I think most would say bowel,bladder,sex,walking.  And probably in that order!  I'm sure if I could get a new spine while I was wishing for stuff that would take care of it all....  It seems weird too most un informed people that walking wouldn't be first but,  I was one of them once and remember thinking I'd rather die than not be able too walk I think about a week before my car accident. Didn't know or think of all the other fun stuff that comes along with it.

Ben

I would agree with Ben. Bowel, bladder, sex, fingers, triceps then walking.

hmmmmm, thats a no brainer...feeling, moving,walking, running & much TMI stuff...lol

The most inportant to me would be bowel and bladder control, the ability to walk and run 2nd. SEX...... there are many ways for a person in a wheelchair to have SEX. I just don't want the problem of having a bladder or bowel malfunction while having SEX...get my drift? Bowel and bladder function is # 1 and would make me a very happy person :)

I totally agree with, Bladder and Bowel function as number ONE, then walking, or just be able to stand and move around for a bit. Make some things a lot easier on ya. Then SEX, for sure would  love to be able to feel that once again.

As a high quad, breathing would be my first choice followed by arm and hand use. So, I guess I would be glad to function as a paraplegic.

 As a C-4 Quad, I would definitely vote for the use of arms and hands, essentially living as a para.

In order:

1. Elimination of constant central nerve  pain
2. Bowel control
3. Bladder control
4. Proper sensation for entire body
5. Sexual function
6. Motor function for entire body, which would include walking

One of the things I miss most is the ability to slip into a room quietly and unnoticed.  I used to quietly enjoy gatherings, moving about from place to place, or person to person without my arrival being announced by the sound of my power wheelchair.  No more quiet entrances for me! 

Wonderful, thoughtful answers all. Thank you.

The actual poll is scheduled to be posted July 28, 2011.

Rob

1- upper body (especially hands & fine motor skills). 2- the ability to wash, dress, feed & take myself to the bathroom 3- bowel & bladder control 4- sexual function/sensation 5- walking Honestly, I'd be satisfied with 1 & 2 at this point. The rest would all be bonuses!

In no specific order, I choose feeling, walking, finger use, bladder, standing, bending over and sitting up, balance, triceps that work for transfers, tougher skin, circulation that doesn't require those sexy hose and hightops, and just the freedom to do something on the spur of the moment without much bother.

I am a T-12 & L-3 complete.  Injury in 1982.

Plenty of time to consider this.  I agree completely with those who listed, in order, Bowel, Bladder, Sex and Walking.

To me, that's a no brainer.

I also agree bladder and bowel function is the most important, all of us do not want to wear diapers all the time

Top 10 Functions People Living with Paralysis Would Like to Regain

If you were living with paralysis, and you could regain one function right now, what would it be? That is what the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s web poll asked, and over 1,000 people responded. What would you guess? Walking, right? The answers are surprising.

The Reeve Foundation conducted this very unscientific web poll as a way to start a conversation. Our experience is that many people who are not living with paralysis do not understand the complexity of spinal cord injury. The hurdles a person living with paralysis faces go far beyond not being able to stand, move freely, and walk.

We want to use the results of this poll to better educate people, who are not living with paralysis, about the other struggles associated with paralysis: body temperature regulation, chronic pain, respiration, loss of bowel and bladder control, skin breakdowns, loss of sexual function…

It’s important for friends and family to know, and it’s important for people living with paralysis to be heard.

Our poll of over 1,000 online users showed:

• Use of legs 28%
• Use of fingers/hands/arms 23.5%
• Bowel 13.7%
• Bladder 11.7%
• Sexual 10%
• Elimination of constant pain 8.2%
• Sensation 1.8%
• Breathing 1.3%
• Control of spasticity 1.2%
• Perspiring 0.4%

It’s especially important for researchers to know what the priorities are.

Kim Anderson-Erisman, Ph.D., Director of Education at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, wanted to find out the priorities, for the sake of the researchers, when she conducted her scientific survey published in 2004 in the Journal of Neurotrama entitled, Targeting Recovery: Priorities of the Spinal Cord-Injured Population.

She felt, "In order to improve the relevance of research in this area, the concerns of the spinal cord injury population must be better known and taken into account."

Dr. Anderson surveyed 681 people (51% quadriplegic, 49% paraplegic) and found that:

• regaining arm and hand function was most important to quadriplegics
• regaining sexual function was the highest priority for paraplegics
• improving bladder and bowel function was of shared importance to both injury groups

The survey got into other areas as well finding that the majority of participants indicated exercise was important to functional recovery, yet more than half either did not have access to exercise or did not have access to a trained therapist to oversee that exercise.

She concluded that, “The data from this survey demonstrate the preferences of the spinal cord injured community in terms of the importance of regaining partial functional recovery to the quality of life.”

And Anderson’s recommendation to follow researchers was, “Those who use animal models should be encouraged to adapt those models and collect data on more translationally relevant outcome measures … Though many of these issues will be quite difficult and challenging to unravel, the value of the research that is done will depend on its relevance to these problems that strongly impact quality of life.”

“Basic scientists are not typically trained to address the psychological, social, and economic issues resulting from SCI,” says Anderson, “but there remains a responsibility to be aware of these problems because of the impact on physiological dysfunctions and quality of life. Restoring any amount of physiologic function will lead to an equivalent increase in independence, and this will have a profoundly positive effect on the adverse psychological, social, and economic factors associated with the SCI population.”

Take the time to read Dr. Anderson’s paper. It’s in plain language and she delves into much more detail.

What function would you like to regain?

My response to this poll was very much influenced by my current circumstance. I am an active wheelchair user with spina bifida. Right now I am experiencing an ischial pressure ulcer that is going to take down time (reclining in a bed, sofa, or reclining chair) to heal. Fortunately, I have a work situation that will allow me to work at home for a month or two. But I HATE having to give up my usual activities--everything from keeping the house in order to kayaking to weight training. So I chose "sensation" as the function I would like to regain because, despite my best prevention efforts, my 55 year old butt cannot take the abuse it used to. If I had sensation, pressure ulcers would not be such a problem...

I don't think that it is fair or reasonable to expect people with SCI to have to choose only one function they would like to regain. Nor do I think that a survey should be used as a basis for making decisions about the direction SCI research should take. A person's response might be influenced by which problems they are currently experiencing. Their response might change over time.

I am skeptical that the various secondary problems associated with SCI can be treated very effectively in isolation from the overall condition.

Recent events show that walking--even if only a little every day--can significantly reduce the other problems associated with SCI. Subjects in the pilot studies with Rewalk, E-Legs, and Rex report a reduction in bladder and bowel problems and other improvements. The pilot study with Rob Summers who is walking as a result of electrode stimulation reports a decrease in bladder and bowel issues, improved sexual function, and improved temperature regulation.

Even people who are not yet actually walking but are participating in activity based recovery programs such as NRN and at centers such as Project Walk, are experiencing improvements such as fewer urinary tract infections and increased bone mass. Regular movement of body parts below the level of injury--even if performed with the help of a trainer or robotics--can increase circulation and decrease swelling and edema. These changes can speed up wound healing.

I would agree with Ben:

bowel, bladder, sex, walking

Unless I could walk & run to the restroom for the bowel and bladder.   If that didn't work, that would all but rule out sex.

I actually think this is a bit irresponsible for the Reeve Foundation. Why do this unscientific poll when you have the money to comission a real study? The fact that these results conflict with Dr. Anderson's results would again give me cause to not publish this. And it's not 'just for fun' when you put the prestige of the Reeve Foundation behind the results. 

This is interesting. It would've been a lot more informative if you included type of injury (e.g. para, tbi, ms, etc.) and injury level (e.g. C5, T4, L12, etc.) as the answer likely changes (similar to Maslow's Heirachy of Needs) based on the individual's loss. Thus, as a para I didn't put breathing or hands where I might have if my injury was higher. A little forethought would've made the results less skewed in my opinion. 

The ability to feel my penis and ejaculate normally..

Yeah, this will vary greatly based on current circumstances/level of paralysis.  Im a c6/c7 and have few accidents and have somewhat got my bowel/bladder systems under control.  Higher priority for me (assuming full recovery isnt an option :)) would be fine motor control and trunk control.  Ive never been an envious person, yet whenever Im in therapy sessions and working with paras, I cant help thinking how much of a difference some abs, paraspinals, and finger control would make.  I imagine people lacking triceps, tenodesis, lung control, etc etc feel the same way about me.  Its important to remember that we could always be worse off.

More independence...with personal care & getting around in the community. :)

i would say bowels, i do know when i have too go and i sometimes can go on my own.   then bladder, though again i'm lucky, i know when i have to pee.   then walking.  i've been blessed to be able to have full sensation throughout my body, so sex isn't too big a problem (sometimes i feel it, sometimes i don't) thank God.  walking is definently  up there on the list.  though i have walked with braces and a walker.