dislocating joints?

[gzarnke]

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding long term disuse and having joints disloacte.  I was wondering if keeping mucle tone or trying to keep mucle tone up as much a possible with a stander, glider, bike, would help so that joints will not dislocate?

I have been reading that this can be a problem and if the sooner you start training the better, as you know my son is only 22 so he has many years ahead of him. 

I am looking to have more information to give him so he will want to start really taking care of himself and keep up with it so his future will not be quite so rough.  He is always telling me he did  not workout before so why should he have to now?  Stuborn is the word for that response.

Any information anyone has or suggestions would be great.

gzarnke

[Gary Anderson]

Hi Gzarnke

Well, when I was injured 19 odd years ago, I was advised to do as much as I could otherwise it would stop working completely.

So, every day since then I have exercised as much as my limitations will allow me. Fortunately, I am able to walk around which is the best exercise there is. HOwever, I CAN remember the very early days when I was chairbound and I used a stander every day; in addition to that I went to a gym and did as much as I could with what I had. I also used (and still use) an exercise bike. I have an electric one which means it does the work of your legs.

My advice to your son is it does not matter what you did before this is now and if he does not do something now then he could be storing up problems for later life. Let's assume your lifespan is 70 - then he has 48 years left and you do not want to end up with everything completely wasting. As Simon (Apparalyzed) once told me "if you dont use it you will lose it" and that is very true.

I know a young guy of 16 who broke his neck recently. This guy could show us all up (me included). His determination and courage are second to none. This wee guy is an incomplete C4-6 and he is in the gym at hospital every day. That is the correct attitude because he has to live like that for another 54 years!

I know it is hard Gzarnke but nobody was more stubborn than me - eventually your son will come to realise that he HAS to do things he does not want simply to cope with his "new normal."

If you require anymore advice - you know where I am.

[Catucci]

Hi Gzarnke

As you may remember, Nico's had awful problems with his hip.  The spasms were so severe they were dislocating his hip.  Now he's had a baclofen pump fitted the spasms are reasonably under control but his hip is absolutely knackered.  He had an Xray 2 weeks ago and the cup part of the hip has been completely worn away.  He's in the "lets wait and see" part now but that leg sits far too high on his pelvis now and is probably about 6 inches shorter than his left leg.  His spasms are awful when he's transferring, I presume because there will be pain coming from the hip allbeit that he can't feel the pain, his body certainly reacts!  Nico's very limited in what excercise he can do but he does do what he's able.  It's taken 2 years for his legs to get to this stage so it's not long at all.  Because his hip is worn so much he's unable to use his standing frame anymore so is without all the benefits that brought and consequently now has swollen feet and ankles all the time etc.

So, YES, your son needs to do as much as he can.  Hope you manage to get the message through as it's a really improtant one.  Good luck!

xx Cat xx

[gzarnke]

Thanks for the good advise.  I will see what I can do to convince him to exercise, he has the glider to start with.

My son is lucky that he does not get the spasms like Nico, that has to be so hard for you both right now.  In time I hope he will be able to use his stander again.

gzarnke