8 replies to this topic

[mala55]

I know I am probably grasping at straws here and am in a bit of denial, but I am wondering if anyone knows anyone who regained any sensation or function after becoming paralyzed? My Mom who is 79 is paralyzed from the waist down (T12) after a spinal infection. She is very, very dependent. Due to her age she is fairly frail and her upper body strength is never going to be enough for her to have any independence as a parapelgic. Any function regained that would allow her to assist in transfers or with bladder/bowel care would make caring for her at home possible.

Her paralysis occurred about 4-5 weeks ago. The infection was removed via surgery and antibiotics. The surgery included a spinal decompression at T12. The surgeon told me that he is not hopeful that she will regain function due to the time that has elapsed since the decompression surgery. He assumes that the infection which caused the spinal cord compression may have done too much damage to the nerve cells.

I know that her regaining any function is unlikely, but I am curious if it has ever happened and how much function was regained.

Thanks,
Maureen

[nomis]

Hi mala55
That's tough on your mother and the family.
Sure some people recover but that's when it is first thought there is damage and it turns out there's no damage, only spinal shock which caused temporary paralysis.
You sound like a rational person and you've been listening to the doctor and, serious as the situation is, I think you understand it.
With such an injury to you mother's spine, the doctors can only make an educated likelihood of the outcome. Like you, they will be waiting for confirmation of the prognosis. Sometimes they get it wrong. Sometimes some functions are regained and not others.
At this stage, it's a hard waiting game.

She's going to need her confidence built up. When it comes to getting a wheelchair make sure she gets a good, appropriate one. We demand good ones because we need them to make life work. So will she.

[mala55]

Thank you for your responses. My Mom has been equipped with a good wheelchair. Unfortunatley, my Mom is elderly so learning to do more than sit in it is unlikely to happen. I had planned on getting a lift for transfers, however its the bladder and bowel managment that has me very concerned. If she could just get herself on a commode, it would make caring for her at home vs. a nursing home possible. Right now she has no sensation of having to go to the bathroom. Accidents are at a once daily event.

Thanks.

[Alin Steglinski]

mala55, on Sep 11 2007, 08:54 PM, said:

Thank you for your responses. My Mom has been equipped with a good wheelchair. Unfortunatley, my Mom is elderly so learning to do more than sit in it is unlikely to happen. I had planned on getting a lift for transfers, however its the bladder and bowel managment that has me very concerned. If she could just get herself on a commode, it would make caring for her at home vs. a nursing home possible. Right now she has no sensation of having to go to the bathroom. Accidents are at a once daily event.

Thanks.

if they are urinary accidents you may want to look into an indwelling catheter...

if they are fecal then i dont know what to say... the only thing that i could possibly think of would be a colostomy and that should only be done last resort since colostomy's get infected VERY easy and most likely the infection for your mother would be fatal.

the indwelling catheter's are VERY safe and may only cause a minor urinary tract infection if not cared for and sterilized correctly, though never fatal... the colostomies on the other hand are much more dangerous since you ARE dealing with feces.

therefore my final verdict is

look into an indwelling catheter

Edited by Alin Steglinski, 12 September 2007 - 02:01 AM.

[T-Crip]

I really don't know how appropriate my commenting is given that my injury and age are different but... I did not have the sensation of feeling like I had to go for about 2 months I think. I still can not fully urinate on my own...it's been almost a year but I CAN feel when I have to go. Ya know medications for pain can numb her sensation of feeling when she has to go also can zap even the youngest of injured patients of strength. My injury was L-1 which is also a little lower. AND no two patients are alike so maybe that can give ya a little hope?

[Alin Steglinski]

T-Crip, on Sep 12 2007, 02:43 PM, said:

I really don't know how appropriate my commenting is given that my injury and age are different but... I did not have the sensation of feeling like I had to go for about 2 months I think. I still can not fully urinate on my own...it's been almost a year but I CAN feel when I have to go. Ya know medications for pain can numb her sensation of feeling when she has to go also can zap even the youngest of injured patients of strength. My injury was L-1 which is also a little lower. AND no two patients are alike so maybe that can give ya a little hope?

its true... spinal cords are NOT created equal lol...

and YES i know someone who regained some function... in fact he is right here on this forum, well his caregiver for now... but he will come online later on
http://www.apparelyz...amp;#entry40476

Edited by Alin Steglinski, 14 September 2007 - 12:18 PM.

[luckymom]

Neurologists are the most vague humans on the earth, but we have a great group. If any function is going to return it normally but not always returns in the first 6 to 9 months. Matt was lucky after his injury he could not lift his head or move either arm. He now has almost full function in one arm and hand and partial use of the other. Nothing is impossible but every one is different. Our prayers are with you

[ish]

hi there. i'm new to this site. YES. people can get back some functions. i'm living proof of that. i injured my spinal cord around the C4,C5 region. i was totally paralysed from my neck down. i remember the day i awoke from my semi comatosed state, only to find that i can't reach out for the glass of water that was right besides me. OH my GOD!!!! the fear that shot up thru me was........ but thats another story.... my ''doctor'' told my wife & i after one month in hospital that i will never regain any mobility in my arms or legs ever again. that was devestating news to us especially to me. but over 6 months my darling wife & mom never gave up hope. GOD i had my fair share of suicide thoughts... But with my wifes perseverence & moms help i after 6 months of theraphy i had a 'pins & needles' feeling and that was the start of my recovery. NOW i can do almost everything that i used to do. i am not 100%, But i thank my wife & mom for not giving up on me.

I WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS!!!!

HAVE FAITH

ps.

DOCTORS are not ALWAYS right

GOOG LUCK

[reaven85]

Back in 1995 my dad slipped and fell getting into his truck at work. They removed his lower spine. They told him he would never walk again. He walked out of the hospital. Then about 9 months later My dad got into a horrible life changing car accident. He had to have a third of his brain removed and was in a coma they said he would not wake up...He did 5 days later. They also said that because of his injuries he would have brain damage and He would live to be 35. Now he had SLIGHT brain damage for about 2 years But then was back to normal. He died at the age of 43. He was 32 or 33 when all this happened. Also he was overweight from all the meds. He retained water. He weighed over 600 pounds....wow! lol but EVERy single day my dad walked around the block. My dad is the reason I have faith that my bf will someday walk again. Doctors are not always right. They were all wrong about my dad