How do you fellow quads get girlfriends? I recently met a C4 complete that had a girlfriend for over a year and up until then, I thought it was impossible, especially for us that are in power chairs.

I've tried dating apps. When I only put pictures where you can't see the chair, I get tons of matches and likes, but if I include pictures where you can see the chair, I get nothing at all. Totally blank.

Obviously there's less interest in us because of the chair, so how the hell do you meet girls who don't care about it?

I wondering if anyone else has this problem. I’m a C6 so I get erections from physical stimulation, but I find it happens way too easily from things as little as going over sidewalk bumps, and causing my pants to rub against my junk. Or being unable to sleep because of bedsheets touching or rubbing my privates lol i’m pretty self-conscious about it in public because nobody likes rolling around with a hard on for no reason… Just wondering if I’m the only one? I’m very spastic and for some reason erections seem to be tied to my spasticity.

Just wanted to get some thoughts from other people to see if this is something other people struggle with?

I understand in the grand scheme of SCI. It’s not a bad problem to have as far as sexuality, but can be quite embarrassing!

I was part of the Take-A-Wish foundation. It's a program that takes kids and cripples them and makes sure their dreams never come true

I'm pretty sure I have a bladder infection but the sediment is thick like mucus and there was a little blood yesterday but it seems like it's getting worse is that normal? Kinda freaked out rn

In December of 2022, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis at C2. I had complete right sided body numbness and lost 90% control of my right hand for 3 months or so. Luckily, over the span of a year, my symptoms went away and I was left with very residual symptoms overall. By December of 2023, I even stopped taking my neuropathic medication and resumed physicals workouts and soccer at a brisk level of course. I was feeling wonderful for months, finally back to my normal self.

On 3/5/2024, I began having a random sensation on the bottom of my left foot, which after a few days I realized was a neuropathic issue and went to the doctor. Since then, my symptoms have slightly worsened in my left foot, becoming far more constant and noticeable, and I'm even getting occasional bottom of right foot issues now. I completed a full Spine and Brain MRI just weeks ago in hopes to identify what could be causing these new neuropathic issues.

My C-Spine MRI still showed the C2 lesion of course, but no changes whatsoever. Brain and Lumbar Spine MRI were completely clear. Now my Thoracic Spine MRI showed a 2MM syrinx from T2-T11. This syrinx was also identified in the hospital noted from T3-T11, but the Neurologist nor the Neurosurgeon seemed to be concerned about it one bit, from what I'm guessing is due to the C2 lesion being the obvious culprit of my symptoms at the time. Since my hospitalization in December of 2022, the syrinx has not changed in MM size, but has apparently increased in length by 1 vertebra upwards according to the MRI's even though it wasn't specifically noted in the impression. My neurologist is unsure what's causing this peripheral neuropathy in my feet, and I am currently awaiting various blood test results for a potential culprit, yet I feel everything will return normal. My neurologist also referred me to a neurosurgeon regarding this syrinx...

After reading online regarding syrinx, I am growing very concerned. I'm very worried a neurosurgeon will look at my images and say I need spinal cord surgery, and that would be an absolute nightmare. In my initial Thoracic Spine MRI completed in 12/2022, it was stated this is a "very mild syrinx", while my second Thoracic Spine MRI completed in 4/2024 just states "syrinx from T2-T11" and that its "stable". I will note the impression of my two completed Thoracic Spine MRI's below.

• Is my syrinx large in terms of its vertebral length?
  • I have read online, 2MM isn't very large, but it spans 7 vertebrae, almost my entire T-Spine
• Can a Thoracic Syrinx cause bottom of the feet peripheral neuropathy?
  • I am really only experiencing neuropathic symptoms in the bottom of my left foot mainly, with some intermittent symptoms in the bottom of my right foot
• Does anyone have any personal experience regarding Syrinx?
  • Any personal experience or educated opinion on the matter would be greatly appreciated

Thoracic spine MRI 12/22/2022:

IMPRESSION: No distinct pathologic intramedullary enhancement is identified. Mild dilation of the central canal of the spinal cord measuring up to 2 mm in maximal diameter from approximately the level of T3 to approximately the level of T11. This is nonspecific and may be considered a very mild syrinx. No additional spinal cord signal abnormality to indicate demyelination

Thoracic spine MRI 4/16/2024:

IMPRESSION: Stable MRI examination of the thoracic spine with and without contrast, with syrinx extending from T2-T11. No abnormal enhancement. Thoracic cord otherwise appears unremarkable.

I am 25F, I have an incomplete spinal cord injury (T12) and my spouse and I are starting to think about children. I looked on the internet for infos but most of it is data and it’s pretty scarce, I would be thankful if women that went through it would be willing to answer.

How hard was managing your bowels/bladder during pregnancy and post partum?

Were you able to have a natural delivery?

Anyone had a water birth?

Is tearing during delivery common and how hard is it to manage with a spinal cord injury?

I just got knocked down from meridian to straight Medicaid, anyone else have this issue? I hit my auto cap immediately in the hospital and Medicaid picked up the back end of what is prolly millions in bills. Was in an auto accident in December and I’m 20 and don’t really know shit about how any of this works, obviously gotta get in the phone and start asking questions just dreading that hassle and don’t even know where to start tbh. Took away my enemeez so I’m a little salty about that, like shit I’ll pay for em tbh it’s worth it

So I’ve been injured 2+ yrs & haven’t been able to drive again due to me needing a new vehicle after mine was sadly vandalized & totaled while in the hospital but I plan on hopefully getting back behind the wheel this year

𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 everywhere & cannot find or even know if it is even possible if there are any hand controls out there for people who enjoy 800+hp vehicles, & need to be able to have 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨❓

Anyone with longer injury experience or my fellow car ppl with any advice, if this is possible in some way please help explain to me how & if it’s not in anyway you can break it to me bluntly I’ll be okay

I’m a T6/t7 incomplete and I use arm crutches primarily for mobility and wheelchair for really long distances. I was in a relationship prior to my injury and a little bit into the beginning of it. It was the best relationship I had so far and we are still friends but the relationship didn’t end the best. I haven’t entered back into the dating scene because I’m scared that I won’t find someone that I connect with that deeply that I did with my ex. Also, I want people to see me first and not my mobility aids. I feel like I get overlooked because they see my mobility aids first. I’m a pretty attractive and I overcompensate with my fashion style so that distracts from the mobility aids, but still. Idk. I’m nervous.

Hello everyone, not sure if this is the right place to ask this question, but how easy would it be to fool doctors into believing you have a spinal cord injury and are paraplegic? I ask because of a recent case in which someone was able to fool multiple doctors into believing he was paraplegic when in reality could walk fine and was mobile . Are there specific objective tests to determine if someone is paraplegic or is it in large part based on the persons account of what he is feeling or experience?

I need at least 50 subscribers on YouTube to be able to do a Live Video. Please help out. The special ability community is one of the only communities in my whole life that I prolonged being apart of, although I am apart of it. And I’m happy that the growth and acceptance of the life changing experience, makes me just as happy to be apart of this community, as any other communities I have ever been apart of before it all. Please subscribe to GodBody900 on YT. I welcome all backgrounds of our community. In hopes of establishing a sharing, loving, and healing community in all ways necessary for each and all of us. May Good Faith And Positivity Be In All Of Our Favor. Looking Forward To The Open And Different Type Of Conversations. 💚

Hey all,

If this post is not appreciated due to anything, please let me know and I will remove it. It's hard for me to grasp if I'm saying insensitive things or if my tone is off due to autism.

I've stumbled upon this subreddit from the recent AMA post by Quake (will edit to give link). All that I have read has really touched me, and the recoveries have inspired me significantly.

A bit of background on me and why I think your recoveries are so incredibly inspiring. I'm 25 years old and diagnosed autistic, quite severe, with ADHD, medicated. While this link maybe has never been drawn before, autism and a spinal cord injury share an analogous neurological struggle. Not truly similar, however still enough touching points for a comparison. For that reason, anyone in this subreddit who manages any sort of recovery is just beyond inspiring to me.

To explain that comparison, when you're autistic, your brain is neuron soup, and so, amongst other things, sending the right information down your spinal cord to move properly is difficult; the pathways my brain uses are too complex, too inefficient. Motor skill difficulties are a hallmark of autism.

When you have a spinal cord injury, your brain is fine, however sending the right information down your spinal cord is still difficult. The issue now does not lie within the brain, but within the neurons in your spine not being able to transport the entire information.

So what do you guys do to recover? Just a truly insane feat of humanity. I cannot describe it differently. The neurons that you have left in your spinal cord cannot fit the original information anymore, so instead you change your brain to generate information that does fit. You create new pathways and train them with such vigorous intent that it's genuinely similar to an Olympian practicing their sport. If you're able to move a little after such an accident and you manage to train that little movement into much more, you've achieved more than most ever will. That is an incredible INCREDIBLE manipulation of your own brain. So that's why it's inspiring to me. I struggle with shaping those pathways all my life, so to then see the top posts on this subreddit is just... Wow.

But I'm already yapping so let's move on. In regards to spinal cord injuries, many techniques are currently being developed to extract good information from the brain. When that information is utilized to train an AI model that sends electrical signals to the right muscles, you can essentially replace the spinal cord's functionality. The models that do this actually already exist, however the struggle mostly lies in extracting good data: brain data is super complex and there is a LOT of noise that masks the signal responsible for just one function. Still, I've followed a course on these 'mind reading' techniques last year and they are really improving rapidly, which is why the Neuralink thing by Elon Musk is even possible right now.

In that sense, with invasive techniques like Neuralink, I do think that technologies which can replace some functionalities will be developed in the coming 10 years. While replacing complex movement like walking might take longer, it would not surprise me if within 10 years simple muscles can be controlled through such devices. Muscles like your detrusor muscle and external sphincter muscle, to regain control of your bladder and rectum, for example.

Nontheless my understanding of this specific field is rudimentary. I followed one course and that's it, so any question you have I would LOVE to research and figure out for the both of us.

Feel free to ask me anything at all.

I’ll start-these are all me personally, can't speak for everyone but in my case:

•self awareness •finding true friends •good parking •tattoos don’t hurt •have my own seat anywhere

I have to find the good or I'll go crazy.

Hello,

I have an UTI. I had to take my urine sample this morning but all pharmacies where out of caths (I have a superpubic) so I been told that I could use foley to cath myself. I tried but I couldn't pass it through blader entrance. It hurt a lot, was some blood. Seconds after that I got up to go to the toilet. I became extremely sick. My whole skin became red, eyes too, I was shivering, blurred vision, my nose stuck and I thought I'm going to pass out. I went back to bed and called an ambulance. Have in mind that before trying to cath myself I was feeling completly fine.

In ER they took my blood and it showed that UTI got worsen over day and what else is that my sugar is high (10.4).

What was that? Never had anything like this. What about that high sugar? Never had any problem with high sugar. Few days ago my urine sample sugar level was fine.

Sorry for my English, I'm not a native speaker.

Ive been researching spinal injuries ever since my accident last summer. (I’m a T12, incomplete burst fracture, para.) What I find so troubling/ interesting about this injury is just how different every injury really is. No two are the same… or as they say, “each injury is like a snowflake.”

Just recently I met someone with a very similar injury and they couldn’t practice gait training whatsoever. Not long after I met someone else who was functionally walking, albeit with a cane for support. Two very different experiences from my own.

Because there is such a wide array/ spectrum of severity with these injuries, it got me on the train of thought of trying to find ways to improve my life, and perhaps the lives of others too… if at all possible.

While in the hospital, and then in rehab at Spaulding, I often wondered why someone hasn’t tried to improve/ modernize the many products out there for these injuries. (I don’t mean expensive, clunky robotics… there’s plenty of that coming out at tech shows and whatnot… or even life changing procedures/ medications.) I mean the REALLY simple things like slide boards, grabbers, PT training equipment, incontinence briefs, etc. Or perhaps just the regular stuff you might use in the community or at home on a daily basis.

What product(s) would make your life much better if they were either improved upon or created? Or what products are you using now that seem to work out great???

(Personally for me, it would be something that allowed me to cover my lap in rainstorms and not fuss with an umbrella.)

hi all - I’ve been using a Roho Nexus Spirit cushion for years and I love it, but Roho stopped making it and it’s time for a replacement. I like the balance of the foam structure in the front and the air cell under my tailbones, but I hate the exposed foam when I take the cover off to clean it. the foam itself is obviously difficult to clean and i don’t like the way the material disintegrates. and it starts to smell eventually. did some quick searches and it seems like the most similar cushion that would have the foam better protected would be the Jay Fusion (with the Roho insert, not gel).

anyone have this and have a review to offer? or have other suggestions that are similar and would fit the bill? for context I’m a complete T9/T10 and I’m small - using a 14” square cushion.

also- i know it would make more sense to go through my ATP for this, but honestly everything through them takes months and we’re likely going to start a new chair evaluation at the end of this year anyway, so I want to just find something to replace mine (out of pocket) with in the interim that is the most similar to what I have. thanks!

I was just chatting with a Purple rep but could not get a yes or no answer. Can a basic Purple mattress be used on a hospital bed like the one pictured?

https://preview.redd.it/fk6vevwk25wc1.jpg?width=328&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=68df5b7864de059c937975d153cb08b1652b022e

My grandfather recently got diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis. While he had a little trouble walking some time ago, he was still more than capable of walking 3km every day atleast to grocery shop etc.. Then one day it really deteriated, and he became completely unable to walk with no feelings in his legs, he couldn’t use his legs at all. This was however the only sympton, no pain, no other discomfort and no tiredness. Fast foward 1 month he’s still in the hospital, can move his one leg up a bit but not the other, and has just recently atarted physical therapy. Is there any chance maybe he wikl be able to walk again? Sorry if it’s not the right place but I’m just,looking for some positivity.

Hi all, I know this subject has been discussed previously, but I can't find it. OK, prior to to cath flush, urine has been flowing, no residual, all is good. Next, we disconnect legbag, attach optiflo (my flush of choice), and attempt flush...and the flush won't budge. WTF? We have to use the syringe to unstick/unblock the cath, which can be traumatic for the bladder.

This happens, say, once per month. Anybody shed any light on this?

So I’ve been stuck in the similar stagnant position to many of you in our group. My fellow enduring, pain tolerating, often more silently yet super strong on multiple levels & wise brothers & sisters of the SCI. Not that I’m regularly unhappy or depressed(though I’ve had my moments). But I’m actually ok but I feel many of you can probably relate to being stagnate. Al it of us became disabled & unable to work with the SCI or at least unable to stay in our former careers (though for the few that could gods for you guys! Very truly happy for you!). But the SCI is rarely the specific reason for the loss of work. More often it’s the effects like the constant pain, Chronic neuropathy, neuro & physiological deficiencies. Bladder, & bowel conditions or risk of Autonomic dysreflexia among many others.

So for me the biggest issue is carpal tunnel in both hands. Even though I’m not a quad I have terrible carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands that brings the pain & numbness literally the moment I begin to type. Because of this I’m unable to get hired for any of the Return to Workforce positions I have ever applied for. I also can’t use the adapted steering to drive a car without getting the hand surgeries. My problem is how do you get the hand surgery & recover when you use your hands for virtually everything including your legs? Even if I only did one at a time how would I transfer myself? How do I wash myself in the shower, more importantly how do I go the better everyday? Has anyone successfully done this? How did you do it? Did you have to stay in hospital extended stay? Did you have to have a nurse or someone do your routines? How long did healing process take? Please anyone with experience with this LMK 🙏. It will be beyond appreciated thank you IA

Hey all, I’m playing with the idea of adopting a cat or 2. I live in a small 1br condo but think maybe I’d get 2 so they could entertain each other. I’m a t-6 complete, live by myself. I’m mostly worried about them puncturing my seat cushion, stander, toilet and shower chair. Is getting them declawed a must? I’m guessing I could get supplies delivered and maybe elevate the litter box for easy maintenance. Anyone recommend or not recommend getting a cat to have some company? Any recommendations for breed? Thanks in advance

I am a C4/C5 complete. I'm just over a year post injury and I'm finding that I'm growing apart from my already small friend group. I guess to put more detail on my question. are there any social media groups where you can find people with similar injuries? I'll be thankful for any suggestions! Shoot if there's any quads or para’s here looking for a friend hit me up!! I don't know if it really matters but I'm a 22m.

What advice would you give to those who are newly injured?

I was using a smart dial for about a month and now all of a sudden, it doesn't turn on immediately and takes a couple of turns from the starting point and it's very inconsistent. Is it time to get a new one?

I've been dealing with an extreme amount of body dysmorphia since my SCI causing my existing body image issues to skyrocket into mental health trouble.

Recently I had to change from a 40 to a 42 when I was a 36 pre injury and have only gained 7lbs. My doctor and PTs recommended this and that for trying to slow down the "give" of my lower abdomen, as I only have control of my upper obliques and am still pushing to reconnect with my lower core, but it wasn't getting me anywhere and I was only feeling worse about myself.

I decided last week to order men's shapewear from Rounderbum to see if it would help hold my gut in so that I could wear my old clothes again and I'm SO glad I did.

I'm back down to a 38 when wearing the shapewear and it's not extremely tight or uncomfortable at all.

If you're struggling with self confidence due to muscle washing and "para gut" I'd recommend giving shapewear a try.

C7 quad, And recently been diagnosed with multiple CSF leaks. (So I have really bad postural headaches). During the last two years or so of Drs wondering what the hell is going on with my headaches I’ve skipped 3-4 months on my period at least twice. I had my Gynie check it out- all is good down yonder and my bloodwork didn’t show any hormonal problems. She just put me on some progesterone for a month and then things went back to normal (for about 6-7months) and then I skipped again for another 4 months. My gynie and I have always thought it’s not something to be too concerned about because it’s natural for the body to skip periods during intense stress (which is the case with my daily headaches and pain levels. I’m talking barf-your-guts-out pain).

Fast forward to Feb 2024. The Neuro’s found the leaks and patched one for now. (Long complicated story but it’s all that’s possible -& safe- at this stage). There has been a slight perhaps 20% improvement in my pain, but I’m still skipping periods for a few months at a time.

So I’m wondering is the skipped period thing something that the SCI causes? (Outside of spinal shock) or is my body still in a state of stress?

Anybody else experience skipped periods like this? How did your menstrual cycle change post injury?

Hi there. I am curious if anybody else experienced this and maybe you have some tips and insights. My partner had a spinal cord injury. I don’t know exactly which injury category he falls into. He is pretty autonomous, he can even walk a little bit with help he can move his legs etcetc. But he has a neurological bowel and bladder. And he has lost a lot of sensation in his penis too. There are parts that he feels but not all of it. In the beginning it was difficult to get him hard and to make him ejaculate but we managed. Without medication and without a pump. In 6-7 months we even got to the point where his erection got stronger and he could ejaculate a lot faster, and he could keep up his erection longer. But suddenly we are back where we started. Difficult to get him hard, gets hard and then limp and takes hours to ejaculate. We do everything as we used to…we were very happy for the great progress. Now I don’t really understand what is happening. Thanks for the thoughts, sorry for the grammatical errors, English isn’t my first language.

having trouble with having to wake up every couple hours at night because of the feeling of pressure when laying on side or back or any position for too long :( any advice for me or for my caretaker to make it less uncomfortable?