Bob,

I am so happy to hear that your son is progressing. It is just so encouraging that he is advancing in terms of his medical condition and his functioning. Once you start moving forward, you just never know how much recovery is possible. I have had the good fortune to be involved in a few situations that were amazing - at least to me. Now I know that this kind of recovery is not at all amazing. In fact, patients who are motivated, receiving quality medical care and rehab, and with supportive family and friends are actually very good candidates to make excellent recoveries.

Since by nature and profession, I will often focus on the emotional and psychological aspects inherent in these situations. I know you are doing all you can to keep positive, without creating false expectations your yourself or your son. This is one way in which you are contributing mightily to recovery. I also hope that the attending medical professionals are tuned in to whatever your son needs to make sure needs, other than medical and physical, are being recognized and adequately met.

If you have ever have any questions or concerns in this area, feel free to PM me.

Take care,

rfinney

And I hope his recovery continues to arc up as time continues.

Interesting that he can move the "bird" finger. Perhaps, given his situation, there is considerable incentive to do so.

Billye,
Yes his brain function is normal (although that's been debated since he was a young child ). He's the reckless, irreverent SOB he allus wuz.

rfinney,
I had to give the docs a 'heads up' about his mental depression a week or so ago. I'm afraid they aren't on top of things as much as I feel they should be.
They handle so many SCI cases, they kinda assambly line 'em-
"head 'em up, & move 'em out".
I think he's hoping to do his outpatient rehab at Kennedy Kreiger (Hopkins) with McDonald (Chris Reeve's doc), after he gets out of Kernan's (U of M system) in Dec. I think they focus on a brighter outlook and are more attentive to the individual.

Glenn,
I think you're right about that 'incentive'.

soo much of it is using the mind to overcome the shortcomings of the body. You have been an example of that to ever so many on the boards.

I'd bet money [almost] that Adam is like you and so many here:

TOO DURN STUBBORN!!!

Even tho there are times that seem, well, a bit thin in terms of quality, we find a way to get thru it. Most of us do because there is simply no other acceptable choice. I guess keeping up that stubborn state of mind and the crumbs of hope we can find, whenever we can find them, then what we do with it all is one of those life test things. Goodness knows we all face them to some degree.

We have hope to look forward to, looking back is a waste of energy. Put that effort to more important things.

Hugs and pain free moments to you all - j

Adam is progressing. Slowly...... but progressing... a bit.
He moved his legs a bit, but 3 days later he couldn't again. I don't know what that means. His legs burn and hurt. He can't get comfortable either sitting or sleeping.
He has had this pain in his legs, so they did an x-ray.
It seems now that he has "HO" (Heterotopic Ossification) , a chronic incurable condition that occurs sometimes in SCI patients. Calcification crystals form bony masses in soft, muscle tissue near the hip joints (and other places too).
He has it in both legs. This is not so good.
Treatment (6mos-1yr of medication and strenuous physical therapy to keep the joints flexible) may halt progression, but not necessarily. If it does, he can expect occasional flare-ups and necessity of future treatments, for the rest of his life.
His right hand seems to be getting a bit stronger, but he has no triceps 'firing', his biceps to pull -are working, but push or throw isn't. That means he can't re-adjust himself in his chair or bed to relieve the constant pressure of never moving. So he still has to be 'turned'/re-positioned every 20 mins in the chair and every 2 hrs in bed- 24 hours a day.
So far, his discharge date (12/5) hasn't been changed. I'm hoping it will - so he'll get more therapy (it seems something always interrupts or causes him to miss therapies, occasionally).
The philosophy at this facility is "If it (hands. fingers, legs) shows promise and works-they give therapy. If not, no therapy is bothered with to try to get him able to move anything.
Its not a very pro-active method, in my way of thinking.
There are other methods that do try to get inactive muscles and limbs to work by constant e-stim (electrical stimulation) on hands and legs. He gets some, but not as much -or where I feel he should.
If he shows promise betweeen now and 12/5, he could be extended by a week or two. I hope that does happen. It'll mean he's doing really well with his therapies.

Hi Bob:

Your life right now is very stressful and besides having PN, well having a sick child (no matter how old they are), well it hurts. I know this.!!

Just wanted to send you a great big hug.

warm fuzzies.

melody

I just wanted to send my hug with Melody's. Wish I could do more.
Love,
Billye

Oh Bob, what a horrific accident. I'm so sorry. May God pull you through this.
I am putting your family on my prayer list.
Good luck to your son and the family,
Linda

Hi Bob,
When I posted the last post, I had only read the first page of all this. I didn't realize there were alot more pages. I don't know how I missed this, but I did.
I just wanted to let you know to have hope and faith.
My Mom broke her neck about eight years ago. She was in her bedroom and saw a spider on the ceiling, so she pulled a chair up and stood up on it to kill the spider and lost her balance. She fell straight back, hitting her head on the footboard of the bed and broke her neck. It took about a year, but she came out of it, able to walk and talk like normal. The only thing that she said lengered on was horrible headaches. Other than that, she was fine. She has passed now but I wanted to let you know to keep the faith as I know that prayer was what brought my Mom through it.
God Bless you All,
Linda