Greetings,
I am looking for some advice on how to further facilitate the recovery
of my quadricep. My quad was significantly damaged as a result of a
global anoxic/hypoxic injury in early July of 2007. This damage
affected my brain and my right quad. I was in a coma for 3 days and
not expected to live. I came out of the coma and had several dire
condtions... mental, physical, motor. I was in adult depends for a
long time, unable to walk or talk or even stand. My outlook was
bleak.
Against all odds and negative attitudes, I have come an amazing
distance towards fully recovering. I still have some cognitive
deficits, and I also have severe nerve damage in my right quad.
Regardless, I am able to walk, skip and run. I have had 2 EMGs done
that both noted the severe damage in my leg... my latest one
supposedly showed that my nerves had died off. I was told they would
never regenerate. While I respect my physician immensely, I disagree
that I can't will these nerves to come back. I was told that my leg
will always be deformed and that I will always walk with a limp. This
is not acceptable.
The EMG showed that (and please stick with me on the #s and units)
that my left quad which is at 100% was rated at a 5. The right quad
is at a 2.5. The only option that I'm aware of is to hook up the EMG
again to send a very strong current down the nerve that supplies the
motor units in my quad. This is supposed to be very painful. I am
more than willing to try it if it is the means necessary to the end
that I desire.
My discharge plan for the hospital I was staying at ~5 months ago
stated that "if motor recovery is noted, (I) would be a candidate for
thershold electrical stimuation at night to help promote nerve and
muscle recovery. If he does not show any recovery over a 3-4 month
period, a repeat EMG nerve conduction study would be indicated to
continue monitoring.
I suppose my question is, will this stimulation have a chance of
waking my muscle up and somehow promote nerve regrowth?
Thank you
-gw
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