2 replies to this topic

[Captain Pike]

I am a C-5 quad. It seems, at least we thought I had a complete injury. You know, the old anal probe tells all! Anyway, I've had a lot of increased pain, mostly down one side, the old bumbling around porcupine inside my hips, rolling down my leg, threatening to squeeze my testicles. The pain seems to have a personality.

Also, I have noticed, down each outside of my legs, whispery little feeling if I move my hand along my leg. This April, it'll be three years, I don't believe I had any neurological changes during the first two years -- that's one "they" say any changes can occur. Over the last few months, however, I have noticed a lot of these faint sensations. They occur mostly on each side of my body.

Were they there all the time? Could something being coming back? I know when I'm moving the bowels, I can feel it. Also, I usually feel pressure, and disreflection, when my bladder has or 300 mL. But this feathery feeling is something strange. I have done testing: I would lie down, my wife would touch me (what a scam, ha ha) and I would indicate that I felt something whenever she touched certain areas.

I almost don't want to talk to the I don't want him to tell me this is through the visceral nervous system.

Anybody know what I'm talking about?

[Tinbasher]

Hi Pikey

I haven't talked about this much either. Just to set the scene I am T12 incomplete L4 Complete 23 years post injury.

About two years ago I began to be wakened in the night with a "pain" in my bladder, very strange because I have no sensation or control since the accident. After a week or so i realised that the pain was actually what full bladder feels like (I had forgotten). At the same time i lost the ability i had had to squeeze out a pee without a cath and needed to depend full time on cathing. I saw my doc about this as I was worried it might be my prostate as I am of that age but no all was fine. Anyhow my spinal doc seemed neither excited or concerned. Now I am beginning to sense my bowels still no control or sensation but much more awareness of when its full etc.

I dont really know what to make of it at all, infact the "improvements " have brought me little benefits just pain and discomfort.

Of course I do wonder if this is really something new or just something I have become aware of. I wonder if because you arent used to getting messages from your body you stop listening until one day it just dawns on you.

If the improvement continues at this rate I may be cured by the time I am 95!

Tin

PS My spinal doc tells me that prostate trouble is much rarer in SCI men than the general population. Every cloud has a silver lining

[Susi]

I am now 5 years post-accident, and i am still getting tingling feelings in very strange places. I have also not visited my neuro-surgeon post-accident. So I cannot say for sure that there is improvement or not, and were the sensations there from the beginning. What I can say for sure is, although a lot have said our measuring timetable is 6 months post-op or rehab, is the telling feature as to how much mobility or feelings will come back permanently for the future. From personal experience, I deny this observation, as in all of 5 years, small sensations are coming back, mobility (walking with crutches, short distances), feelings/sensations and pain. In all 3 categories these have happened past the 6 month deadline.

I believe every spasm, tingling sensation or feeling, pain, etc. are positives and I rejoice in those moments, as I believe some sort of message is being transmitted neurologically, and our own willpower is doing it subconsciously. We want so much to feel, move that we will it to be so. Much like mind over matter. I have now made an appointment with our neuro-surgeon out of curiosity more, to see whether the nerves that were damaged have somehow "healed" or compensating for "damaged" nerves somewhere else.

All in all I personally feel i am more improved and welcome any pain (although unbearable at times) however short-lived, and rejoice in the tingling sensations or new more heightened feelings pre-accident. So to you two here, I say, go with your gut feelings as well as the "new" ones, as it can only get better, however long or short they last. You feel them, and to me, that is a positive!