14 replies to this topic

[dan_nc]

Sorry for this newbie question, but really, what's the difference between paraparetic and paraplegia? Can I be both paraparetic and a paraplegic?

[joisliniad]

Paraparesis is weakness of the lower extremties. Paraplegia is paralisis of the lower extremities.

[carolline]

Hi dan_nc,

Paraparesis
weakness of both limbs,resulting from desease of the nervous system.
it will lead also to spasm and contracture.It needs to exercise/stretch the
affected parts.Taking muscle relaxant it will help also to prevent spasm.
Still can walk but it needs an assistance like walking aide.And there's unsteady
gait.

Paraplegia
paralysis of the lower part of the body.And no sensation at all,and no function.

Hope you got some idea...to what I said....I feel that I rumble here

[joisliniad]

You can still walk if you are paraplegic too, you will also need braces and asssitive device most likely, but it all depends of the level of the injury, and how hard the person work in his strengthening program.

[wheelie182]

You can walk if your s tetra

[dan_nc]

joisliniad, on Nov 18 2005, 12:13 PM, said:

You can still walk if you are paraplegic too, you will also need braces and asssitive device most likely, but it all depends of the level of the injury, and how hard the person work in his strengthening program.

Thanks all--I'm still not getting a clear definition from my nurses or docs. I guess they are not exclusive. I'm believing I'm both ... ?

I read that paraplegia is an SCI in the thoracic, lumbar and sacral segments.

I had the L1 burst fracture and subsequent fusion/decompression surgery. I'm about 5 weeks since the accident/surgery.

I know when I finally was conscious and cogent (about a week after my surgery), I was told that I was a paraplegic, that my spinal cord was bruised and would take time to heal to determine what types of returns. Doctor said that it typically takes 3-6 months, and of course the sooner I get back and if I keep getting stuff back, the better outlook for getting more returns.

So I thought it was an incomplete injury. Til I read about that ASIA scale. Since my bowels and bladder are neurogenic and I don't have voluntary contraction of anal spinchter, it appears my injury is complete. So I'm even more confused.

Next thing I know, my therapist is telling me that I'm paraparetic, cuz I have some movement in my legs, although they are very weak. I don't have ankle motor function either, though, I've been getting some returns of sensory and motor function (very slowly, weak or just traces). They also mentioned that they think I'm L3 (as far as spinal levels go, which are different than vertebral?).

I gotta say, the Internet (especially this site) has been great resource. I'm continuing to hope for the best and working hard through rehab.

[dan_nc]

wheelie -- yup ... it's totally confusing when each doctor tells me a different story. I'm making a list of questions for when I go see my neurosurgeon.

[wheelie182]

complete means that where your cord was damaged or broken you have nothing what so ever, like me,

incomplete means that some signals still get through ie, you have very little or little control of muscles below the damaged part of the spine, this could be bladder sensation, but not being able to control bladder, its all very different for everyone,

[Joed]

Evidently, according to an article I read awhile back, this 'grey area' has been a hot topic of discussion in the neuro field. Just what is the distinctions between complete and incomplete? The article was about a symposium concerning this issue and the necessity for the medical arena to define the terms more clearly and universally. I'll see if I can round that article up again.

According to the definitions above, I am both paraparetic and paraplegic, having use of, but diminished sense/strength, in one leg and complete paralysis in the other...if I'm understanding it right?

[hillarymcarter]

Okay...correct me if I'm wrong...you know how these doctors all give different answers.
Bruce's spinal cord is damaged (crushed actually) but he is considered incomplete because his spinal cord was not severed in half.....that is what our neurologist told him. It is very confusing. Just because you are incomplete does not mean that you can use your bladder/bowell. Bruce has not control of those things, however he can tell when he needs to cath.
It is all very strange. Last night for some reason we got on this subject and I got a toothpick and was poking Bruce. He could not feel the toothpick on his thigh but he could feel it right about his knee. He has feeling up to 1/4 inch of his genitals and then it is nothing. He has no feeling in his bottom, but he can feel parts of his hips. It is all very patchy.....mysterious! Anyway, he was diagnosed as T12/L1 incomplete paraplegia.

[joisliniad]

O.k let me see if I can help you...
The level of your injury is L3 and according to the last reports is complte. So it would meant that everything below inervation of the root L3 is affected, and motor and seansation will be affected if the lesion is complete. What happens is tha L3 fibers run along the whole leg, because it get together with other nerves, so you are paraplegic because of the spinal cord damage,but your strenght is paraparetic because you will have motor and sensation in a lot of places in you legs. It is wonderfull in cetain way, because most likely you will only need AFO in the long run, you may need knee braces at the beggining, but eventually if you work har, you my progress to AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis). It would be a lot of work ahead for you and exercises would have to be a very important part of your life from now on in order to be able to learn to walk again, but I think you can become funtionally ambulatory if you work hard.
You probably would feel very good along your inguinal area, and the inside of the legs, what it means that probably yyou can bring your legs in, but have more difficulties pulling your legs out. You would also have some good sensation in the inside of the knee, but not outside of the knee, because that area is inervated by L4, so you have some part of the quadriceps muscles innervated so you would be able to to kick your leg, and bend it but it would be weak so you won't complete the motion.
I hope it help you and not make you more confuse.
Sorry for the grammar or spelling, I don't double check my writting when i give my input, plus english is not my primary language. i just type as my thoughts come to my mind...

[wheelie182]

Quote

Just because you are incomplete does not mean that you can use your bladder/bowell. Bruce has not control of those things, however he can tell when he needs to cath.

ahh......thats exactly what i said..

[hillarymcarter]

I know that's what you said....I was trying to make my point about how he can feel most of that down there but still can't pee...anyway.....
We call it "God's little joke!"

[dan_nc]

joisliniad:

yup sounds about right. I'm still totally confused because I had heard that returns may continue 3-6 months from SCI. I know I'm still getting some returns (a few days ago noticed some contraction of some intrinsic foot muscles). They keep telling me it's a good thing. I suppose that keeps me encouraged and hopeful for more .

I've been working hard in rehab / transfers / Activities of Daily Living /etc.

I was actually fitted with AFOs and can walk with use of a walker for short distances (like between furniture around the house). It's been 5 weeks since my accident.

My quads are strongest, and I have some strength in the adductors. The therapists also tell me that my abductors are very weak, as are my glutes, so those are the exercises I'm concentrating on.

Approximately 3 weeks after my accident/surgery, I got a trace of ankle dorsiflexion (I think contractions of the anterior tibialis) and that's continued to get stonger and greater range. I'm getting some returns of sensation along the L4 dermatones.

I just came home from the rehabilitation hospital (inpatient facility) last night, and realize I have a long way to go.

I like checking out this board to keep me motivated of life after SCI.

Hillary : I don't have sensation in my bottom (or very limited sensation) but have good sensation at the hips and thighs. Patchy. Even have sensation in the calves, though no motor function there. And yeah, I can usually tell when I need to cath, but can't control it.

[dom]

carolline, on 18 November 2005 - 08:16 AM, said:

Hi dan_nc,

Paraparesis
weakness of both limbs,resulting from desease of the nervous system.
it will lead also to spasm and contracture.It needs to exercise/stretch the
affected parts.Taking muscle relaxant it will help also to prevent spasm.
Still can walk but it needs an assistance like walking aide.And there's unsteady
gait.

Paraplegia
paralysis of the lower part of the body.And no sensation at all,and no function.

Hope you got some idea...to what I said....I feel that I rumble here

if paraparesis is weakness of both limbs due to disease then if a traumatic accident is it the same thing? and also can people with no feeling below site of injury walk?

so what people are basically saying is that anybody with slight movement/feeling or walking below injury site is not paraplegic but have paraparesis?