13 replies to this topic

[tughard]

My nephew was in a car crash . his spinal cord injurie has left him paralized
from his nipples down . he can move his arms but has no finger movement .
he is also on a ventilator . I can not get a answer from anyone in his hospital
if he will get movement of his finger or if he will ever come off the ventilator.
Is there any hope for this ?

[hillarymcarter]

There is hope of that. Everyone is different, so nobody can tell you what will happen. There are a few people on this board though who regained the use of their lungs.

[carolline]

If he is on finger exercises on a daily basis with the PT. It will help to regain his finger movement.Not gradually it will take time.And about his ventilator..we do'nt know the capacity of his lungs to expand or to tolerate the room air w/o ventilator.But as I observed same cases with your nephew,they regained their lungs.But still everyone is different...hope he will be fine.

[AHolland]

We would really need to know more about the details of the accident and how long ago it happened. Then we might be able to guess at what the improvement would be. I say guess, because nothing is written in stone with injuries this severe. Some people make large gains over the first 6 months, some never do. It is reasonable to expect some improvement, particularly in the first 6 months.

I did see a young (18) girl have a similar situation (from the little you have told us) walk out of the hospital 6 months later. She could barely walk, or even talk for that matter, but she did get out of there under her own power. I do think she was the exception, not trhe rule though, so beware hoping for too much.

As I said, we would need more details on the accident, what is damaged and how long they have been in this condition.

[hillarymcarter]

I think the downfall of rehab is that you are given the impression that you will walk out.

[Simon]

Yes, need to know if he has feeling anywhere too - has he had an mri scan to tell docs his neurological level?

[tughard]

AHolland, on Nov 14 2005, 10:23 PM, said:

We would really need to know more about the details of the accident and how long ago it happened. Then we might be able to guess at what the improvement would be. I say guess, because nothing is written in stone with injuries this severe. Some people make large gains over the first 6 months, some never do. It is reasonable to expect some improvement, particularly in the first 6 months.

I did see a young (18) girl have a similar situation (from the little you have told us) walk out of the hospital 6 months later. She could barely walk, or even talk for that matter, but she did get out of there under her own power. I do think she was the exception, not trhe rule though, so beware hoping for too much.

As I said, we would need more details on the accident, what is damaged and how long they have been in this condition.

he has been in this condition for 3 weeks . he has a c6 to c7 injury .

[lynne]

My 18 year old son who is C3 complete is now off his ventilator approx 2 months now and is breathing completely on his own. We were told that he would be dependant on it for life. He is also getting his trachy out hopefully at the end of this week, another major step in his rehabilitation. Everybody totally amazed what progress has been made in 12 months. His motor accident last November. Never give up hope.

Lynne

[carolline]

Hi lynne,
I'm happy to hear that..about your son's recovery.We do'nt know and we can't tell what really happened next.Even doctors given the final diagnosis or what will be his conditon.Only God knows..your son still lucky..and he's fighting for his recovery.
Regards to him.

[Joed]

Hi lynne...

Great news about your son's progress! I hope it continues to.....CONTINUE!

God Bless you both and I'll be keeping positive thoughts for him to continue to see advancements in his recovery.

Tughard...

How is your nephew getting on? He is still so early in the recovery process and still has a lot of swelling, I'm sure, along the cord, so time will tell. Please keep us updated on his progress.

[dan_nc]

hillarymcarter, on Nov 15 2005, 01:37 AM, said:

I think the downfall of rehab is that you are given the impression that you will walk out.

Is it typical for the people at rehab to give the impression that you'll walk out of there?

My therapists have encouraged me to think positively (I'm 6 weeks post-injury). I am walking with assistive devices (rolling walker, AFO) for short distances. They tell me that we'll work on endurance so that I'll be using the walker more and less reliant on my w/c. They also make mention of traces in some movements. But I'm not sure if they're actually feeling anything or if they're just saying that for encouragement.

[Joed]

Quote

They also make mention of traces in some movements. But I'm not sure if they're actually feeling anything or if they're just saying that for encouragement.

I'm betting that they are in fact feeling "quivers", as my PT's called them, and simply giving you some feedback, since you cannot perceive it yourself. Most of the PT's, Drs., etc. are hesitant to give you specific outcomes, and understandably so. But it's been my experience that they'll give you the honest answers to the hard questions.

If the traces of movement they're detecting are a result of you voluntarily recruiting that movement, then I'd be hopeful about that bit of info. It may not mean that you'll get a lot of function back, but with SCI, a little is a LOT.

[joisliniad]

If they are saying they feel trace of some muscle is because they are feeling it. In order to state that, they have to feel it. It is possible with the level of your injury, since L3 is part of many others ramies of the lumbar plexus, so you will have trace in some part of the legs. I dont think or at least I speak for myself, I dont' give any hope about walking, if Idon't beleive the patient would be able to walk. I think any person who works really hard and have a Thoraccic injury or lower lesion of the spinal cord is possible to walk, but it requires a lot of work and dedication, and that is what a lot of people lack, consistency, discipline, and money to keep paying therapist to work with them. A lot of the work can be done by himself, especially the weight lifting, where the PT guidance is needed is in the improvement of the quality of the psoture and movements, as well as possible recomendations of changing of equipment. Therapist when they see the dedication of the patient sometimes give those guidance for free in their spare time.
There are differents ways of walking, but a lot of people believes we are talking about going w/o any asisitive device or any braces, we would love for everyone to learn to walk w/o it, but unfortunately we can't do it. Also ther is therapeutic walkign and functional walking. People who can walk just as exercises to prevent osteoporosis and further quicker damge of other functions, or functional ambulation where you can perform on daily basis when is needed. There is people who does both, walk anduse the w/c due to lack of endurace or becaus ethey prefers to be in a w/c when goign out to drink, or have fun in public places, so they don't have to be so cautious.

[quadseattlelez]

im c5 w/tbi n i was told id b vent dep in the beginnin 2. it took a lil while but i was weaned off the vent n eventually had my trache removed 2. my lung capacity is not as hot as some1 w/out a sci, but at least im off vent. we r all different so i hope he's able 2 get off the vent. good luck.