Is anyone familiar with Quadriparesis or Quadriplegia and what to expect short and long term with an incomplete cord injury for central cord syndrome?
Is anyone familiar with Quadriparesis or Quadriplegia and what to expect short and long term with an incomplete cord injury for central cord syndrome?
Quadriparesis is an outdated term and is no longer a recognized diagnosis using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) international standards for classification of spinal cord injury. It has been replaced by a much more accurate description of the level and completeness of the injury and recognized incomplete syndromes such as Central Cord, Anterior Cord Syndrome, and Brown-Sequard syndrome.
Quadriplegia is also now not considered to be an accurate term, and the preferred term is tetraplegia (there is a long explaination for this, but it brings the USA into compliance with accepted international terminology).
You can be tetraplegic from other things other than spinal cord injury too. Brain injuries can also result in tetraplegia or quadriplegia, so it is best to always say that the injury and resulting tetraplegia is due to SCI.
Central Cord Syndrome is most often the result of an injury in which the head is thrown violently back, such as in some types of car accidents, or even more frequent, a fall forward, esp. in older men who may already have significant spinal stenosis. It results in more paralysis in the arms than in the legs. Classic Central Cord Syndrome may result in the person being able to walk, and even have voluntary bowel and bladder control, but having no or very limited use of the arms and hands. Everyone is individual as far as prognosis. Some get significant return, while others get very little. Getting a lot of return early is a good sign for continuing to get some return, and you really have to wait at least 2 years to know how much will come back.
People with ASIA D tetraplegia resulting in Central Cord Syndrome should receive comprehensive SCI rehab in a major SCI rehab center just as with other injuries, but because many with this injury are older it is common for them to be denied this level of care by their insurance or the rehab center. Don't take this and fight for appropriate care.
I have just recently experienced such an accident with a true friend, SO this is very recent experience for me.
Fuscia "ROCKS" she has been a true help to me and getting some info, and things to ask about. She will provide you with alot of information. It is awesome!! Thank you Fuscia
Here is my two cents, I hope it help:
For us lay people....
Quadriplegia-is common for US determination of paralysis of all four limbs.
Tetraplegia is what the condition is called over the pond. The Brits and Europeans use this term
They are basically synonyms.
Let me try to make it clear to you that you can not predict the outcomes of these situations. Nobody can. There is not a Dr., Nurse, or person who can define the outcome of the situation in an injury such as this. (especially early on) Trust me, I have asked and asked. Any answer you might get is nothing more than a highly educated guess, based on what could happen. This is fine, and it is fair. Don't let this frustrate you. Understand that the body is an amazing thing and its healing process takes time.
Lee's injury was the fracture of all three cervical vertebrea, C5,C6,C7. He was distracted 7mm from C7 to T1 (decapitated). With multiple twisting injuries below T1. We were told that he would be Vent dependent and never have use of his arms again. While he is still healing 47 days later there has been some amazing things going on. He gave me a thumbs up yesterday. He reached up and scratched his own face on his own power yesterday. He is getting close to being able to pull out the connection to his tracheostomy. It is miraculous that he is alive, an every event over being dead, is a true miracle.
What did I do. Early on I decided to listen to everyone very closesly. This allowed me to get a grounded sense of what was happening to be prepared for the outcome....WHATEVER IT MAY BE. But I never, never lost hope. I put a number on it. ".05%" of hope.
Let me explain. 95.95% of me would listen and understand for realistic expectations. But I would never let go of my .05% of hope. He is moving his arms, fingers, and wrists. Neurologically he is improving, slowly.... but improving. We take everyday as it comes, and "it is what it is". Trust me, Don't try to figure this out.... YOU CAN'T. Be there, listen, support your injured compadre and think about the future. Your life has changed forever, and this will be a commitment that can not be prepared for. So try to think ahead, be ready to adjust, and prepare yourself for the little things to be miracles. There is not a person in the world that will take my .05% of hope. And it truly inspires me to watch him make these huge steps in his rehabilitation.
Stay strong, find something to laugh about. You have absolutely no control of your immediate future. Be flexible, and remember. If you don't take care of yourself, how will you ever take care of someone else??
Just my two cents, I hope it helps.
Friend4Life, I would like to add you as one of my new friends if that is okay. I really agree with the staying positive aspect. This has been the only way I have been able to keep going. I have a really bad gait but it is not as bad as it use to be. My energy level seems to be the thing that gets me the most. The simplest of things tire me out and if I go for a ride for any length of time, I need to take a long rest afterwards even if it is only for 10 minutes. Your friend is really making progress if he is beginning to achieve some movement. My doctor's have continuously voiced this as a good sign. They tell me though I have very weak muscles and they spasm alot especially when it gets cold. It does not have to get real cold either. My injury is a C4 & 5, with compression on 6 & 7. You have a real good two cents worth of information and I enjoyed everything you have said. I wish you and your friend perpetual happy moments.
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It would be my pleasure to be on your list and have you on mine. This situation is such a growing experience for me. I am still unable to communicate with Lee and this adds to the difficulty. Maybe with your injury, and life experience you could assist me with some of the things I have yet to experience. As I tell his family all the time. I don't believe there is anything that he will not be able to do when he recovers.... "He will just have to do it differently" our job will be to build the highway and supply the avenues for him so that he is able to achieve those experiences that he still has on his list in life. I can't wait to experience some of those moments with him, in his rehabilitation as well as his life.
My 44 year old husband that was as fit as any 20 year old fell 12 feet head first on concrete causing an injury at the C2-C3 level. He has been classified as central cord syndrome. His accident was exactly 6 months ago today. According to the therapist he has progressed amazingly well. He was in ICU for 5 weeks and then intense therapy for 7 weeks. By the time he left inpatient therapy he was able to walk with his arms strapped to a walker with only one person assisting him. Today he walks with no assistance at all. His walk is very stiff and strange and to watch him you would be sure he is going to fall any minute, but he hasn't. We have had some exciting things happen this week. For the first time he had a bowel movement without the assistance of a suppository. He has also started to pee on his own at the toilet instead of being cathed. He has a very hard time moving his arms and hands. If he lays down and takes it very slowly he can lift his arm to the side and lift it very high over his head, but sitting and standing he can't lift against gravity. He also has a very hard time using his hands. When he tries to use them they curl up on him making doing almost anything impossible. He is feeding himself and brushing his teeth with an electric toothbrush, but as for now that is it. We are very hopeful and excited that he will continue to improve, and maybe in the near future he will become more self sufficient. I have been told that he is moving very quickly. There was another lady at rehab that I just met. She has central cord and looks like she is about 3 months behind my husband and I found out her accident was 2 weeks before his.
Boyd, I have gotten some control in my hands but not without the price of shocks, itching, burning, and a fire feeling that attacks my hands. I wonder if there is anyone out there who get shock feelings or stabs in their feet if they try walking any distance at all. I can ambulate but my feet start feeling like I am getting electrocuted or something so I only attempt a few feet. I think your husband has made amazing progress and I am proud to hear of his success. Please keep in touch with me and add me as a friend if you like. I would like to add you as a friend of mine.
With exception to the fall it seems that everything has worked out perfectly for my husband, Mike. Every health care personnel has asked him if he is in any pain and are shocked when he says no. He has some very warm sensations, but not burning, and tingling, but not pins and needles or shocking. Everyone that I have talked to seems to think that any sensation, even painful, is good. I have been told that numb and thick is not good, but everything else could be a sign of things waking up.
Another amazing side point about my husband is that he also suffered a head injury and had to have surgery to stop the bleeding on his brain. The brain injury has caused his right eye to not focus like the left. It looks off to the side a little. Well, as a child he had a lazy eye and his brain learned back then to compensate for it. Therefore, today his brain is compensating and he is not seeing double, and if he was seeing double it would be almost impossible for him to walk since his balance is already not good.
I will definitely add you as a friend and keep you informed. Thanks.
Hey, I am still up too hear in California. The weather was blistering today like 103 degrees. Riverside County can be real hot in the summer but after that we have the best weather. I remember having a catherer coming out the side of my head after surgery. No one has fully explained that one yet except to say it was to catch any bleeding on the brain. However, my speech is slightly off. I am glad Mike is not experiencing some of the bad symptoms that come with brain injuries. Does he have these extremely strange but painful headaches?
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