7 replies to this topic

[Beautiful]

Can someone 16 years post injury use FES? Or maybe that isn't the question to ask... maybe I should ask if someone like me can use an FES machine and see positive results?

I'm an L2 complete and have no function from the hips down. Whenever my old physical therapist would do yearly testing on me to see if I had gained anything back, nothing showed up. Even when I had back surgeries they'd see if my feet could receive a signal and send it back up to my brain. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Then in 2009 I had another back surgery. This time they were majorly shocked to see that my feet did indeed send the signal back to my brain. That was almost 3 years ago. Since then I've been able to pinpoint pressure on my legs, pain in my feet, and even more recently, I've been able to flex my thighs.

I know an FES machine isn't like a cure or anything, and people use it mostly for spasms and to help slow atrophy of the muscles. But today when I went to see a new physical therapist, she said there may be no point, the only possible thing that it could help is maybe help maintain bone strength, and that's with using it for hours at a time, several times a week. I told her I wanted to try to at least see if my muscles would contract.

It was just an initial visit, and I haven't explained all the other things to her yet. I did let her know FES was the MAIN reason I went to see her, so she said that she is going to talk to some specialists and try to dig around for more info to help me. I would love to be able to work on those muscles and be able to use a standing frame. I know this dream is far fetched and could be a complete waste of time and may not even work for someone like me, but I don't want to give up so easily.

I guess I'm just asking if you know of any resources that mention using FES machines years later after their injury, or if you've had experience with it, or anything else that is helpful...

Thanks everyone

[greybeard]

Work on your new PT. Let her know about the EMG responses and persuade her to let you try it. What have you got to lose? Go for it.

[pjcstoke]

Suggest emailing Andy at info@standingstart.org - he can give you an impartial viewpoint and some suggestions

[Vanessamaee]

I use fes 2 days a week, an hour each time. The machine I use only allows me to go for 60 minutes before ending the session and forcing you into cool down because since (most) people that use the fes cant tell how fatigued their legs are getting, it just stops you at one hour. FES has many benefits and then some not so great. It TEMPORARILY helps with spasms, however this relief only lasts a couple of hours then your spasms are back, and then the next day your spasms may (and with time they will) be worse, since you are working your leg muscles, one reason why mine are so bad. FES is good for blood circulation, cardio workout and to help slow muscle atrophy (however not prevent, and not at all in your calves because they are not recieving stimulation)my legs still have atrophied, but not drastically.
If you have any question Id be more than happy to answer, Ive been riding for about 4 months now (almost 5). and just as a warning, if you have sensation in your quads/butt/hamstrings, fes may be "painful", due to the strength of stim it produces, I know a quad that is hyper sensitive and can not use the fes bikedue to the pain it causes.

[Beautiful]

I'm not worried about spasms because I don't get them, lol. and I've had the shocks done to me before and turned on some of the highest settings, so I'm totally ready for it. A bit masochistic, but I welcome the pain, haha. I'm basically in the mind set of "push me as far as I can go without causing severe harm." I'm definitely ready for some PT again. I had it going for 10 years, then stopped once I "graduated". I miss it so much! I'm sure in a few weeks that may change... hahaha.

Thanks for the support, everyone

[goose]

Go for it! Only you know your body. With your positive attitude and determination, you're already ahead of the game. Mental attitude plays a hugh roll in your results. If you do get to try it, try to mentally work your muscles as well. GOOD LUCK!!!!

[Beautiful]

My therapist had a meeting today with all the other therapists. She told me that she doesn't feel comfortable trying it because those special muscles nerves are probably dead, and that they say they die a year after your injury if you don't stimulate them. That's why newer injury patients are able to use FES... she said there's a chance of being burned or having skin breakdown, and even if I went somewhere else and begged them to do it, its highly unlikely it'd work...

[brockit79]

Beautiful, on 09 December 2011 - 11:28 PM, said:

My therapist had a meeting today with all the other therapists. She told me that she doesn't feel comfortable trying it because those special muscles nerves are probably dead, and that they say they die a year after your injury if you don't stimulate them. That's why newer injury patients are able to use FES... she said there's a chance of being burned or having skin breakdown, and even if I went somewhere else and begged them to do it, its highly unlikely it'd work...

hey Beautiful

I would just like to ask you a few things regarding the motor point test you had done a while back; how long ago did you do it? I have a mentor who uses FES a lot and he said that even if you get a flicker of movement in response to the ES then you can build things up.

I think he said that one of the big universities in US had done research before.

If you are interested I can do some digging with him on your behalf. PM me if you want me to.
Broc