My friend had a terrible accident.

[neraksarrab]

My friend fell down the stairs 4 weeks ago, broke C4 and C5, had an operation to repair them, then 2 weeks later had another operation to remove a disc and replace it with hip? When she initially had the accident she couldn't feel anything from her chest down, slight sensation in toes and fingers, but couldn’t move her legs. Since her second operation she can now feel when she needs to go to the loo, can move both arms/ hands/ legs , this progress is amazing but she has still been told that she can only ever to expect to be in a wheel chair? The lady opposite her had a similar accident but also broke C6 and cannot feel anything. Does anyone think my friend will be fine (had same injury and made a full recovery, her spinal cord was an incomplete break? Not too sure of the technical phrases, she has swelling / bruising to the spinal cord, I understand that just swelling is bad enough to cause paralysis, but her progress is amazing so far. Please offer any comments.

I knew somebody a long time ago who also broke their neck, they died immediately.  Why do some people die and others survive?

Thank you

[cate]

Hi Welcome to the site. I cannot answer all your questions, but things do sound hopeful it is early days yet,  and things do move slow.
my daughter had a car acc9dent   and damaged c5-6. she has titaniumrods in her neck,  and vertbra taken away, and they also used hip bones to build.   her injury was not discovered straight away, and she has damaged her spinal cord, which will not regenerate, and she also has Browns Sequard Syndrome, which effects her nerves in hands and legs etc.  however, she is walking with the aid of crutches, and sometimes only uses one  crutch,also her balance    is    not good,    She  able to work, and live on her own  so much progress has been made.  she was also told before the op. that there would be a good chance she would be in a wheelchair, and if she did not have the op she would be anyway.  So I hope things continue to improve for yhour friend.  if you go through the forum  I am sure you will find some helpful stories.

[neraksarrab]

Hi, thank you very much for your time in responding to my post.  I really appreciate your comments and kind words.

[Gary Anderson]

I knew somebody a long time ago who also broke their neck, they died immediately.  Why do some people die and others survive?

As a doctor the answer is simple - it all depends on how you fall and how you break the bones.

At the end of the day it is your luck whether you end up complete, incomplete or die. Depends on your relationship with your guardian angel. Hence you get 3 spinal injuries and all are different outcomes.

[neraksarrab]

Hi Gary, thank you for your comments.

I would really appreciate your thoughts on the following questions which I have, regarding the treatment my friend has received.

Her first operation she had I presume was to fix her fractured vertebrae, the second operation was performed 2 weeks later, in which they removed a disc and replaced it with hip bone. (I think to release pressure from her SC).  The second op was carried out at a different hospital.  Is it usual to wait 2 weeks before carrying out this kind of procedure?  Could they have done it any sooner?  If so, would there have been any benefit of having this op sooner?  Will she have suffered further damage to her spinal cord which could have been prevented from not waiting 2 weeks?

Kind regards Karen