Spinal Cord Injury Theory Behind IBT & Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

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Spinal Cord Injury Theory Behind IBT & Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

includes 2 comments by others at end.

 

SCI's and the Importance of Gravity Dependence in Nerve Regeneration..

By Andrew K Fletcher.

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Work on the regeneration of the optic nerve, In fish, frog, mouse, rat and

rabbit, have been carried out at the Max Plank Institute in Germany. Ronald

Meyer has also studied this field at the University of California.

 

 

With the optic nerve in all species being surgically severed, regeneration

occurs in the goldfish and frog. Within a period of four months, sight is near

normal in both cases. Yet, if the optic nerve in the mammalian subjects is

severed, no regeneration occurs.

 

However, Meyer demonstrates that nerve regeneration in mammals is possible

by removing part of the optic nerve and growing it on a special culture dish.

The optic nerve is observed to grow vertically down In relation to the

television screen and in doing so passes directly through, what appears to be a

horizontally placed nerve-, which does not appear to be growing. The growth is

observed as a long thin tubular vessel, which has globules of fluid pulsing

vertically down its entire length, this appears to be causing the tubular vessel

to lengthen.

 

Meyer concludes that there is something about being inside the mammalian

body which prevents growth and this problem of nerve regeneration he relates

directly to the spinal cord injury in man. It is my belief from the evidence

presented in the documentary that the special culture dish used to demonstrate

the growing mammalian nerve was tilted in order to use gravity to initiate the

growth and to give it direction.

 

 

If this simple connection between gravity and nerve regeneration is applied

to the goldfish and frog, it becomes obvious why nerve regeneration of the

optic nerve is achieved. Goldfish and frog are always vertical and if found on

their side they are either dead or very sick.

 

 

When the optic nerve is cut, the fluids are still able to flow in the same

direction, because it is only the tube, which carries the fluids that is

severed. The brain in relation to the position of the eye remains unchanged. In

my

opinion nerve regeneration occurs because the fluid circulation and the

causes of said circulation remain intact.

 

 

It is my belief that nerve endings respond to exactly the same influences

that plant seeds respond to and that in order to grow they need a stable

environment. For instance, if I were to turn or rotate grass seeds, they would

not

thrive and would become confused to say the least.

 

 

Now apply this simple logic to the mammalian subjects. Mouse for instance

leads a very active life and is continually altering its posture, it sleeps

curled up in a tight ball and contorts to every conceivable posture during its

normal daily routines, even to the point of hanging upside down at times. If I

were to place some grass seedlings along its spine and water them,

(hypothetically), I could not expect them to grow. Why should I expect a

damaged

spinal cord to restore itself when it is exposed to the same postural

confusion.

 

 

Humans lead a similar life to that of mouse or most mammals, when our daily

routines are taken into account, we are continually altering our posture all

of our lives, and the most important changes in relation to the direction of

gravity occur during sleep. We roll over from side to side, curl up in a

ball, sleep on our back or tummy and all the time we are doing this we are

horizontal, except for a couple of pillows.

 

 

If I were to slice a person from head to toe (hypothetically), I would find

that almost all of the tiny tubes within the body run from head to toe.

Gravity therefore must have played a very important part in the development of

this network of fluid filled tubes! Even the intestines run predominantly

downward.

 

 

A baby appears to understand the importance of standing and walking and once

those first steps have been take the babies progress accelerates at a

phenomenal rate. Could it be that gravity performs the living equivalent of a

neurological computer upgrade? Is intelligence for that matter directly related

to

our vertical posture? But that's another paper for another time.

 

 

The most important observation in relation to the spinal cord injury is the

position of the spinal cord.

 

While resting on a flat bed, irrespective of whether you are on your side,

front or back, your spinal cord is horizontal. If gravity is the stimulus for

nerve growth, one would expect the nerve endings to become totally confused

and to tie themselves in a knot. It is my belief that this is exactly what

happens in SCI's and is evident in the massive amount of MRI scan data from

countless thousands of cases.

 

 

In Britain it is thought that confining people who have suffered spinal cord

injury to prolonged bed rest aids recovery and prevents further damage. Some

people spend a year and more stuck in bed at a phenomenal cost to their

health and to the health service. Yet there are many papers produced which

point

to the fact that this practice is unproductive and leads to further

degeneration. (too many papers to site). In fact NASA and the former USSR have

used

prolonged bed-rest to imitate the harmful effects of space travel upon

astronauts, which has been shown to cause neurological problems in healthy

subjects.

Many countries are realising that prolonged bed-rest should be avoided in not

only SCI's but many other conditions too. Pregnancies which used to result

in a long rest period are now turned around in a couple of days.

 

 

 

WHAT IF?

 

 

If my words have any truth it should be very simple to test them. After all

the culprits appear to be horizontal bed-rest, and poor sitting posture so it

would be simple to intervene with a couple of blocks of wood placed under

the head of a bed to allow the bodily fluids to run continually from head to

toe. Or to raise ones bottom so that it is higher than ones knees while

sitting. But at what angle should a bed be raised, in order to stimulate the

nerve

endings?

 

 

I have been working with an angle of no less then five degrees to the

horizontal, which I arrived at by observing the circulation of fluids within a

loop

of water filled tubing which I placed across the whole length of the bed. It

was found that when coloured saline solution was injected at the top or head

end of the loop at this angle or more, it generated a circulation, which

occurred in the whole loop of tubing. Any lower and no overall circulation

occurred, Just a two tear flow in one side of the tube, which was undesirable.

 

 

Based on the nerve regeneration in fish and frog, which took around four

months, a newly injured spinal cord should significantly improve within the

same

time-scale. However if the SCI has been damaged for several years the

progress will inevitably be much slower. This appears to be the same for

multiple

sclerosis, based on my pilot study results.

 

 

The fact of the matter is that this simple intervention has been shown to

reverse a substantial amount of neurological damage in complete spinal cord

injuries and neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis.

 

 

If you have enjoyed reading this explanation, then please help me to either

prove or disprove my theory by joining this very important study. If I am

correct then you should experience some pleasant changes. If I am wrong then

you

have lost nothing!

 

 

What have you got to lose?

 

 

If you are working in this field and would like to join me in this

groundbreaking research, please feel free to contact me.

 

All rights reserved to the author: Ó14th March 1999 Andrew K Fletcher,

Summer Haze, 26 Berry Drive, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 3QW, UK

 

 

Telephone or fax 01803 524117, International: 44 1803524117

 

Email: thinklateral(AT)hotmail.com

------

Comments

 

 

John Mason, the first person with a spinal cord injury to try Inclined Bed

Therapy.

 

 

John sustained a complete spinal cord injury at T9 & T10. So severe was the

damage that his daughter was told at the Salisbury Spinal Unit that; 'His spine

was smashed to smithereens' and he would always be totally dependent on

others.

 

John made no progress for two years following his accident. Since joining

the inclined bed trial in April 1995 he is now living in his own flat,

receiving no outside help and is totally independent.

 

John is now able to maintain his own body temperature and his sensitivity of

touch, which was five inches above his naval, has moved down to his pubic

area and he can actually feel that he is sitting.

 

He used to suffer constantly from muscle spasms and has reported massive

improvements in that area. He no longer suffers from night sweats, and the

urine

infections, which caused him severe problems, have stopped. The muscles in

his legs were locked solid and are now supple. John's upper body strength has

increased substantially and is visible in the size of his arms and chest. He

has regained bowel control and some bladder control and has also reported

considerable improvements in sight.

 

The oedema in his legs has gone.

 

These improvements represent only a portion of the benefits he has gained

from the inclined bed therapy, and he continues to grow stronger as each day

passes

 

Andrew Fletcher November 1997

 

John Mason's Notes.

SCI’s and the Importance of Gravity Dependence in Nerve Regeneration.

 

Case1:

 

On the 7th of June 1997, I met John at his home, we discussed his

improvements and he assessed them at 60 per cent. It is now almost 14 months

since we

started. John now lives in a flat and has become fully independent.

 

Pre intervention.

 

For two years following his accident John had observed considerable

deterioration and had recovered no sensitivity or function. John fell from a

two-storey building and sustained a complete spinal cord injury at T9 and T10

resulting in two severely damaged vertebrae’s. So severe was John’s injury

that his

daughter was told by his consultant that it was not possible to operate as

his spine was smashed to smithereens. She was also told that he would always

be dependent on others.

 

He also suffered a stroke, which caused him to lose most of the use in his

left arm and hand. The stroke also affected the left side of his face

(slightly causing him to dribble). His left shoulder causes him some

considerable

pain, which John says is unbearable. When he tries to raise his left arm a loud

clicking noise is heard. He is unable to rotate the left arm or raise it

above shoulder height and is unable to push with any degree of force. The main

vein in his arm had collapsed and he was told that blood could not be taken

from his arm because of it.

 

Because of the problem he has with his left arm, hand and shoulder it was

decided, at the spinal unit he attended, that he could not use a manual

wheelchair and should therefore use a motorised chair.

 

John has lost all sensitivity and voluntary movement below the injury. He is

unable to maintain his body temperature, feeling cold continuously. He has

no control over bowel or bladder function, and suffers severe oedema in his

legs and feet. He also has a large burn on his left leg, caused by a gas fire

and his absence of sensitivity to heat. Legs are firm to touch with the skin

taught and not resembling living limbs.

 

John is unable to maintain an upright posture as abdominal muscles and upper

body strength is very weak and lacks control. His posture leans heavily

towards his left side. The extent of muscle wastage throughout John’s body

was

obvious to me as I had known john prior to his accident.

 

Additional problems

 

Muscle spasms during rest, aches and pains, poor circulation, lethargy,

feeling cold in bed, irritability, fidgety limbs in bed, loss of sensation and

loss of mobility due to the accident. Night sweats are a constant problem,

eyesight poor, continuous urine infection, which flares up around once a week

and

does not appear to respond well to antibiotics. John feels the urine

infection makes him shiver all of the time, causing him to become lethargic,

followed by a high temperature and loss of appetite.

 

He wears a thick overcoat all of the time, even in the summer.

 

John suffers from fits, which causes his head to shake violently from side

to side and his left arm spasms outward.

 

Intervention: To avoid horizontal bed-rest and poor sitting posture by

sleeping on an inclined bed in excess of five degrees. The idea is allow

gravity

to continue acting upon the fluids within the nervous system in one direction,

that being downward from head to toe.

 

 

Pilot Study Notes:

 

25-4-1996 Week 1

Muscles started to soften, leg tissue softer and upper thigh feels

different, “Like they are there nowâ€. Back aching (moving up and down the

spine),

Felt lethargic and had lighter sleep.

 

2-5

Toe and fingernails improving muscle and skin on legs, more supple, urine,

clear but smelly or stronger. Felt warmer in bed. Night sweats stopped.

 

9-5

Burning up. Urine still improving. Sensation of inner warmth at the top of

legs. Muscle spasms improved. Thighs feel strange. Replaced catheter had no

infection

 

16-5

Reported progress to physiotherapist at Torbay hospital. More even body

temperature. Strength improving. Felt tightness in pelvic area. Had more muscle

spasms, which lasted 4 days. Sensation of warmth moved to calves. Floating

pain in spine. Felt stronger and better in myself. Finger and toenails still

improving. Noticed sensation when pinched, in left side abdominal area is now

three inches lower than the right side. Hair seems to be improving.

 

29/5

Easier to transfer etc. Using left arm and hand more, (more control).

Developed half moons on nails. Warmth in calf muscles. Noticed increased

sensitivity 3 inches lower than right side on abdomen. Funny feeling in thighs

now

gone. Muscles in arms aching. Stiff neck, warmth in feet and swelling on left

leg

has gone down. Feel pressure of pillow between legs at 4pm and at 5pm

feeling a lot stronger from knee to ankle.

29th-5th increased warmth in lower legs. Now have warm sensation in tummy.

 

21-6

Noticed indication of nerve connection in toes? Now able to hold and

maintain an upright posture. Oedema in legs very much improved.

 

26-6

When lowering legs from the bed to the floor, Penny and I noticed that there

was some evidence of self support as my legs did not drop to the floor as

they had done previously

 

1-7

Lime-scale in urine increased.

 

16-7

Following pins and needles sensation in his legs, John is now able to feel a

pillow placed between his calf muscles.

 

3-8

Toes responded to movement after massage and left leg had normal reflexes

when tapped on the knee. Right leg still has no reflex. No spasms when standing

in the frame.

 

12-8

John has now moved from the guest house to a flat. This is a big step for

John and means that he is no longer dependent. He could not have made this move

when we first met.

 

6-8

Legs feel as if they want to itch? When in the standing frame, no more

spasms. Note: Some days John’s link to his toes is less obvious and shows

little

signs of control. Adapted to new environment OK.

 

13-9-96

John visited Odstock, Salisbury’s spinal unit for an examination. During his

visit he was accused of weight training, because of his now huge muscle

bulk. He has now sustained a broken knee on his right leg, caused by levering

his

leg against the joint while trying to move from his chair. Xrays revealed

bone formation 2 inches below the damaged area of the knee.

 

17-9-96

Visited John who reported that now, when he sits down he actually feels like

he is sitting down. He is now able to feel the pressure from his catheter

strap. He can also feel a pillow when it is placed between his feet, while

resting. Left hand has improved vastly. When I pressed his toe firmly, he could

feel the pressure. His right toes have been responding by moving when trying

to move them. The left toes are also responding but not as much. No urine

infections. John is unable to use the standing frame because of his knee

injury.

 

 

 

25-10

John told me that his catheter leaked, but this time he could feel that his

foot was wet. I tested this in front of Mrs Penny Meredith, by placing an ice

cube in his sock. After a minute he could feel both the cold and wetness.

Also dramatic changes in muscle spasms, now only evident in toes.

 

2-11

John confirmed that he had had an erection, he also confirmed that his

bowels are functioning properly and can now push his stools out by muscular

control. Penny Meredith (Nurse), was first to point this out and said that his

stools now had shape and looked normal, which indicated that muscular control

had

returned to his bowels.

 

8-11-96

Sensation on left side now moved down to pubic area. “And it’s pretty

strong

â€. Burn mark on leg appears to be getting smaller.

 

28-3-97

Met John, who is now convinced that his legs will be moving within 4 months,

so strong is the feeling in his legs that on occasions he has kicked out

while trying to do so. It is not like a spasm, which he used to get, this was

completely different. He also feels he may be able to hold his urine back and

he is intending to try a normal catheter. His eyesight has improved to the

point where he is now able to view the television properly.

 

15-5-97

John told me today that when he uses a bladder-wash (consists of a small

clear bag of fluid, which he attaches to his catheter. He is now able to

physically push urine and the liquid used in the wash bag from his bladder, up

the

tube and into the bag, whilst holding it above his abdomen. He is achieving

this by consciously using his muscles, which indicates bladder control may also

be returning.

 

7-6-97

Met john at his flat. His bowels are functioning OK now. He still feels like

his legs want to itch, but they don’t. Over the last two months he has had

pains in his kidney area, which caused a severe ache. John feels that because

of his right knee injury, (which has not yet been operated on?), he is unable

to use the standing frame any more. He has developed very large muscles in

his upper body. Still able to push bladder wash back into the bag, by

controlling his bladder. Increased vitamin C to 1000 mg per day and urine is

still

clear. Furthermore, he has not had a urine infection since he began sleeping on

an incline. The development of inner warmth in both legs and is more intense

and now feels like he has used a deep heat type of treatment. This sensation

is always in his thighs and calves and on occasions runs right through to

his toes. Over the last two weeks John has begun to feel pressure on his bottom

when lying on the bed. Before he could feel pressure only when sitting in

his motorised chair. Hips very tight and getting a lot of headaches recently.

When asked how far he thought he had improved since we began this therapy, he

answered sixty per cent. I then asked john if he still had problems with his

left shoulder. He is now able to fully rotate the arm and can push with it.

The strength has increased by up to seventy per cent and he has no pain from it

at all. I then asked john if he thought he would be able to use a manual

wheelchair and he replied “Yesâ€. This is a significant turning point for

John,

as he would obviously benefit from additional exercise. When asked about his

fits, John told me that he no longer has any problems, other than an

occasional slight spasm in his left arm, which he is now able to suppress.

 

Posted by Andrew K Fletcher on Aug 16, 2007 4:47 AM [Reply to this]

 

 

 

 

SCI’s and the Importance of Gravity Dependence in Nerve Regeneration.

 

Case2:

 

Julian: Complete Spinal cord injury at C6 and C7.

 

Julian’s injury was caused by a diving accident.

 

Pre intervention

 

He has no feeling in his legs and suffers from a constant urine infection,

which appears to flare up once a week and does not respond well to

antibiotics. This urinary problem causes influenza-like symptoms and makes him

feel very

cold. He has had pneumonia 3 times since his accident. He is unable to use

of feel his hands, which are locked up in very tight fists. He has no normal

reflex action in his legs. Curiously, his leg appeared to go back when his

knee was struck. When I tried to cross his legs over to test his reflexes, they

were extremely tight. So tight that I was worried about breaking his leg and

decided to support his legs under the knee joint. His legs are devoid of

sensation and voluntary movement. Each time he uses his standing frame he blacks

out.

 

At one point Julian was told that he should have an operation on the tendons

in his wrists in order to release them. Julian refused to have the operation

at Salisbury, (Odstock), Spinal Unit. He also refused to have his bladder

sphincter surgically cut.

 

He is devoid of sensation below the armpit level and has little control over

his upper or lower body. While in bed Julian suffers from feeling very cold.

He lacks the ability to control or maintain his body temperature during the

day or night. “I also suffer with headaches regularly. Throughout the night,

Julian requires turning several times, in order to avoid pressure sores. He

is unable to fight his children off when they play fight with him, while he

rests in bed.

 

Two years prior to his spinal cord injury he broke and dislocated his right

shoulder. Tjis caused him considerable pain and he was told that he would

always have problems with it. One year later he broke and dislocated his left

shoulder and the prognosis for ongoing problems was the same as the previous

one. Following Julian’s Spinal Cord Injury he still has problems (as

predicted)

from the damage he sustained to his shoulders. Two years from the time of

his spinal cord injury and four years since his first shoulder injury, Julian

has made little progress in this area. He still suffers from the pain.

 

 

Pilot Study Notes:

 

21-8-96

Body temperature has gone up, feet are warm now, muscle spasms have

improved, legs feel less tight, hands feel warm, hands feel a if they want to

move.

Abdominal muscles more supple and bowels working better.

 

25-8

Upper body strength has noticeably increased. When using calliper, I noticed

my legs were swollen as they normally would have been, however after one

nights rest they returned to normal. No lethargy. Aches and pains feel

different

now. Am able to do more physiotherapy.

 

31-8

Had my first tummy ache since the accident. Urine is clear now. Standing in

the standing frame longer. Feet have been moving? Hands softer, urine leaking

during the night. Feeling tired.

 

7-9

Change of sensation in toes. I feel well in myself. Have now developed

tingling sensation in my knees, I feel like they want to move. When trying to

raise my toes they go down? This is a very interesting observation, because

when

I tested his reflexes at the start his legs went backwards slightly? Upper

body strength still improving.

 

9-9

Spent two nights lying flat to determine whether it was the bed which was

improving my condition. I felt irritable and my muscle spasms increased. I also

noticed a sweat odour.

 

 

14-9

Noticed twinges in my legs and now able to cross my legs with a little help.

Which means that my muscles are more relaxed. Developed pins and needles

feeling in my legs and I now have backache.

 

19-9

All sensation of pressing pressures now responding and I am able to feel

pressure on any part of my body. Have not had any urine infections since

raising

my bed. Not drinking so much. Calf stretching exercises now cause me to ache

normally. I spent 2 hours upright in my full body calliper and I was OK the

next day. I am ok in the mornings now and I feel like I can get up and walk.

I now feel an uncomfortable pinching sensation when I am in bed. I am always

as warm as toast now and my hands do feel warm.

 

5-10-96

80 over 40 blood pressure and my heart rate is 40 beats per minute, which

incidentally was the same as my fighting fitness rates. (former boxer). I

haven’

t had bronchitis since I raised my bed, this is impressive because I have

suffered pneumonia 3 times in the past since I had my accident. Had a urine

infection.

 

20-10-96

Received advice from Tromans at Odstock Spinal Unit, though did not have any

use for it. Headaches now gone. Shins burning up and very sensitive to

touch, sensitivity in my legs has now fully returned. Toes are now working

correctly and like the rest of my body are more sensitive. I feel that I am

able to

do more sit-ups 3 lots of 40.

 

5-11-96

Hands now staying open, tingling has improved in hands and lower legs,

sensitivity improving all the time. On Sunday I stood for seven hours and

didn’t

go giddy at all. My legs were swollen though. Feet still a little swollen now.

Toe nails growing faster, I cut them every five weeks. My catheter is

suffering every seven weeks now instead of every five weeks.

 

6-12-96

so much warmer now, both in and out of bed. Sat outside with just a T shirt

on. Sat in my chair today, I am now able to take the weight of the brown

board from under the bed.

 

3-1-1997

Hands more relaxed and warmer. I am able to stay warm despite the freezing

weather. I am now able to throw the kids off me when they attack. Had no urine

infections since October, I used to get problems once a week. Bowels working

better and I did not get ill this Winter. I would normally become very ill. “

Everyone else has been ill thoughâ€.

 

19-2-97

Bladder infection, swelling is bad and have been sick for six days.

 

30-3-97

Everything OK. Had examination at Salisbury, (Odstock) All my internal

organs are working fine/ Ankles aching, sensitivity OK all over, I can feel a

creased sheet on any part of my body.

 

9-5-97

While out for the day in a T shirt, I suffered a severe bout of hypothermia

and was determined not to end up in hospital, I felt very ill. I finally

arrived home and within 3 hours of inclined bed-rest I was completely back to

normal.

 

9-6-97

When asked to assess his improvements on a percentage basis, Julian insisted

that he is a 100 % better than before he raised his bed. Julian travelled

several miles the other day in his wheelchair and while going down hill he

tipped it over. He waited twenty minutes for a passer by to help him back into

his chair and then continued on his way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DICTAPHONE RECORDED THIS CONVERSATION.

Andrew K Fletcher holds the master tape.

 

17-8-1997

 

The Conversation

 

Today’s date is Sunday August 17th 1997 and I am at the home of Julian

Boustead, Sitting down, watching Julian writing with a felt tipped pen, on A4

sheets of paper. Julian appears to have control, he appears to have grip in his

hands and he can feel the felt tipped pen, which is held in his fingertips.

And Julian is forming letters and words in front of my eyes. Julian assures me

that he couldn’t do this before raising his bed, which has been about 11

months ago.

 

I have left the tape on record now in order to monitor what is said during

this exercise.

 

Recorded

 

So, just trying to get my head around what’s happening. When we started,

before we raised your bed, your hands were locked up solid? Julian: “Yesâ€.

You

had no sensitivity in your fingers? “No, none at all, just numbness on the

left,-well both sides really, exactly the same really and just cold on the

arms.

 

How would you push yourself along in your wheelchair before? “With the palm

of my handsâ€. And the hands were in the shape of a fist? “Basically yesâ€.

They were forming a fist because they were too tight? “Yes, mainly spasmâ€.

So

they were locked up! How are your hands different now? “Nice and soft, lovely

and warm and more relaxed and better sensitivity and feeling in both handsâ€.

 

So you can feel the pen that is in your hand now? “I can now, yes, well the

only ones I can’t feel is my little fingers, that’s all really, you can

tellâ€

Julian points to skin damage to little finger.

 

I told Julian that this was similar to the way people with leprosy damage

their fingers and toes, due to loss of sensitivity.

 

Could you just write your name and address and telephone number for me, I

know that we have done it once before, but I’d like to see it once again? So

Julian has started to write his name and address and the hand writing is

readable. Julian has written his name. He is writing with his right hand.

Interestingly his second attempt at writing appears to have improved by around

40%.

Could you write the date down? “17th� Yes, and its Sunday. “I know

thatâ€.

August 97. Could you sign your name? Excellent! Taking a new sheet of paper

could we try again now using the left hand? Julian added, “I have never been

able to write with my left handâ€. Julian is now holding the pen as he did

with

the right hand previously. Can you feel the pen in that hand? “Yes I can feel

the same feeling in both hands reallyâ€. How are you gripping the pen? “I

thought it was balance. I don’t know, I am holding it between my thumb and

forefinger, it feels like.†You say it feels like, you can feel yourself

gripping?

“I can feel it butâ€. There’s no strength? “No strength, well I suppose

there must be a little bit to hold the penâ€. I see that from time to time the

thumb is moving up and down. “Well to be honest with you, I suppose

subconsciously your trying so therefore its trying, its sort of spasmodic

movement

through. Well it does move up and down slightly don’t it� It does move up

and

down! Now, move the thumb up and down. The thumb is moving up and down, would

you agree with that? “I would reallyâ€. Well we are not imagining what we

are

seeing here are we? “No, I suppose it is on the ends, definitely some

improvement then, I’ll just carry on writing, I’ll never be able to write my

name

else. Its doing the letters back to front you seeâ€. I can read Newton Abbot

and Julian is writing his telephone number and I am able to read it. That’s

amazing and Julian has just signed his name. “It looks like Johnâ€.

 

Amazing, Pretty damn excellent. “Well that’s the first writing I’ve done

since I’ve been home!†Why couldn’t you have written before? “I

couldn’t put

enough pressure on the pen to make enough markâ€. Could I just shake your

hand? “Ain’t making no deals.†No leverage and no trickery, how does that

feel? “

It feels normal.†Does it feel like you would expect it to feel if someone

was shaking your hand? Can you try to move the other thumb and again don’t

try

to lever. I can see the thumb moving can you keep the hand still. “The thumb

is moving.†It is, It is, it appears to be trying to work doesn’t it,

though there is only a small amount of movement, just a twitching of the thumb.

“

Yes but that’s controlled spasms, it’s just trying to get there.â€

 

So if I shake you’re other hand, again no trickery. How does that feel? “It

feels normal again., apart from the little finger, that’s all.†Now the

thumb is definitely moving on this hand. There is a lot of effort going into

that and I can actually see the thumb moving, its lifting up, are you trying to

lift the thumb up? “Yes the thumb-I am, and that’s the hardest one to do,

the left one is worse.†Try to push down on the thumb. The thumb is going

down.

Now try to lift the thumb. The thumb is going up, can you see that? “Yes,

its doing very well.†That’s amazing! “Just something I just don’t take

much

notice of.†You usually help with drawings now and you couldn’t do drawings

before? “No a few months ago I couldn’t even hold a pen.†How long have

you

been able to hold a pen? “About 2 months. “You know that’s about the best

I’

ve done, normally the pen slips out of my fingersâ€. That pen’s not going to

slip out! “Noâ€. I saw you earlier grip a piece of paper, could you explain

how you are able to achieve this? “Yeah you just put your hands around it

–I

don’t know really I just get my wrist and tend to flick it, and its there,

it’

s –I don’t know really.†Looking at you holding the paper it looks

normal. “

No I just take it for granted really. You mention that your hands would be

cold normally prior to raising your bed? “Yes but they are lovely, lovely and

warm all of the time now, like normal body temperature.†You can determine

this without touching your hands? “Yes, I know if they are warm or cold, they

feel lovely!†That’s a definite link back to the brain! “Yes they do feel

nice, whereas before they did feel cold and they were cold too! A sort of

numbness feeling but all that’s gone, pins and needles, static, all that. The

only

thing that feels tight are my little fingers.†You said at one time that they

felt like a fat lip? “Yes they still feel like that, funny enough, but not

all of the finger now actually. All of the hands felt like it before though.â€

“

I have noticed that if I get pins and needles in my hands it usually affects

the little finger more. Yes its like you have laid on it and it’s gone to

sleep.†Previously I used to get a feeling that my hands and forearms were

dead. It’s not half as bad now and only evident on my little fingers.

 

How is the sensitivity around the rest of your body? “The only bad

sensitivity I have got is from the shins down.†When you say bad, do you mean

that you

can’t feel sensitivity below the shins? “I can feel all over, but it’s a

bad tickling feeling and pins and needles from the shins down, whereas before

it was from the armpits down.†“The rest feels quite normal internally and

externally, apart from sharpened things and hot and cold objects really. But

internally I feel lovely and warm, I feel normal, which is frustrating isn’t

it.

†What about your upper body strength, are there any changes in that area? I

know we have discussed this before. “I’m definitely stronger because we are

talking about going on to heavier weights. “Upper body strength, well, I had

a wrestle the other week, funny enough the week before last with the

children, I was right as rain with them, so it’s a lot better for me because,

before

I could do nothing!â€

 

I have seen you in your standing frame, you let your body go back and then

pull yourself up. How do you achieve this, what are the mechanisms you are

using? “If I can spasm the muscle, basically I can spasm it, -of I don’t

know

really, but I can feel it tensing, so I can make it work.†You can feel the

muscles contract, is that what you mean? “Yes, I can make myself free stand,

obviously from the waste up for about thirty seconds, by controlling the spasm

as such, which normally is done subconsciously, whereas I am more aware of it.

Sitting on the bed is so much better as well, I can feel the tightness in my

back, whereas before it was so loose. So it’s nice in that area, which is

improving vastly and goes from strength to strength. But I do feel my body gets

tired though, that’s the trouble.†Would you attribute that to doing more?

“

Just doing more exercise, yes and for longer periods, although it is only

ten or fifteen seconds longer on each exercise, my body just seems to find it a

little more taxing really.â€

 

What kind of exercises do you do in your workout? “Just stretch ones using

the body in itself. Then free sitting on the side. Whereas it was usually for

about ten seconds, My father in-law Vince helps me to do it for about thirty

seconds now and that’s four different exercises and over that period it’s a

much longer time.†What about sit-ups, you mentioned them, is that unaided?

No Vince sits in front of me sort of aiding me, but I still have to pull up

for myself. So I still try to spasm the stomach to help ease up as well,

because if the muscles are tight there is additional friction.

 

What about your abdominal muscles, are they more supple or more tense? “

Supple I’d say.â€

 

When we first met your legs were really tight. “They’re very tight now

actually, I can feel that they are tight now.†When I first met you they were

like rigor-mortise had set in. “Yes, but they are quite natural now.†I was

worried about breaking your lags, when I tried to test your reflexes. “They

go

tight at the moment but they need a good stretch to make them go alright

again.

 

Do you think they are affected by sitting in your chair? “I think they are

actually, it depends on the chair I’m in. It acts up behind the knee, its

that

sit down posture, I think.†“They just tend to tighten up during the

daytime.†I advised Julian to raise the bottom of his chair. Julian said that

he

would put an extra cushion under his seat. He commented that his wheelchair was

like a bucket, but added that this posture was useful outdoors. “This does

make me feel worse than sitting in the other one, in this position, which says

something’s not right with it. “No it feels its not right too.†How does

this alter when you get on your inclined bed? “Just a few strong spasms

really,

until I stretch out again and then I’m alright and quite happy, but this is

uncomfortable all day long.†What about waking in the mornings, is that

improving? “Waking, No just normal! I get up normal every day. Don’t get

that

horrible giddiness either. So you used to feel giddy in the mornings?

“Terrible,

funny enough I felt giddy on the way back from when I met you, (down by the

horses and in his motorised chair.) “My tube was blocked because of the way

I’

m sitting you see. I had to go for a pit stop and have an alteration because

the tube was kinked and it was not flowing the way is should be.†But again

it’s this bloody position!â€

 

PAUSE

 

Would you like to repeat that? “I think the feelings in my feet have

recently changed, they feel like a burning sensation whereas before it was like

pins

and needles.†If you touch your feet are they hot? “I don’t know really,

Vince could tell you that, he never complains that they are cold now, because

before they used to be freezing.†But now when the nurses come in the

mornings

they say my feet are like pieces of toast.†“But that’s the way they

feel,

they feel they are on fire, they really do they feel red-hot.†Do you get

spasms in your legs now? “I do get spasms in the legs. Funny, I had a bad

night

last night, well I say bad, it was just that I was really close to the edge of

the bed. My leg spasm’d and just dropped down the side of the bed, whereas

normally I would be able to control it and keep my legs straight. But normally

with regard to spasms, I wouldn’t really have any problems at all. In fact I

get my legs into position and they stay there all night and don’t move at

all and I have a comfy night.†How were they before we put the bed up?

“They

were quite tight before and if I moved they would spasm more. And they would

be jumping around all night, whereas they don’t do that any more. “They do

spasm at times but very rarely.

 

First time I called my Wife down stairs in may weeks, whereas before she was

down all of the time, you know, repositioning me. But last night was the

first time in weeks, so its minimum really, wouldn’t say I don’t get any

because I would be telling a lie.†“But then again on no pills so its even

better

again isn’t it.†You say you have reduced your medication? “Yes, I’ve

dropped it down again now, especially the muscle relaxants, I just don’t feel

no

need for it, You know its doing the job on its own and that’s another

bonus.â€

 

Your sitting I a chair now, do you actually feel like you are sitting down? “

I feel like I’m sitting down and its as uncomfortable as hell, like I want

to get up and move.†Again relating this back to how you were? No then I was

just glad to sit and didn’t mind what position I was in.†Could you

determine

what position you were in then? Very vaguely and only visually because you

knew you wasn’t square.†“But now you feel uncomfortable. If my hips are

under too far, I know because its pinching, my internal muscles feel like they

are pinching as well. You feel like you are sat on them. You just move the hip

out and then you feel more comfortable. So there is obviously some sensory

improvement thereâ€

 

What about bladder control? “Well no my bladder control is really iffy. I

think just paralysed as it is but no infection so again that’s another bonus.

“

The last infection was months ago, whereas normally it was once a week or

once a fortnight on a good period.â€

 

 

One year before Julian’s accident, He broke and dislocated his left shoulder

and was left in considerable pain. Julian has just realised that the pain

has now gone and this is despite the fact that he was told that he would always

suffer from this injury. Furthermore the year before that he broke his right

shoulder and was given the same prognosis from his consultant.

 

Julian no longer experiences any pain from the two shoulder injuries,

despite the fact that he still suffered from these injuries, up to the point we

met

and two years after his spinal cord injury.

 

I met Julian on the 13-3-1999 and found that although he has not made much

more progress he has not deteriorated.

 

An interesting observation occurred around six weeks previously when he

developed a pressure sore. This developed during one night’s stay in hospital

while sleeping on a flat bed and not being rotated. He was told that it would

be

around six months before he could expect to see some improvement. Despite

this the sore had greatly improved in a couple of weeks, following his return

to inclined bed-rest.

 

In order for Julian to progress further, he needs to alter his sitting

posture, and to stand for longer periods. He also need to exercise more and

informs me that he has become lazy over the winter months. He has also gained

about

20 lbs. and needs to alter his diet accordingly.

 

Posted by Andrew K Fletcher on Aug 16, 2007 4:48 AM

 

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