Post by peilynne on May 15, 2008 8:23:25 GMT -6
Hi, my name is Lynne Maclean and I am an SCI survivor. I was experiencing foot drop and weakness in my left leg and a nagging burning pain in my left hip. I was also experiencing shortness of breath and just a general tired feeling all over. I was working full time and leading a very active lifestyle. I started seeing a physiotherapist in NOV of 2006 for the pain in my hip, we started acupuncture which did help. In the meantime I had a cat scan of my left leg, was referred to an orthopedic surgeon, who could not find anything physically wrong with my leg, so he referred me to a neurologist. I saw the neurologist on May 11, 2007. I went alone because I really didn't think there was anything seriously wrong with me. The neurologist spent an hour with me, performing various tests. He then told me that he was quite sure I either had a brain tumor or a spinal cord tumor. I was in complete shock.. He ordered an MRI for five days later. At the time my husband was working in Trinidad and I just needed him to come home. It was the hardest phone call I ever had to make. He arrived at the airport the morning of my MRI. We went to see the neurosurgeon the next day. He confirmed that I had a very large tumor on my spinal cord. He referred me to a neurosurgeon in Moncton, new Brunswick. On June 23 I had my first surgery to remove the tumor. It was a 10 and a half hour surgery and Dr. Gorman was able to remove most of the tumor. It was a 10 cm intra medullary subependymoma. The doctors performed a laminectomy and my injury involves C3-T2..I woke up from the surgery and could not feel anything from the neck down. My family fed me for weeks. Three weeks after the surgery I was feeling excruciating pain in my back whenever the nurses moved me. I was leaking spinal fluid. Another surgery. I recovered well. In total I spent 44 days in the neuro unit in Moncton. When I left the hospital I was moving my left and right arms, but not my legs, not even an inch. I was being lifted in and out of bed. My bladder had returned though and I had sensation and was able to ring for bedpan. I returned to Prince Edward Island where I spent twelve weeks in a Provincial Rehab. I lifted leg and arm weights, my legs strengthened, my right one faster and eventually I learned to transfer myself from bed to chair. A young girl came to the hospital to visit me, who had a tumor the year before. She recommended I ask for a referral to Toronto Rehab/Lyndhurst Center. I got the referral and flew to Toronto on October 29th. My life changed that day. I met with my physio and occupational therapists. They immediately ordered a power chair for me as I was currently in a manual which I could not propel myself. In PEI my therapists had me up walking at the parallel bars and with a walker, but they immediately stopped this as they felt it was damaging my back. I was signed up for arm classes, leg classes, pool therapy, core strengthening exercises, tens, fes, you name it, they tried it. I made great gains, but it was identified my left foot was not 90 degrees so I returned home on Feb 22nd and I'm awaiting serial casting on my left foot/leg. Then I will try to walk, on the parallel bars and eventually, hopefully, with a walker. I am in therapy, I get in a standing frame and work on my legs. I see my physiatrist on May 27 to talk about the serial casting. After that, I will pursue agressive physio and pool therapy and try to walk. My life is not perfect, but I'm grateful to have it. I'm determined to stay determined.. I have tremendous support from my family and friends. My husband has been amazing and I have the best son in the world., he's fifteen and a great young man. I will make the most of what I have. I look forward from hearing from anyone with an SCI. If you have been recently diagnosed/injured, stay strong, every day life will get better.
