[City Girl]

I am a T12 incomplete and now at my 9th month of SCI/recovery. Determined. Frustrated. Managing. Proud. Devestated. Optimistic. Tragically heart-broken. Proud. Discouraged. Encouraged. It is such an emotional rollercoaster! I will be very happy when the change is over and I know where I stand. I do NOT like living in a world of on-going change. Grrrrr... I'm not much for drama!

Notwithstanding, I had physio today and was chatting with my therapist, who is an incomplete specialist and has been in the industry for 20 years. He is very knowledgeable and extremely encouraging and I quite like working with him. My progress is ongoing, which is good, but I'm probably progressing a little below average in comparison to other incompletes at my level. I walk with forearm crutches but, as my family so fondly labels me, I walk doing the "zombie-shuffle". I am, however, very proud of my "zombie-shuffle" and am working hard to move to 2 canes from the forearm crutches...with no real reassurance as to whether I will make it or not. I use my wheelchair as my primary mobility because walking is really more of an exercise regime at this point.

Anyway, my feet have been feeling rather odd lately so I asked about it. It seems that by days end they will feel like they are freezing cold. Yet if I touch them, they are body temperature...the same as the rest of me. When I told my PT he said, "Oh that's good. That's just thermoregulation." Pleased with the positive response, I didn't inquire any further. Later I thought WTF does that mean? I should have asked, but when he defined it, it sounded good, so I was satisfied.

Does anyone know what this means? I see him Thursday so I can ask then but if I can get a heads up before, that would be great.

[carole338]

I have the same issue. My legs and feet feel extremely cold when I sit for a long time. Yet they are normal to the touch. I am interested in what thermoregulation is also.

[City Girl]

I have looked it up and understand that it's the body's internal process of regulating temperature but I still don't know why my mind perceives my feet as being cold when they are, indeed, normal temperature. When my PT said that was good, I thought maybe it meant something is changing in my body and it is a prelude to my sensation getting stronger. I will inquire tomorrow.

btw, Carole, you are the youngest looking grandmother I have ever seen. When I saw your photo and your year of birth, I thought, "Oh, that must be a typo." You look like my baby sister. How long have you been living with your SCI? How did you incur yours?

[carole338]

Thanks City Girl. I really needed that. But who are you kidding. You look great.

I got my SCI on Feb 26th 2007 during surgery on my aorta to remove a MRSA infection. Cutting off the blood supply and then releasing it caused an infarction to my spinal cord. happins.
Carole

[City Girl]

Cow-a-"DUNGA" Carole, indeed, it does ($uck $hit). Oh dear, I'm so very sorry. Notwithstanding, you look wonderful and very happy. I am assuming those children are your grandchildren and it is wonderful that you have a good family..but you still look very, very young in that photo. Honestly, you do look like my baby sister. I am seeing her this weekend and will try to capture a photo of her so you can see the resemblance. Further, it is very cool that you can walk with braces and a walker. Is that an exercise regime or a means of modality? I walk with forearm crutches but I do what my family now labels as "the zombie shuffle". It is an endearing term, notwithstanding. I only walk as part of an exercise regime though. It's a lot of work and I need to wear sneakers and put my hair in a ponytail...not much unlike a workout.

I fell, which is equally Cow-a-"DUNGA", as it wasn't, at all, part of my life's plan. I am endeavouring to make the best of it. It's hard though.

I have always been a very slim and a very healthy person and consequently looked a bit younger than my age but I am now 9 months post-SCI and have done my fair share of crying and I'm so very tired all the time and, as such, my age has caught up with me. Honestly, I don't really care anymore. I've had my beauty queen hay-day. Right now I'm just working hard to recover as much as I can. I want my life back. My PT believes that I will get everything back if I continue to stimulate the nervous system and work hard. We shall, however, see what happens. I push to be positive but don't want to disillusion myself.

Anyway, I did ask about the 'thermoregulation' thing and my PT said that it's good that the feet are warm despite the fact that the brain is reading them as cold. It means that the blood is circulating within the body to keep the extremities warm which often means that there is enough muscle function to support circulation. Because of the SCI, however, the message being sent to the brain is incorrect. He did say that that will correct itself as I continue to heal. I don't really know about your situation, however, as I don't know anything about SC dysfunction as a consequence of blood supply cut-off.

Best to you.