Incomplete transverse section C7 due to haemorrhage through the spinal cord

English community Health Themes Physical Disabilities
1

Hello dear like-minded people,

Unfortunately, I am an incomplete paraplegic due to an operation (doctor's screw-up) from C7 due to an operation haemorrhage (haematoma) and I have many questions and would like to have some experienced advice

My physical situation:

1. numbness in both knees

2. sensory disturbances in the feet

3. numbness on the chest

4. numbness on the surface of the left leg on the thigh and inner side, but with full strength

5. numbness superficial right leg on inner side with severe muscle atrophy and more weakened strength

6. back, above hips, left side more superficial numbness than right side

7. total upper back mild numbness

8th abdomen - moderate numbness

9. genital area - slight numbness

10. arms and legs are fully movable

11. no problems with stool and urine

12. erection possible - ejaculation not yet attempted

13. have a feeling everywhere on the body when touched

Now to my questions:

1. how do you see the overall situation?

2. it has now been 8 weeks, can it still get better?

3. my walking has become very difficult recently, with severe muscle tension in the abdomen and lower back. What can this be?

Does anyone have any tips to improve this? Strangely, when I press lightly on my abdomen with my hand, the tension goes away and I can walk better - could this be psychological tension?

4. has anyone also had a haematoma in the spinal cord and can report on it?

5) I am going to a neurological rehab soon, can I expect any success from it?

6. the numbness is sometimes more or less severe. Can anyone explain this?

I would be very happy if someone would take care of my concern.

Best regards

2

Response 1:

I would be happy to answer your questions. I have been caring for patients with spinal cord injuries for years.

Re1. Bleeding during/after an operation is not always the same as "medical malpractice". Every operation is associated with a certain risk of something going wrong. This can be vascular anomalies, bleeding into the marrow that could not have been foreseen and much more.

Haemorrhage into the spinal cord is not that rare and generally has a good prognosis.

Re 2. 8 weeks is not yet enough time to be able to say what will happen next. It always takes a while for changes to become apparent, regardless of the therapies.

Re 3. This can also have many causes, from muscle soreness (due to incorrect gait pattern) to spasticity, which is also normal to a certain extent. It's best to discuss this with your doctors. The way you describe it, it is most likely to be spasticity. They can be treated in different ways. Physiotherapy and medication.

Re4. As described above, it is not a rare complication with a good chance of recovery if it is recognised in time. In this case, there is no direct trauma to the spinal cord. The paralysis is caused by compression and displacement of the spinal cord in the spinal canal.

Re5. You should make sure that you go to a special facility (rehab) for spinal cord patients and not to a "normal neuro-rehab facility". You can check this out with your doctors and therapists in advance. It is important that you cooperate well in the rehab. It won't get better on its own. Daily training is extremely important and decisive for the further course of your recovery.

Re6. The numbness can fluctuate, unfortunately this cannot be changed. Causes can be re-innervation of the nerves, how you have been sitting or lying down and many more.

It should be important for you...to have patience, to make an effort in the therapies...until you reach your physical capacity. It's like in the gym...there you also have to "torture" yourself in order to see success.

Be confident..it will get better!