[richard1971]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice and help.

My father in law lives abroad and he has just had an accident, he fell down 2 steps helping someone in a wheelchair, unfortunalty he slippped under the chair and both the chair and person fell on him crushing is neck on one of the steps.

This was on Sunday evening this week, we are now on Thursday and he has still not had any movement or feeling in his body from the neck down. I'm sorry but at this moment in time I do not know what C number he's damaged, all I know is that there have been a number of them pulled appart. He's had lots of scans over the past 4 days, but there seems to be no improvement.

My wife has flown out today so I will try and get some more information. after searching the net for some time, there doesn't seem to be anywhere where this information is avaliable. Most storys seem to say that the had some or part feeling when they incured there injuries.

Could anyone please tell me how long it normally is before feelings and movements are back?

The doctors did only expect him to live for 24 hours when it first happened due to him having breathing difficulties, but there has still been no talk of an operation.

Any help would be great, we're at our wits end at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

Richard

[Dave Bishopstone]

richard1971, on Nov 13 2008, 05:14 PM, said:

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice and help.

My father in law lives abroad and he has just had an accident, he fell down 2 steps helping someone in a wheelchair, unfortunalty he slippped under the chair and both the chair and person fell on him crushing is neck on one of the steps.

This was on Sunday evening this week, we are now on Thursday and he has still not had any movement or feeling in his body from the neck down. I'm sorry but at this moment in time I do not know what C number he's damaged, all I know is that there have been a number of them pulled appart. He's had lots of scans over the past 4 days, but there seems to be no improvement.

My wife has flown out today so I will try and get some more information. after searching the net for some time, there doesn't seem to be anywhere where this information is avaliable. Most storys seem to say that the had some or part feeling when they incured there injuries.

Could anyone please tell me how long it normally is before feelings and movements are back?

The doctors did only expect him to live for 24 hours when it first happened due to him having breathing difficulties, but there has still been no talk of an operation.

Any help would be great, we're at our wits end at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

Richard

Hi Richard,

Sorry to hear of your father in laws accident - you mention that he has had numerous scans and it is surprising that you do not seem to have been given many details of his injuries and the prognosis - or whether his injury is to the actual spinal cord or not, or whether the injury if it is to the spinal cord is 'complete' or 'incomplete' details of both types of injury you will find on this website information pages. Incidentally what country is he being treated in? Look also for 'spinal cord shock' this may help you.

You will find many members here to give you further support - but of course the attending doctors are best placed at this stage to inform you.

Dave

[qman]

Sorry to hear.

There seems to be alot of uncertainty in the first couple of weeks of SCI due to spinal cord shock.
This is largely due to pressure, bleeding and trauma. in some cases movement will return over days weeks and months.

In my case i havent had any movement or feeling from the moment of my accident but i know one guy who was almost completely paralysed for 2 weeks and is now walking again. but also took 6 months of intensive rehab.

MRIs can tell the doctors quite a bit as to the condition of the cord. my first MRI showed a complete sever of the spinal cord and therefor there was almost no chance of recovery. If the Spinal cord is not severed or is only partially severed there is some potential for return of movement and feeling although it could take days, weeks or months as the trauma, pressure and swelling subside. if there is nothing after 6 weeks or so it is very unlikely.

All the best to your father in Law. Regardless of what happens he will need heaps of support.

I hope this helps.

Q

[richard1971]

qman, on Nov 13 2008, 11:00 PM, said:

Sorry to hear.

There seems to be alot of uncertainty in the first couple of weeks of SCI due to spinal cord shock.
This is largely due to pressure, bleeding and trauma. in some cases movement will return over days weeks and months.

In my case i havent had any movement or feeling from the moment of my accident but i know one guy who was almost completely paralysed for 2 weeks and is now walking again. but also took 6 months of intensive rehab.

MRIs can tell the doctors quite a bit as to the condition of the cord. my first MRI showed a complete sever of the spinal cord and therefor there was almost no chance of recovery. If the Spinal cord is not severed or is only partially severed there is some potential for return of movement and feeling although it could take days, weeks or months as the trauma, pressure and swelling subside. if there is nothing after 6 weeks or so it is very unlikely.

All the best to your father in Law. Regardless of what happens he will need heaps of support.

I hope this helps.

Q

Thanks so much for this.

Richard

Dave Bishopstone, on Nov 13 2008, 08:54 PM, said:

richard1971, on Nov 13 2008, 05:14 PM, said:

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice and help.

My father in law lives abroad and he has just had an accident, he fell down 2 steps helping someone in a wheelchair, unfortunalty he slippped under the chair and both the chair and person fell on him crushing is neck on one of the steps.

This was on Sunday evening this week, we are now on Thursday and he has still not had any movement or feeling in his body from the neck down. I'm sorry but at this moment in time I do not know what C number he's damaged, all I know is that there have been a number of them pulled appart. He's had lots of scans over the past 4 days, but there seems to be no improvement.

My wife has flown out today so I will try and get some more information. after searching the net for some time, there doesn't seem to be anywhere where this information is avaliable. Most storys seem to say that the had some or part feeling when they incured there injuries.

Could anyone please tell me how long it normally is before feelings and movements are back?

The doctors did only expect him to live for 24 hours when it first happened due to him having breathing difficulties, but there has still been no talk of an operation.

Any help would be great, we're at our wits end at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

Richard

Hi Richard,

Sorry to hear of your father in laws accident - you mention that he has had numerous scans and it is surprising that you do not seem to have been given many details of his injuries and the prognosis - or whether his injury is to the actual spinal cord or not, or whether the injury if it is to the spinal cord is 'complete' or 'incomplete' details of both types of injury you will find on this website information pages. Incidentally what country is he being treated in? Look also for 'spinal cord shock' this may help you.

You will find many members here to give you further support - but of course the attending doctors are best placed at this stage to inform you.

Dave

Thanks for your reply, hopefully I should have more details tomorrow, My father inlaw is in a hospital in the canary islands.

[richard1971]

richard1971, on Nov 13 2008, 11:32 PM, said:

qman, on Nov 13 2008, 11:00 PM, said:

Sorry to hear.

There seems to be alot of uncertainty in the first couple of weeks of SCI due to spinal cord shock.
This is largely due to pressure, bleeding and trauma. in some cases movement will return over days weeks and months.

In my case i havent had any movement or feeling from the moment of my accident but i know one guy who was almost completely paralysed for 2 weeks and is now walking again. but also took 6 months of intensive rehab.

MRIs can tell the doctors quite a bit as to the condition of the cord. my first MRI showed a complete sever of the spinal cord and therefor there was almost no chance of recovery. If the Spinal cord is not severed or is only partially severed there is some potential for return of movement and feeling although it could take days, weeks or months as the trauma, pressure and swelling subside. if there is nothing after 6 weeks or so it is very unlikely.

All the best to your father in Law. Regardless of what happens he will need heaps of support.

I hope this helps.

Q

Thanks so much for this.

Richard

Dave Bishopstone, on Nov 13 2008, 08:54 PM, said:

richard1971, on Nov 13 2008, 05:14 PM, said:

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice and help.

My father in law lives abroad and he has just had an accident, he fell down 2 steps helping someone in a wheelchair, unfortunalty he slippped under the chair and both the chair and person fell on him crushing is neck on one of the steps.

This was on Sunday evening this week, we are now on Thursday and he has still not had any movement or feeling in his body from the neck down. I'm sorry but at this moment in time I do not know what C number he's damaged, all I know is that there have been a number of them pulled appart. He's had lots of scans over the past 4 days, but there seems to be no improvement.

My wife has flown out today so I will try and get some more information. after searching the net for some time, there doesn't seem to be anywhere where this information is avaliable. Most storys seem to say that the had some or part feeling when they incured there injuries.

Could anyone please tell me how long it normally is before feelings and movements are back?

The doctors did only expect him to live for 24 hours when it first happened due to him having breathing difficulties, but there has still been no talk of an operation.

Any help would be great, we're at our wits end at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

Richard

Hi Richard,

Sorry to hear of your father in laws accident - you mention that he has had numerous scans and it is surprising that you do not seem to have been given many details of his injuries and the prognosis - or whether his injury is to the actual spinal cord or not, or whether the injury if it is to the spinal cord is 'complete' or 'incomplete' details of both types of injury you will find on this website information pages. Incidentally what country is he being treated in? Look also for 'spinal cord shock' this may help you.

You will find many members here to give you further support - but of course the attending doctors are best placed at this stage to inform you.

Dave

Thanks for your reply, hopefully I should have more details tomorrow, My father inlaw is in a hospital in the canary islands.

Still no news from the tests, and he still hasn't moved or felt anything, they are turning him every 3 hours, is this normal?

[russ1]

Quote

Still no news from the tests, and he still hasn't moved or felt anything, they are turning him every 3 hours, is this normal?

Yep quite normal - everyone gets that (the turning), it's a good sign that they have at least some idea of what they're doing and how to care for spinal injuries.

As others have said spinal shock can last weeks or even months before any recovery becomes apparent. You just can't get any answers at this time, the possible outcomes vary from no recovery at all to complete recovery with something in between being the most likely.

[richard1971]

russ1, on Nov 14 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

Quote

Still no news from the tests, and he still hasn't moved or felt anything, they are turning him every 3 hours, is this normal?

Yep quite normal - everyone gets that (the turning), it's a good sign that they have at least some idea of what they're doing and how to care for spinal injuries.

As others have said spinal shock can last weeks or even months before any recovery becomes apparent. You just can't get any answers at this time, the possible outcomes vary from no recovery at all to complete recovery with something in between being the most likely.

Thanks for that, it realy does sound to me that it's just a waiting game now.

[qman]

richard1971, on Nov 15 2008, 11:38 PM, said:

russ1, on Nov 14 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

Quote

Still no news from the tests, and he still hasn't moved or felt anything, they are turning him every 3 hours, is this normal?

Yep quite normal - everyone gets that (the turning), it's a good sign that they have at least some idea of what they're doing and how to care for spinal injuries.

As others have said spinal shock can last weeks or even months before any recovery becomes apparent. You just can't get any answers at this time, the possible outcomes vary from no recovery at all to complete recovery with something in between being the most likely.

Thanks for that, it realy does sound to me that it's just a waiting game now.

Turning is very important to avoid pressure sore (bed sores) in the early days of an injury they will also have to be very careful to avoid further damage, they will probably have 4 or more people assisting. and they will wake you at night to turn you also.

I got handled very carefully for the first 4 day after which time i had surgery to fix my spine with metal rods, after that i was considered stable.

[richard1971]

qman, on Nov 15 2008, 11:08 AM, said:

richard1971, on Nov 15 2008, 11:38 PM, said:

russ1, on Nov 14 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

Quote

Still no news from the tests, and he still hasn't moved or felt anything, they are turning him every 3 hours, is this normal?

Yep quite normal - everyone gets that (the turning), it's a good sign that they have at least some idea of what they're doing and how to care for spinal injuries.

As others have said spinal shock can last weeks or even months before any recovery becomes apparent. You just can't get any answers at this time, the possible outcomes vary from no recovery at all to complete recovery with something in between being the most likely.

Thanks for that, it realy does sound to me that it's just a waiting game now.

Turning is very important to avoid pressure sore (bed sores) in the early days of an injury they will also have to be very careful to avoid further damage, they will probably have 4 or more people assisting. and they will wake you at night to turn you also.

I got handled very carefully for the first 4 day after which time i had surgery to fix my spine with metal rods, after that i was considered stable.

I have just heard from Spain, my father inlaw still can't move anything but he says that he feels as though he's moving and says he can also almost feel it when he's touched, is this normal? or he's he wishful thinking?

Thanks everyone so far for the replies, you donlt know how helpfull you've all been...

[qman]

richard1971, on Nov 16 2008, 11:36 AM, said:

qman, on Nov 15 2008, 11:08 AM, said:

richard1971, on Nov 15 2008, 11:38 PM, said:

russ1, on Nov 14 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

Quote

Still no news from the tests, and he still hasn't moved or felt anything, they are turning him every 3 hours, is this normal?

Yep quite normal - everyone gets that (the turning), it's a good sign that they have at least some idea of what they're doing and how to care for spinal injuries.

As others have said spinal shock can last weeks or even months before any recovery becomes apparent. You just can't get any answers at this time, the possible outcomes vary from no recovery at all to complete recovery with something in between being the most likely.

Thanks for that, it realy does sound to me that it's just a waiting game now.

Turning is very important to avoid pressure sore (bed sores) in the early days of an injury they will also have to be very careful to avoid further damage, they will probably have 4 or more people assisting. and they will wake you at night to turn you also.

I got handled very carefully for the first 4 day after which time i had surgery to fix my spine with metal rods, after that i was considered stable.

I have just heard from Spain, my father inlaw still can't move anything but he says that he feels as though he's moving and says he can also almost feel it when he's touched, is this normal? or he's he wishful thinking?

Thanks everyone so far for the replies, you donlt know how helpfull you've all been...

Early on i had some times where i could sense but not feel when people proded me, i think it is pretty normal to have unusual sensations or "feelings". In my experience it didnt translate to anything one way or the other, i think it is just your body going through the adaption and shock.

I also had a sensation of electric type feelings ocationally run from head to toe.

hang in there

[richard1971]

qman, on Nov 16 2008, 02:12 AM, said:

richard1971, on Nov 16 2008, 11:36 AM, said:

qman, on Nov 15 2008, 11:08 AM, said:

richard1971, on Nov 15 2008, 11:38 PM, said:

russ1, on Nov 14 2008, 11:37 PM, said:

Quote

Still no news from the tests, and he still hasn't moved or felt anything, they are turning him every 3 hours, is this normal?

Yep quite normal - everyone gets that (the turning), it's a good sign that they have at least some idea of what they're doing and how to care for spinal injuries.

As others have said spinal shock can last weeks or even months before any recovery becomes apparent. You just can't get any answers at this time, the possible outcomes vary from no recovery at all to complete recovery with something in between being the most likely.

Thanks for that, it realy does sound to me that it's just a waiting game now.

Turning is very important to avoid pressure sore (bed sores) in the early days of an injury they will also have to be very careful to avoid further damage, they will probably have 4 or more people assisting. and they will wake you at night to turn you also.

I got handled very carefully for the first 4 day after which time i had surgery to fix my spine with metal rods, after that i was considered stable.

I have just heard from Spain, my father inlaw still can't move anything but he says that he feels as though he's moving and says he can also almost feel it when he's touched, is this normal? or he's he wishful thinking?

Thanks everyone so far for the replies, you donlt know how helpfull you've all been...

Early on i had some times where i could sense but not feel when people proded me, i think it is pretty normal to have unusual sensations or "feelings". In my experience it didnt translate to anything one way or the other, i think it is just your body going through the adaption and shock.

I also had a sensation of electric type feelings ocationally run from head to toe.

hang in there

Will do thanks

[wheeliebear75]

We shall keep our fingers crossed; for him and your family. One thing to think about is that even with those of us who have "healed" we still can have very different outcomes even with similar injuries. You won't know for some time yet........sorry none of us can give you anything more hopeful. And yes spinal shock has made some people who don't even have cord damage to still have some temporary paralysis. Let us know when you've got more to go on. And you'll be in everyone's thoughts and prayers.

[richard1971]

wheeliebear75, on Nov 16 2008, 10:16 PM, said:

We shall keep our fingers crossed; for him and your family. One thing to think about is that even with those of us who have "healed" we still can have very different outcomes even with similar injuries. You won't know for some time yet........sorry none of us can give you anything more hopeful. And yes spinal shock has made some people who don't even have cord damage to still have some temporary paralysis. Let us know when you've got more to go on. And you'll be in everyone's thoughts and prayers.

Hello all, just heard from Spain, My father in law, is due to have an operation on Thursday, they are opperating from the front of his neck, and another operation is scheduled for the back of his neck if needed on tuesday next week. My wife was with him today and she saw his arm move, but he didn't feel it himself! is this a good sign or could it be just a muscle spasmn? I'll keep you posted on further progressions.

[Paul Breen]

Richard,

Sorry to hear about your situation. The people on this site can however provide excellent information in terms of advice from their own experiences.

Best of luck

Paul

[richard1971]

Paul Breen, on Nov 18 2008, 07:36 PM, said:

Richard,

Sorry to hear about your situation. The people on this site can however provide excellent information in terms of advice from their own experiences.

Best of luck

Paul

Thanks Paul, you and all on here have been so kind and helpful

[richard1971]

Hello all, still no news from Spain, they're hioping to operate next week now, due to there being no IC beds for this weeks scheduled op. My wifes back from there now and we were wondering what the chances were of getting him back to the UK were. My father inlaw has lived out in spain for 3 years and has residency there now. So the medical help he's getting is free under that. He's doesn't have any separate insurance. He's still classed as a British citizen. Do you know if there is anyone who could help with bringing him back to the UK? Should I try the Embassy first?

I really donlt know where to start?

Thanks

Richard