Dear Cathy,
When you damaged your spine you disrupted the flow of spinal fluids. This
disruption, through a rather long and very difficult to explain process, has
caused a syrinx or cyst-like place on your spinal cord. If it grows or migrates
it can cause extreme pain and further loss of abilities for some people. That
is my guess of what is happening to you. You may have even experienced a small
bleed. Whatever it is, you would be a great candidate for an MRI. They may be
able to stop further loss of ability. The incidence of the coinciding virus
would add some other tests. I have heard of a quad that got MS. Whatever is
happening, it isn't an improvement. You should see a Doctor (Neurologist) as
soon as you can. This could be where a shunt will help a lot.
Could you try not to do much physical exertion. Until some tests aree done
nobody can really tell if you are doing something that could be causing a bleed
to occur. Blood doesn't mix with spinal or brain fluids. It causes these higher
nerve cells to die which causes paralasis.
Best Wishes,
john
----- Original Message ----
From: Cathy Andersen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: quad-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 7:45:57 PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] recent loss of mobility
Hi....Ihave been a quad for 30 years [female - 57 yrs., incomplete fracture of
C3,4,&5.] Although in a wheelchair, I have been able to get out of it, standing
and holding onto support fairly easily up until 2 months ago. I was at work and
suddenly found out that I could not rise off of the toilet, my body had become
basically dead weight. Also, up until then, I could swing my legs to the side
of my bed and stand up to pivot into my chair. Now, I can barily turn over and
then slide out of the side of the bed into my chair with difficulty. At first I
thought it was my knee but now I think that it might be my spine [I had C3,4,&5
fused in 1978] When that happened at work, I also had a really bad cold, cough,
laryngytis and ear problem - maybe a virus went through my body??? Has anyone
experienced anything like this? Interested in feedback.
Thanks Cathy
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