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    Kerry says:
    My brother can pass out just from sitting up and getting put out of bed. By the time he gets the words, "Medidrine" out of his mouth he is almost comp...
    Topic: Orthostatic hypotension, what a tough problem!
    on Thursday, May 23, 2013 7:16 PM EST
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    Kerry says:
    My brother takes miralax, 3 colace caps, a senna laxative daily, and 2 10 mg suppositories before bowel care each morning, and he still gets impacted,...
    Topic: Bowel impactions--what helps without going to the ER?
    on Thursday, May 23, 2013 3:28 PM EST
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    Derek  says:
    I found this: http://www.spinalcordinjury-paralysis.org/discussions/new-paralysis/2012/08/30/massive-bed-wound?tr=227251#tr__227251 hope it's wh...
    Topic: Bicycle shorts as skin protection???
    on Thursday, May 23, 2013 2:40 AM EST
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    Tiffany says:
    I am looking for some information that I saw posted about wearing bicycle shorts as a way to keep skin healthy but there was not a name brand posted. ...
    Topic: Bicycle shorts as skin protection???
    on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 11:12 PM EST
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    30 Posts
    Spinal cord tethering
    By Wheelchair Mama   
    Has anyone had untethering surgery on their spinal cord? If so, what was recovery like?
    Jennifer aka Wheelchair Mama
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    Tania  says:
    I've had 3 detethering surgeries so far, the most recent being about 15 years ago.  Anyway, the recovery wasn't bad.  With my first and second, I had to lie on my abdomen for close to a week while the incision closed.  I think that was mostly because the surgery was newer, and the surgeon wanted to be sure the incision would heal properly.  After the third surgery, though, my surgeon was confident that lying on my back would not do damage to the incision.  I could not bend over until I got my stitches out, and I had some minor pain (maybe a 3/10), but those were the worst parts of the recovery.  Within a week or so after suture removal, I was back to normal activity.
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    Thank you Tania. Do you mind me asking where you had the surgery? Did you see return and or decreased spasms?
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    Jennifer aka Wheelchair Mama
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    Tania  says:
    The first one was done at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California.  The other two were done at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

    I've never had spasms related to my spinal cord damage.  I was born with spina bifida (myelomeningocele, L5/S1), but I also have several other conditions.  One of them, joint hypermobility syndrome, does cause spasms, but it is completely unrelated to the SB.  Also, my last detethering was done before the JHS diagnosis.  I know I need another detethering, but no neurosurgeon is willing to do it because of my previous detethering.  Each subsequent detethering increases the risk of paralysis, and since I'm not currently paralyzed, any neuro I approach about the surgery is afraid of a lawsuit.
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