What Quadriplegia Means

I've had many people tell me that they don't think of me as a quadriplegic because I can move my arms. I'm totally there with you. During my first stint in rehab, I saw my diagnosis written down for the first time and asked my physical therapist, "I'm a quadriplegic?"

Quadriplegia simply means that a spinal cord injury (SCI) has affected all 4 limbs in some way. I'd always believed that quadriplegics couldn't move their arms at all, and some of them really cannot. Even some people with injuries at the exact same level as mine have different levels of function. In fact, at TIRR I met a successful Houston lawyer with an injury at the C6/C7 vertebrae (where mine is) who can't move or feel anything below his neck! And I met others who, like me, can move their arms, but can't feel their legs or move their fingers at all.

I'm lucky in that I am one of those who can move their arms. I've also got an incomplete injury, meaning that some of my function has been restored. I have sensation and a little movement in my legs (more movement on the left, more sensation on the right -- the right side can feel pain and sort of feel temperature, and the left can wiggle a little; I can wiggle my toes and feel touch on both sides), use of my triceps, and a little use of some of my fingers. See?

I have tools to help me do things I need to do.
These gloves are called Gloves for Life, and they help me push my chair, open jars, put on socks, and transfer (i.e. move from chair to bed, chair to car seat, etc.) more securely.

These utensils are called Dining with Dignity, and they help me eat in a much more natural position.

This is how I often hold a pen to write:

Plus, I have a whole bunch of kitchen tools with little rings on the back of them so I can peel vegetables, cut herbs quickly, and even zest a lemon or lime. I also have a knife with what looks almost like an axe handle so I can slide my hand in and chop (none of which are clean so I can take picture of them 😉).

Basically, I envy paraplegics and their hand function. But thanks to my awesome therapists at TIRR and just sheer trial and error, I can do most of the things I used to be able to do with my hands. I seriously miss French braiding, though. 😊