12 replies to this topic

[pochyetnost11]

My friend recently sustained a spinal cord injury to his c7/8 vertebrae and I am flying in to visit him. I was wondering though, if he would be able to type or raise his arms or operate a manual wheel chair. He had a very active job and was a very active person before the injury. Will he be able to support his own head or will he need a head rest? I was wondering how long he would need rehabilitation? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Edited by pochyetnost11, 11 June 2008 - 05:38 AM.

[Kwag_Myers]

Generally, any injury at or below a C5 results in some arm and hand movement. I believe many of the C5's on this board use a manual wheelchair. Your friend should be able to hold his head up, but staying upright in his chair will most likely be a challenge at first. He should have the use of his thumbs, but I can't say about his fingers. I'm sure the quads here will have a better idea.

btw, sorry to hear about your friend. Be sure to encourage him to visit us.

[C Herod]

pochyetnost11, on Jun 11 2008, 05:03 AM, said:

My friend recently sustained a spinal cord injury to his c7/8 vertebrae and I am flying in to visit him. I was wondering though, if he would be able to type or raise his arms or operate a manual wheel chair. He had a very active job and was a very active person before the injury. Will he be able to support his own head or will he need a head rest? I was wondering how long he would need rehabilitation? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry to hear about your friend. My husband is a c6/7. He can use his arms and hands, but they were effected. The backs of his arms are paralized and some of his fingers. He is paralized from a little above the nipple line, and all the way down. His trunk control will definetly be affected, but if his arms are ok, which i think they should be. He'll be able to use his arms to sit up and things. At first my husband can barely do anything. A year and a half later he can do so much more. It really depends of the break and how severe. He will definetly need a lot of therapy. I would think atleast up to 1 year. And another year outpatient. That's of course depends on if he had insurance, unfortunatly. If his insurance is good and all that hopefully they will get him in good therapy, and do great things. Good luck.

[pochyetnost11]

Thank you so much for the information.

I do have another question. How will he be able to transfer from bed to chair and the like. Even with good arm strength, it seems like it could be tricky, especially with poor trunk control.

Edited by pochyetnost11, 11 June 2008 - 09:08 PM.

[eleanorigby]

pochyetnost11, on Jun 11 2008, 09:57 AM, said:

Thank you so much for the information.

I do have another question. How will he be able to transfer from bed to chair and the like. Even with good arm strength, it seems like it could be tricky, especially with poor trunk control.

I'm c6c7 and I transfer using a slide board. Basically, it's a long board with handles that I slide across from one surface to the other, like a little bridge, lol. I could probably do the normal kinds of transfer, but because my trunk is weaker, it takes a lot of energy. It will take him some practice, but I'm sure he'll figure ot a system, we all do. I'm sorry to hear about his injury. I would warn you that because you're seeing him right after his injury, it may be rather shocking, especially if you are used to seeing him as an active guy. Just keep in mind that right now his body is still in shock and he will be VERY limited, but he will not always be that way.

[Kwag_Myers]

The Physical and Occupational Therapists will teach him all of that. Plus, there’s no shortage of videos on the internet, starting with some that Simon has here.

[pochyetnost11]

I went in to visit my friend over the weekend and I learned that he sustained C5/C6 spinal cord damage, not C7/C8.

Where is the phrenic nerve located in the spinal cord? I was told that it was between C3 and C5, mostly C4. What sort of respiration problems will a C5/C6 SCI face? I know my friend was not breathing on his own when paramedics took him to the hospital and was on life support and still is (although I was not sure if it was the SCI or his other injury). Will be able to breathe on his own and what does respiration therapy entail?

He has another injury that could whither an already weakened arm by the spinal cord injury and when I saw him, he seemed pretty depressed about the whole situation. Is there anything I can tell him when I go in to see him next weekend?

Edited by pochyetnost11, 16 June 2008 - 07:47 PM.

[doublelibra]

Hello. First I would like to say that your friend is very lucky to have you as a friend. Having friends who care and don't disappear on you is really a huge help. I have an SCI at C 6-7. I had a very difficult time at first. I was on the ventilator and didn't breathe on my own for 3-1/2 months. I couldn't swallow without aspirating, so I had swallowing therapy, and could take nothing by mouth for 8 months. I was on tube feeding all that time. Right after the accident I could barely lift my arm a few inches. Very gradually I could move my arms more and more. I gave 100% effort to all my therapy. I learned to use adaptive devices on my hands to brush my own teeth, eat, type, etc. It isn't possible at this point to tell how much functioning your friend will get back. I didn't come home until 1-1/2 years after my accident. I went through a lot of depression at first, and felt that I was no longer myself for a long time. I had quite a bit of counseling, which helped. I had to go through grief over the loss of my former self and things I could no longer do. I came to the realization that the only thing I could control was my attitude.

I am a very determined person. Right after my accident my doctor told me that when an injury like this happens he sees people either become a professional patient, or they get on with it and have the best life they can. He said I didn't seem like the first type. I came home and raised my son and daughter as a single Mom. I had home health care and a few hours of housekeeping help. I returned to graduate school after a few years and got my Master's Degree in Counseling so I could work. I am having a temporary setback right now. I am on mostly bedrest because of a pressure sore. I hate it, because I'm usually so active. I have adullt children and grandchildren who love me, and I have many friends. Of course I wish I wasn't quadriplegic, but I have a full and happy life. The best thing you can do for your friend is just to be there and accept where he's at emotionally. If he's like me, he will appreciate it if you do little things he needs done that the nurses don't have time to do, but don't do anything he can do himself. Feel free to send me a personal message if you want to any time.

doublelibra

Edited by doublelibra, 16 June 2008 - 08:40 PM.

[eleanorigby]

doublelibra, on Jun 16 2008, 01:38 PM, said:

Hello. First I would like to say that your friend is very lucky to have you as a friend. Having friends who care and don't disappear on you is really a huge help. I have an SCI at C 6-7. I had a very difficult time at first. I was on the ventilator and didn't breathe on my own for 3-1/2 months. I couldn't swallow without aspirating, so I had swallowing therapy, and could take nothing by mouth for 8 months. I was on tube feeding all that time. Right after the accident I could barely lift my arm a few inches. Very gradually I could move my arms more and more. I gave 100% effort to all my therapy. I learned to use adaptive devices on my hands to brush my own teeth, eat, type, etc. It isn't possible at this point to tell how much functioning your friend will get back. I didn't come home until 1-1/2 years after my accident. I went through a lot of depression at first, and felt that I was no longer myself for a long time. I had quite a bit of counseling, which helped. I had to go through grief over the loss of my former self and things I could no longer do. I came to the realization that the only thing I could control was my attitude.

I am a very determined person. Right after my accident my doctor told me that when an injury like this happens he sees people either become a professional patient, or they get on with it and have the best life they can. He said I didn't seem like the first type. I came home and raised my son and daughter as a single Mom. I had home health care and a few hours of housekeeping help. I returned to graduate school after a few years and got my Master's Degree in Counseling so I could work. I am having a temporary setback right now. I am on mostly bedrest because of a pressure sore. I hate it, because I'm usually so active. I have adullt children and grandchildren who love me, and I have many friends. Of course I wish I wasn't quadriplegic, but I have a full and happy life. The best thing you can do for your friend is just to be there and accept where he's at emotionally. If he's like me, he will appreciate it if you do little things he needs done that the nurses don't have time to do, but don't do anything he can do himself. Feel free to send me a personal message if you want to any time.

doublelibra

This is completely off topic, but I am thinking about getting my Master's in Counseling. What school did you go to? Also, what did you do with it (jobwise)? Sorry if I'm nosey!

[dadonwheels69]

I broke my C7 22 years ago. At first, I could hardly even move my arms. Little by little, I regained movement. It took years. I now have full controll of my arms and hands (right hand is a little weak). I work full time, am married, and have a 2 year old son. I drive, transfer without a board, go fishing, boating, camping, etc. In short, every injury is different but life goes on. Your friend can have a great life. The limitations to the quality of his life will not be from his injury, but how he deals with it.

[qbounce]

Unfortunately, in/ outpatient therapy timelines has nothing to do with the progress of the patient and everything to do with the the insurance company covering your costs.

I read charod mention 2 years of total therapy? I was in and out of the hospital within 6 weeks, had one month of in-home therapy (useless), and approx. 5 months of outpatient therapy (included 2hrs. of therapy 3 days a week). I never learned how to get off the floor into a chair, or transfer into a car well (they had me slide board in on my last day of therapy . . . yay)

The medical system is completely failing us, causing recovery time to be a huge disadvantage in our over all care. That said, he may be one of the lucky quads like me and other posters here who can, through time, be completely independant.

[eyelookok2blindgurls]

I'm c7/8 and can transfer ok (even into car ) type but it takes a while , I do excercise my hands a lot to keep the function I still have as consistent as possible , and try not to use any aids if I can manage without them (use it or lose it theory ) I have about 15-20% hand function and have come to realise that its still quite a lot of function and you do do lots with that amount , and about 55-60% of normal arm function , the biggest issue with me is balance but I have a good back on my chair so it's kool , except for the times I fall onto the road getting my chair in & out of the car ( all part of the fun of kripplization ) keeping fit , positive & not getting lazy and depentant to much on others is the answer , oh yeah and accepting your injury and getting on with life .
( try to wheel 3-5 mile a day when its fine and excercise regularly it really helps keep my functionality and make life feel more positive )

[jetski]

I agree with you 100% about the medical profession not being up to date on how to care for SCI's. Those in my area have very little expertise on how to care for me, and many have told me they don't want to because as a SCI patient, I am classified as to "HOT", meaning they are afraid of being sued if they do something wrong.

Bill of Illinois