Hi there. My boyfriend was in a car accident two weeks ago today. He fractured his spine between the 6th and 7th vertebrae. He has movement in his arms. For the first week he had no feeling in his chest down. He has regained feeling throughout his entire body now and he has reflexes in his toes and legs when he feet are touched a certain way. He is able to sense a bowel movement and can complete the job. Has anyone been in a similar situation and were you able to recover any movement? The dr's say it is unlikely he will walk again, but he is very determined and can't wait to get to the rehabilitation center. However, if he remains paralysed, does anyone know if he will be able to have sex and orgasm? Any info would be greatly appreciated!
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Incomplete SCI - Is sex possible?
- By jennypooh
- Posted September 14, 2008 at 11:24 pm · 28 replies
- In New paralysis/rehabilitation
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Surgery Counseling Spinal cord injuries Cialis Stroke Gastroparesis Viagra Testicular cancer Pain Heart attack Acupuncture Paralysis
28 replies
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- By Zeeshanrk
- Posted March 29, 2009 at 7:42 am
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HI ...m 24 & wanna asks is there any possibility a SCI person hav sex or atleast have kids is there any way as i met wid a accident when i was 5 years !! and wud u people give me any Dr contact from UK or USA for that prob that i can discuss plz reply !
- By jennypooh
- Posted November 12, 2008 at 3:05 pm
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Thanks for the information! His dr did talk to him about autonomic dysreflexia but did not mention the medication to take before sex. I will get him to ask his dr about it!
- By quadfatherc4
- Posted November 5, 2008 at 2:13 pm
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I just want to warn you about autonomic dysreflexia. Well you've heard above is true, sexual function can be recovered but that is not the real concern. Depending on his level of injury ejaculation might cause him to experience autonomic dysreflexia. This could result in heart attack or stroke. I don't mean to scare you and it's easily overcome if you are properly informed. There is a oral medication you can take before sex to prevent this occurrence but you have to ask your doctor specifically. Talk to a spinal cord injury specialist or a urologist who is familiar with spinal cord injuries.not trying to scare you. Just talk to professionals with a little more knowledge than us
- By jennypooh
- Posted October 22, 2008 at 10:23 am
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Hi Everyone, I just wanted to let you know how John is progressing. He is about 7 weeks post injury and is able to moved both ankles slightly and he can move two toes on his left foot! We are so excited and hoping that he continues to show improvement!
- By TraceD
- Posted October 4, 2008 at 11:33 am
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I kind of walk now with walker or 4 post cane very stff but gets better with therapy. I could sense a fullness in my bladder before I could pee, not necessarily a need to pee, that was in May now I know I need to pee. According to my physiatrist there is a close association between peeing and sex.I found thinking of my wife naked in the beautiful waters of the Carribean helped, not right away but with time. By the way the most sensitive area on a tetraplegic and should be stroked alot are the scalp, face and neck. He cannot feel you with his hands let him feel you with his face. Take care, but it is different from what I gather with everyone.
- By jslegal
- Posted October 3, 2008 at 1:11 pm
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YES!!!! Erin is my daughter, c-6 incomplete May 1, 2007... had no movement in arms or legs in those first days... started moving her arms.... she is walking, driving, attending school fulltime and as a part time job! Her residual is she has lost function of her right hand, gastroparesis and not able to feel sensations (hot and cold) on her legs. IT IS SO TOTALLY possible that he WILL walk. Each injury is different so each person's recovery is different. Learn as much as you can about spinal cord injuries. Rehab and more pt... push this and he will go a long way.
- By TraceD
- Posted October 2, 2008 at 10:10 am
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I started to sense mybladder being full after 2 months, I could usually feel about 400ml. bladder. Caths didn't hurt. At about 2 months while at rehab wife tod me to try to pee before every cath, I would think about my wife in the Carribean Ocean a dremy vaacation and then I got a little trickle, then more I have only needed a cath once since that was after surgery. Erections followed about 1 month later. Not everyone is the same. I hope your partners goes well.
- By frenchluxe
- Posted September 30, 2008 at 1:22 pm
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Hello,
I have experienced a similar situation with my boyfriend (accident was 2 years ago), and would be happy to share my experiences. If you would like, feel free to write me at hollins99@hotmail.com.
- By jennypooh
- Posted September 29, 2008 at 9:06 pm
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Hi TraceD, are you walking now? He cannot urinate on his own. Before you could urinate on your own, could you sense that you needed to pee or was there no feeling there at all? Thanks so much for your reply!
- By TraceD
- Posted September 29, 2008 at 12:43 pm
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At Loma Linda rehab they gave counseling and showed a video on sex with a spinal cord injury, it was very helpful. Can he urinate on his own? I wasn't able to urinate without cathter for 7 weeks after an incomplete C4, but 1 month after that I am able to get an erection and ejaculate. Viagra makes it easier, but not impossible without. I do get an unusual dysflexia, legs straighten with orgasm, so doing it standing occassionally a problem.
- By jennypooh
- Posted September 19, 2008 at 9:11 pm
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Thank you. I have heard about using accupuncture and I've already looked into it for him!
- By datagrl
- Posted September 19, 2008 at 12:23 pm
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Wow, you & your boyfriend are so fortunate that he is regaining innervation at such an early stage. I was injured more than 16 years ago with an incomplete L1 burst fracture & could always achieve orgasm though it was very painful and I stopped trying for this reason. Sex is very important but I agree with others who have posted here that whatever your boyfriend recovers will take time & a lot of work on his part. When I say it will take time I mean YEARS. This is no joke. Please don't believe doctors and physical therapists. They only know what they see or were taught. I had both Drs & PTs tell me that I was only going to go so far and that would be it (the surgeons were hopeful that I would stand. I have been walking with the assist of canes since a few months after leaving rehab). I have defied all odds in my recovery so encourage your boyfriend to go for the gold like an Olympian. And he should NOT get complacent. It's hard work and takes time but he will not be disappointed by the rewards. And don't rely solely on allopathic medicine for recovery. I use acupuncture and massage to help me & with good results. And, at this point, my "rehab" consists of pilates & yoga. Also, I see a PT who specializes in women's health care as I have some residual bowel & bladder issues. I don't know if there are PTs who specialize in men's issues but this would be worth looking into & as early as possible, I would think. Best of luck to you both.
- By camperben
- Posted September 19, 2008 at 11:55 am
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Stay positive, for yourself and for him. Most doctors told me it would be 4 years from injury until I reached my "final" recovery ability's.
I took that to mean the race was on to see how much rehab I could fit in. I could mentally handle a disability I had no control over. Wondering if I could have done better or gotten any better would have killed me in later years.
If a doctor says to you "you will probably never walk again", what you should hear is " I have no way of knowing if you can heal yourself or not".
Probably is doctor talk for "my best guess in an area that science has not even begun to fully understand"
To a large extent we make our own recovery. No one knows why for example, one guy with testicular cancer in remission barely lives and another rides the tour de france.
Find your limits then go over, around and throught them.
Good Luck
Ben
PS about sex, I was lucky and got most function back with the help of a blue pill. The funny thing is it took a few years to happen and in the mean time I let my fingers do the walking..heheh. Now I got so good at that my wife could care less about the other thing...go figure?
- By FuschiaFan
- Posted September 19, 2008 at 9:19 am
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It is normal to be concerned about sexuality issues this early...most people worry about this in the ICU with an injury like this.
Is he going to a good SCI specialty rehab program?
They will be able to answer some of these questions for the two of you, and should provide education and counseling on this as soon as you are ready to discuss them. I would not depend on the ICU or acute care staff or physician to have a clue in this area. It is a specialty within the rehab providers.
When you say his injury is at "6 and 7" is this cervical (neck) or thoracic (back)? There is a big difference.
- By jennypooh
- Posted September 18, 2008 at 9:14 am
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Chankokweng - how do you know that he has a good chance of recovery? Have you been through this? I'm not doubting you at all, I just need as much encouragment I can get right now.
Thank you everyone for your responses! They have been very helpful!
- By chankokweng
- Posted September 18, 2008 at 5:21 am
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hi jennypooh, dont worry so much about the sex activities. concentrate on his rehabilitation. he has a good chance of recovery as from what u described. he should be able to 'perform' when he fully recovers. so just keep ur fingers crossed n the bright 'future' is ahead.
god bless all
- By CurtisNeeley
- Posted September 17, 2008 at 4:55 am
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I am injured because of an aorta tear or the surgery to repair it. I do not feel anything below my chest normally. With Viagra and stimulation I can get erect. It feels nice for about 4 hours. My spouse enjoyed it over and over. She could suck-start a Harley, but could not cause an orgasm in me. I suppose that bothers women? I do not mind. My spouse quit trying to be intimate about 4 years ago. We still love each other, but it is no longer romantic. Sex was very important to us. Now she tells me my appearance disgusts her. If your BF spurts semen or doesn't, he can still orgasm. He can relocate his erotic areas. Will you be there to love him and rub him wherever? Keep your eyes open for autonomic disreflexia. Love is more in your mind, but I feel an intimate touch is almost required?
Disgusting me, NUDE
Not vulgar. Same shoot as my profile photo.
My profile photo is a nude too!
- By danzboy
- Posted September 17, 2008 at 12:10 am
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Hi there , i had a spinal cord injury 1982 incomplete c6c7 I had no feeling for a long time, but finally regained bowel and urinary control, could ambulate after 6 mnths. its good he is getting control back this early, but not everyone is a kevin everit.Its a long road so be patient everyone recovers differently. It took a long time before i could ejaculate.also took a long time too ejaculate. You guys should be happy if he can walk again then go from there. I hope it does not sound to mean.Having a sci is a tough injury to have ad be around. Good luck.Dan
- By GRCJ7
- Posted September 16, 2008 at 11:27 am
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FEEL FREE TO ASK YOUR DOCTORS ABOUT I HAVE TOLD YOU.
BEST WISHES.
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