Patti, We are pretty similar in bladder and leg feeling. I use a 4-prong cane and probably always will, but I have gone from paralyzed to walking. Can't complain, but sometimes my mind goes on overdrive and I sure wish for the old days. But, at least, we all have each other. It was really rough going before I found you guys. Janice
From: Patricia Cooley Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 11:38 AM To: 'Alton Ryder' ; 'L T CHERPESKI' Cc: 'randy rankin' ; 'Janice Nichols' ; 'tmic list' Subject: RE: [TMIC] sympom check question According to my neurologist, mine is at T-10. At first, my legs were useless. After about 2-3 days they got me up and sort of walking. After 4 weeks in P.T., I was doing pretty good in a walker so they discharged me. I went for P.T. for about 5 months and improved so very much. They were trying to get me to use a cane, which scared me to death since I have a problem with my balance. I am sure I almost broke bones in my therapist's hands while she was helping me. I also have bladder and bowel problems. I don't have the feeling when I have to urinate, but put myself on a potty schedule which works pretty well. I have noticed that when my bladder has become full, and I haven't gone for a while, I get a sensation that I have come to recognize as a need to go. I take acidophilus once a day and that helps keep me regular. My good leg is my left one. I don't have any feeling in parts of my feet (toes and top of my feet) so I have to be careful if I walk without shoes. My legs feel as they I have a bag of cement in my calves, but I do have some feeling in the skin. I went back to work part time a year ago, and since then I have been able to walk in the house without a walker or cane. Never thought I would ever get to that point. The worse thing is the neuropathy in my feet. They feel so cold they burn. All in all, I feel pretty lucky or I should say blessed that it isn't worse or that my pain so far is manageable. I hope this helps others who were affect in the T-spine. Patti - Wisconsin From: Alton Ryder [mailto:a-ry...@comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 8:48 AM To: L T CHERPESKI Cc: randy rankin; Janice Nichols; tmic list Subject: Re: [TMIC] sympom check question My damage was at T9-T10. All symptoms were below, none above. Bowels recovered immediately. Bladder also then it failed; I've had a Foley indwelling catheter for years Left leg control and sensation have recovered completely. Right leg sensations below mid-calf are, after a decade, still screwed up. Right foot/ankle spasticity was so severely and apparently permanently out of control that surgery was required to restore utility by cutting all tendons and using a foot/ankle brace. Alton On Jan 9, 2010, at 10:54 PM, L T CHERPESKI wrote: ask those who were "hit" in the T-spine
