6 Month Update

I have waited to send this month's update until after seeing my doctor. I am getting a very slight finger movement in my left thumb, index finger and middle finger. The right hand fingers are a little stronger. My mid section muscles are very slowly getting stronger. I am noticing more pain in my muscles. Lately it is the left hand fingers, right biceps and leg muscles. Also my legs need to be moved more frequently at night due to discomfort. I can straighten them myself and believe it is getting easier to do so. Spasms are a little stronger in the legs at night. I still believe the overall changes have been for the good.

5 Month Update

In the past month my bowel muscles have gotten stronger. I could always tell the need but now the actual doing is within 5 minutes. My left thumb now has a consistent flicker. Midsection muscles are slowly getting stronger but I can still not sit up on my own. While in bed my legs are easier to straighten from a bent position. My legs are more sensative in bed and require me to move them periodically. I was bending them and staying on my side all night. Now I reposition much more. I believe my ability to hold when needing to urinate is getting better. All of these are small and gradual. Nothing amazing or abrupt.

3 Month Update

It has been a month since my last update. The stiffness in my hands has returned to presurgery level so now no change in my hands. My chest muscles and the muscles between my ribs continue to function well. The rib muscles assist in breathing so these are helpful. Spasms have begun in my lower back which is new. When sitting on the edge of the mat my trunk control has improved. I have an MRI scheduled for September 21 which will be my first since surgery. The sharp/dull test on my upper body showed slight improvement. My lower body was not tested at this time. My leg muscles are showing slight improvement but is not to the level of useful function. Bowel muscles are closer to returning to presurgery level. My ability to hold when having to urinate has improved in the last month. I can easily hold for 45 minutes to an hour after feeling I could go. It is the ease of holding that has changed. My legs still do not spasm at night like they did before surgery but the spasms are slowly returning. Now my legs want to push straight out whereas after surgery they would lay bent all night. I am currently in theraphy twice a week. I do weight workout, FES bike and either mat work or suspended weight treadmill. Next week I add an hour of OT each session.