Paralysis can be complete or incomplete. Complete would be no movement
or feeling; incomplete would be between that and "normal". So being able
to walk or move but having numbness or tingling or pain would be
incomplete paraplegia. The nerves are affected to varying degrees. My
official designation was T5 incomplete paraplegia, although at my worst I
could at least stand (holding on to something).
The spasticity/stiffness connection is interesting, because I never
connected the serious pain I had in my rib cage with spasms. It always
felt like it would be better if I could only stretch enough or in the
right direction. Last night my chiropractor said she could feel the
spasms of the muscles around my rib cage when I told her that area was
going through a painful period again.
Aurore
ableck(AT)nas.edu