We do range of motion twice a day, and I am extremely flexible. Except of course for my neck, which has a titanium plate and pins in it because of the damage done at C4 level. I am flexible enough that I can lay all the way forward so that my head is on my feet when my legs are frogged. My hands are not contracted. And I am currently 16 1/2 years post-injury. And yes, I spasm, but as I said, they are not major spasms.
_____ From: Merrill Burghardt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 7:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: FW: [QUAD-L] Fosamax for Osteoporosis I sent my two cents worth by Reply to Joan's letter. Sending mail by Reply apparently does not make the Q-List, I felt this important enough to repeat here. In short, I have not met a spinal injured person with spasms who has kept up with their range of motion. Also on range of motion, I have neither met anyone with contracted hands who also ranges fingers regularly. Some people use contracted hands to hold things pretty good. I am too vain, even to hold things better, to allow my fingers to contract so I still range fifteen years post. I would like using this forum to take a poll, or not. 1) Who ranges, who spasms, and who have contracted hands? Merrill _____ From: Dan Tessiatore [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 6:32 PM To: poajoan; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Fosamax for Osteoporosis Yes Joan, I have the same kind of extensor spasms. I have had a baclofen pump for a bout 12 years and it is very effective in reducing the spasticity. Dan T. poajoan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I am extremely fortunate in that I do not have severe spasms. I had more spasms when I was newly injured than I do now. I have also learned to try and relax before anybody tries to move me, because for not having any muscle-I sure can tighten up a lot and be extremely hard to move. I don't have the kicking type of spasms for the most part, but rather twist my whole torso and straighten out arms and legs. Learning to live with our bodies, and knowing each idiosyncrasy, is so important as so many others on this list have said in the past. Joan, C4 1990 _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 12:42 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Fosamax for Osteoporosis In a message dated 3/7/2007 2:59:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Diana. I have been taking Fosamax for three years. I had no side effects from the drug, and after the first 18 months, we retested, and there was about 20% improvement. The doctor was very pleased, and so was I.. Joan, C4 1990 I've just been going through a really bad time in the past couple weeks. My chest and back feel extremely tight and my leg spasms have increased. This morning my husband touched my leg and it went into it's spasm, kicking thing. I do have an appt with my doc but it's sooo frustrating being a quad and trying to figure out what's going on with the body. Fosamax has joint, muscle, and bone pain as a side effect but we also noticed discoloration on the foley when it was changed. Don't know what's going on so I guess it's time for ultra sounds and such. diane _____ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at <http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/1615326657x4311227241x4298082137/aol?redir=ht tp%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaol%2Ecom> AOL.com.
