sounds like your doctors know a little bit about what is going on.
and i say that NOT with tongue in cheek. I read recently --maybe even on
this board, that a "complete" lesion is one where no bowel or bladder
function is retained. Since bowel and bladder represent S 3,4 and 5, it
seems like a reasonable definition at this time --to "eliminate" all those
who can wiggle their toes but can't pee!! I guess they (we) have to start
somewhere --this is certainly not a well described and/or studied illness.
As i mentionned earlier, there is a study going on in my town with
people who have had NO movement in their limbs for as long as five years
and after ONE injectiion of a certain drug --I'll get the name one of these
days BEFORE I wheel over to the computer ;-) -- some had as much as 20%
function --a gal lifted her leg like she had been doing it for years!! My
physiotherapist "forced" me to watch the videotape while she had me
"captive" in a standing frame one day ;-) As I said before there are now
60 patients in a trial on the oral version of the "wonder drug".
I share your interest (obviously) in ferretting out those who had
"complete" lesions but progressed to better function. I wonder if they are
surfing the web for transverse myelitis or for Caribbian vacation spots!
Althoug I appreciate John Pesec's reply I am still looking at the
paragraph in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" that refers to a
12 to 18 month recovery period of certain types of neuronal degeneration. I
am torn between my knowledge that a positive attitude can do "miracles" and
the reality of reasonable expectations? Where does giving in to one alter
the other?!
And, to conclude (for now), I have no real bowel or bladder control
but certainly have muscular movement below the level of the original lesion
--I can easily feel contraction of quads --but not for long --and my
physiotherapist has confirmed contraction in anterior lower leg muscles on
one side. So technically, I'm a complete lesion, but for practical
purposes I'm using ever gadget at my disposal to get some "real" function
back.
sound confusing? jooin the club
bryan