Spinal AVM rehab

[Steve]

I had AVM surgery at T10-11 on 1/18/05 at Stanford University at age 49. At time of surgery I had been paralyzed from the waist down since 1/13/05. This was a result of many symptoms occurring during 2004, yet none pointed to the AVM.

I experienced, to the best of my recollection, the following in sequencial order: numbness around the anus, frequent urinations, pain in right calf, numbness at the base of 2 toes on the rt. foot all in the 1st 6 months of 2004.

Then the mystery gets clouded. I experience weakeness that comes and goes in both legs beginning 7/04. 1st MRI in 9/04 of my lumbar shows a pinch of L4-5 nerve. This doesn't make sense, since it only effected the right leg. I continue to get weaker and finally get referred to a neurologist 11/04/04. He suspects soething may be in the cervical or thoracic areas and recommends an MRI. This is missed by my primary care physician. I experience, while working a near "black out" episode, 12/05/04 and a MRI of my brain is ordered (nothing). All during December I continue to get weaker in both legs. A cervical MRI was performed 12/31/04 (slight bulge C1-C2). I thought this may be the answer, my Dr sends me to a chiropractor, which I begin the 1st week of Jan.'05. I felt some improvement, probably to the L4-5 pinch and am encouraged.

I wake up 1/13/05 and want to go to work. Before leaving, my legs both give out and I collapse on the patio. The onset of paralysis is beginning.

As mentioned, I had surgery and have been off work and rehabilitating ever since.

I was wheelchair bound until July of 2005, when I graduated to a 4 wheeled walker, which I still use today. I practice walking with a single cane daily and have achieved as 2000 consecutive yards w/o stopping. Occasionally, I will try to walk unassisted (with ankle braces only) and have made 750 yards. These efforts exhaust me.

I work out 5-6 days a weeks for 2-3hours at a local gym. This does not include my at home walking with the walker or cane. My typical regimen is LEGS on Monday, Thursday and Sunday and upper body on the other days (Saturdays for yard work). I don't watch TV or search the net more than 30 minutes a day.

I can leg press over 300lbs, squat (on Smith machine 150lbs) so strength is their. But I still need assisted walking. I'm 5'11 and 185lbs and determined.

I would like some input from others who experienced paralysis, like I did, and what they did or didn't do to recover. My goal is to walk unassisted, however, 16 months into the recovery a cane would be welcome.