Case 3
Michael
Start of therapy: Date__April 16___________1999__
HEIGHT: 6' 1" WEIGHT: 150 lbs DATE OF BIRTH: /59 AGE: 39
MY MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE LISTED AS FOLLOWS:--
I am paralyzed from the waist down, after long periods in the wheelchair my feet become swollen,
MY CURRENT PROBLEMS ARE LISTED AS FOLLOWS:-- the main problem is having to wear a plastic body cast when i am out of bed and slight pain in my lower back where the injury is
MY PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AS FOLLOWS:--
I broke my back at t-10 to t-12 and was operated on january 28th, 1999. harrington rods were inserted in my back-the spinal cord was completely severed On April 18th I had the bed elevated 6 degrees from the horizontal. Below are the First diary entries.
1st week notes diary entry dates:_April 19 to April 25
the temperature in my legs is higher now and i sweat a lot while sleeping. the spasms in my legs have also increased by about 30%. i have no discomfort and did not have any problem adapting to the new sleep angle. i actually believe I am sleeping more soundly.
2nd week notes diary entry dates: April 25 to May 2
the temperature in my legs has remained the same and the spasm levels in my legs is also the same. Now I am experiencing spasms in my lower torso that
cause me to almost double over. The pain level has not increased. I still sleep very soundly.
fortnightly reviews (2 WEEKS) diary entry dates:_May 3 to May 17
My legs stay warm all the time now. I also have more feeling internally, I can feel the movement in my hip joints when I move my legs. I also have a tingling feeling in my legs that wasn’t there before. I am able to urinate more often without using a catheter. I am also able to contract my lower back muscles.
fortnightly reviews diary entry dates: May 18 to June 1
I am beginning to have some feeling on my buttocks and my legs sweat a lot when I am sleeping. I also am experiencing some tingling in my feet
when I go to bed. My bowel movements have become much easier and more regular. I also have a lot more pain in my lower back than I used to.
fortnightly reviews diary entry dates: June 2 to June 16
i'm sleeping much better than ever and the spasms in my legs have become stronger and more intense but shorter in length. the pain in my lower
back has leveled off. the area of sensation is about an inch lower than it was a month ago.
fortnightly reviews diary entry dates:
June 17 to July 1
i have much more feeling internally as far as my bladder and hip joints. the pain in my lower back has decreased somewhat and i'm not taking as many pain killers as in the past. i have much more of an appetite now.
fortnightly reviews diary entry dates: July 2 to July 16
I have fewer spasms in my legs now but they're more intense than ever with my legs straightening out all the way and my toes spreading. the pain in my back is still decreasing. the area of sensation is now at my belly button. at the time of the accident is was about 2 inches above it.
fortnightly reviews diary entry dates: July 17 to July 31
the pain in my lower back is hardly there at all and i only use pain killers at night to help me sleep. i can now feel my bladder when it's full and have much more consistent levels of urine when i use the bathroom. bowel movements have become much easier and i am getting more sensation internally. the area of sensation has moved to about 1/2 inch
below my belly button.