The medeical definition of a quad is to have all four limbs impaired. This doesn't require total paralasis in all limbs. You are a C-4/5 incomplete. This means your worst symptom is a C-4 but you do not have all the symptoms of a complete injury. Spinal tissues do not repair. Diagnosis is important because because there is very little understanding of medical problems among people in health insurance. It is a business based on mean spirited regulations, much of it's payment basis was established before WW2 I have met quads that are much the same. Try calling it that and see if any doctors disagree. I've only experienced your problem among doctors that were out of their field.
I'm a C-5 incomplete because I can rotate my left fore arm and wrist extensor. To get my point across to doctors, I have a neurogenic bowel and bladder. Hope that helps, john ----- Original Message ---- From: Dr. William E. Heft <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: QUAD LIST <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:49:52 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] How important is a diagnosis? I have a question for the list members. How important do you suppose it is for any one of us to have an accurate diagnosis? In my case I do not have a diagnosis, other than I have had injury to my t-1 and t-2 spinal cord. The problem I seem to be running into here in Illinois is having to prove that I am disabled to keep my medical insurance in place. I originally started out with a diagnosis of slowly progressive ALS, and a few years later it was found that I had a crushed spinal cord caused by a tumor that left me a quad. They removed the tumor and a year later I could walk again, but just a little bit. Now they tell me I am no longer a quad. When asked what I am I'm told they don't know, even though I fight to get through the day. I never did gain the use of my hands again. I told my wife that if I have a definitive diagnosis, I would stand a better chance of keeping my medical insurance. By some strange chance, has anyone else on the list here ever experienced this type of situation. Bill at Big River ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
