to worry about using a wheeldchair, not having to worry about the snow, walking up steps into someone house and all of the other things that happen when you can wal;k would be great.

I agree completely with that. I don't get a lot of pain and I can handle my bowel and bladder movements pretty good. I just really really wanna be able to dance at my prom this year. And as for sex, well I have no opinion on that one just yet and I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing...

So yea, I vote legs.

[keeptrukin]

I think sensation would be the best for me to get back. I'm a sexaholic and without feeling, well i'm only half the person I used to be. I can get past not walking and well bowel and bladder issues stink, I have mine under control. Not being able to function in bed is the worst for me.
KT

[TimRS]

If this one's still running. Pain is my major issue. I t colours my mood and affects everything I do. It affects how much discomfort I have while sorting out my bowels. Sitting on the toilet for more than a few minutes and I feel like someone's set fire to my back and legs. Sliding forwards in the chair to self catherterize and my back hurts. Sex (with Viagra) is paid for by a whole night of stabbing pain in my legs. If I've got to deal with all this stuff, at least let me start in neutral, not hammered and wincing before I even begin to turn my mind to anything else. Oh, and it hurts if I stand in callipers. And it hurts even more if I don't.

[Somebody]

BillS, on Dec 19 2006, 08:38 PM, said:

I chose legs. I assume that means fully funtional walking, running, climbing etc.

Bladder function for me is fine with a suprapubic tube and a leg bag. Bowel functions are handled very well with a supository and manual stimulation every other day. I have some pain but not a whole lot really. Getting feeling back without movement would almost be a curse in some ways because you'd feel all of the aches and pains without too much reward and sex is nice but feeling your penis isn't everything.

On the other hand being able to walk in the woods, on the beach, climb in the mountains, get up and run, not have to worry about using a wheeldchair, not having to worry about the snow, walking up steps into someone house and all of the other things that happen when you can wal;k would be great.

I'm with you & the others that said walking.
I could walk to the bathroom and take care of elimination.
But to go, go where I wanted any day or night.
To sling my legs off the bed & get up at day break,
without waiting on someone to get me up.
I was a runner & miss running so bad.
I miss exercising. I loved the feeling of stretching my muscles.

Someday

[angel888]

I chose bowel and bladder.. I have pains at my back but I know when it stops and how it is stopped. I really want to walk but am already contented with it. My biggest problem is my bowel and bladder.. I always have leaks. I am also not fully independent with my BM

[wheels5894]

I'm going for legs. Bowels are very much affected by movement , for example walking. I think bowels that fail to work wel now might be much better after a good walk. Bladders are more of a problem but there are plenty of ways or catching the leaks.

I'm not sure I won't change my mind a couple of weeks after trying legs. Perhaps we could have a 1 month free trial before deciding!

[edlee]

I guess I take the choices more literaly than some. Because walking and sensation are separate choices, one would think that by taking one you wouldn't have any of the other.

Sensation would be great , but you can feel it but not shake it. Walking would also be nice, but not if I couldn't feel where my legs were or what they were doing, and leaving a trail of feces where ever I walked doesn't sound like a ball either.

Bowel control and lack of pain are a toss up, depending on how much pain is your average. For me, right now, my pain isn't constantly high, so I have to go with the bowel and bladder control.

As was said above, things change and, my choice might change tomorrow. Personally, I'ld like one from each column.
ed

[nomis]

I want all or nothing.
If you give me working legs to walk but no sensation I’m not going to be happy damaging joints, toppling because I can’t feel the ground.
Give me sensation but no mobility and you’ve got one very frustrated cripple who’s obsessed with catching up on years of missed sex but constantly in pain from unused limbs and never comfortable.
If I can't have it all, give me no-fuss, complete para without complications. Oh, I’ve already got that.

Edited by nomis, 04 September 2007 - 12:00 AM.