October 15 - Slowly, but Surely

We are slowly but surely learning to be patient in AJ's healing. The experts assure us that although it is slow, his progress is impressive for this injury. It makes me realize just how severe his spinal cord injury is.  Here are some new skills he has acquired:

*Put shirt over his head and pull it down in front, with assistance pulling it down in the back.  (We are still mystified at how he will take a shirt off!)

*Leaned over the sink by using his shoulder and head momentum (no core strength) and then braced himself on the sink with his arms.  Then turned the water on and off (the handles on the sink are shaped like levers so that eliminates the need for twisting with the wrist or using hand).

I got very excited tonight when AJ was able to control the rate at which his left index finger relaxed after an episode of spasticity. I realize that this is not the same thing as lifting his finger from a relaxed position, but I figure his mind is commanding his finger to interrupt the

Spasticity is a side effect of paralysis that varies from mild muscle stiffness to severe, uncontrollable leg movements.  Generally, doctors now call conditions of extreme muscle tension Spastic Hypertonia (SH).  

For AJ the SH rarely interferes with his daily tasks, which means he will not have to be on medication for it. When he is getting ready for bed we can count on a spasm shooting through his body when we touch and move his feet.  They start from the foot and radiate up through the hands. Some people can use these spasms to their advantage, so we'll shoot for that!