My name is Melissa W and I am 18 years old. In July 2001 I had a trampolining accident dislocating my vertebra at level C5/6, crushing my spinal cord.

Five months later I was discharged from hospital with very little use of my hands and fingers and no movement below my chest and I was told I would be like this for the rest of my life.

Twelve months later I came to visit Mr Bohbot’s clinic and began the treatment for one week every month.

After four months I began to get bladder sensations of needing the toilet, I also was able to eat with a knife and fork and able to write using a normal pen.

At this time I was also fitted with callipers.

Now because of school commitment I visit Mr Bohbot during the school holidays.

I am now able to pedal a normal exercise bike, walk with callipers and a walking frame and I have full control of bowel and bladder movement. I also have some sensations throughout the whole of my body.

Melissa W

DOB: 6 December 1987

Date of accident: 4 July 2001

Trampolining accident

Level of injury: fracture dislocation C5-C6

Report from the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital, NHS Trust, le 02/01/02
Incomplete spastic quadriplegia at level C7, Frankel B

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital, NHS Trust, 2 Jan. 2002.

• Motor system:
  Shoulders and elbows: normal; right thumb ext 1 flex 1; 4th left and right finger abd 1 add 1; left and right 1st, 2nd, 3rd fingers flex 1 ext 2 (right) ext 1 (left).; wrists: tenodesis; no voluntary movement in her fingers.
• Sensory system:
  Touch and pressure: diminished from C7 down to T4; heightened below T4.
  Pain, hot, and cold: normal above the injury, none below.
• Bowels: can feel when her bowels are full; uses suppositories.
• Bladder: can feel when her bladder his full; intermittent catheterisations 6 times a day; urinary tract infections.

Limbs measurements	Pinprick tests
	30/05/05	27/10/05	13/04/06

Beginning of treatment: 13 Sep. 2002

Frequency: during school holidays

1. Independence

• 20 July 2003: dresses without help.
• 17 June 2003: can write better.

2. Stability

• Stands in a frame since her accident; stands in her KAFOs between parallel bars since her first stay at the clinic.
  Since Sept. 2002, can feel pressure in her feet and knees.

3. Mobility

• April 2003: turns spontaneously in her bed when she sleeps; settles better in her chair; can sit up in her bed.
• Aug. 2003: has a better sitting position in her wheelchair.

4.1. Volontary motricity

• 26 May 2003: voluntary order to flex her leg in right and left calves (grade 3).
• 17 June 2003: slightly locks her knees; writes and draws better.
• 20 June 2003: can identify each finger in her left hand.
• 20 July 2003: same tenodesis in wrists; can move her thumbs and little right finger (grade 3); beginning of a clear movement in her in 1st and 2nd fingers (grade 2) but not the 3rd right finger.
• 24 Nov. 2003: can lock her knees clearly (right better than the left) for 5 to 10 seconds.
• Check-up of 21 June 2004: Melissa feels that it is easier to write.

4.2. Walking

• Since April 2003: walks in KAFOs made in Bourges, France, and pushes a walker.

5. Sensory level

• Light touch:
  Clearer feelings all over her body expressed by pins and needles, and tingling.
  16 Feb. 2004: can feel normal touch all over her body.
• Pressure:
  Normal feeling all over her body.
• Pain:
  Increased feeling to pain in her lower limbs and feet since July 2003; can feel pain all over her body since Oct. 2003.
• Hot:
  Can feel tingling in her upper limbs down to dermatom T7 since Oct. 2003 (tingling triggered by hot temperatures or hot water).
• Cold:
  Can feel tingling and pins and needles in her upper body (front and back) and her upper limbs down to dermatom T7 since Oct. 2003.
• Pinprick:
  16 Feb. 2004: patches.
• Can feel the water on her abdomen since May 2003 and all over her body since Oct. 2003.

6. Bowels and bladder

• Bowels:
  Oct. 2002: can feel when her bowels are full through hot; can feel when empties her bowels in the anus area; uses suppositories every other day.
  Nov. 2003: can feel better when her bowels are full and wait a little longer.
  Check-up of 21 June 2004:
     - Feels when her bowels are full.
     - Feels when she passes stools (anus).
     - Uses suppositories every other day but can pass stool if she feels the urge to go and thus does not need to use
       a suppository.
   
• Bladder:
  Since Sept. 2002: can feel when introduces the catheter.
  April 2003: normal feeling when her bladder is full; when bladder is full, can pass water by contracting her abdominal muscles; does intermittent catheters 5 to 6 times a day still.
  Check-up of 21 June 2004:
     - Feels when her bladder is full normally, just as before her accident.
     - Passes water normally by contracting her abdominal muscles when she feels the urge to go.
     - When she does not feel the urge to go, Melissa can pass water by water from time to time and needs to empty
       her bladder with a catheter.
     - Always catheterize herself before going to bed.
  
  5 April 2004: can pass water by tapping on her abdomen in order to open the sphincter.
• Intimate sensations: did not change.

  Last update: 20 Nov. 2008