Question
My brother had an accident on a BMX bicycle 4 months ago. He is diagnosed with a C2 incomplete spinal cord injury with severe swelling of the spinal cord. He can now move: his head, his shoulders, his left leg, his right foot, and both hands. In despite of this progress he is still dependant on a ventilator (breathes occasionally). What are his chances for total recovery?

Yours sincerely
Maria Christensen, Denmark

Answer
Hi Maria,
Thanks so much for your question.

It is very difficult for me to say. His recovery will depend on the severity of the injury and how much swelling there is. Right now, his body is still in shock and his muscles are very weak. The good news is that he does have movement well below the injury.

Once the swelling begins to decrease and he begins to gain more strength, you should get a better idea of how much movement he might regain. Again, it's still too early to tell.

The best thing you and your family can do is to not let him become discourage. Keep encouraging him and stay positive about his recovery whenever anyone is around him. Keeping a positive attitude is a necessity in his recovery.

I hope this helps and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask me anytime.

Thanks again,
John McKinzie