Hi Everyone,I was injured November, 29 2006. My injury is a L3 burst fracture from a gunshot wound and I have rods and plates stabilizing my back. The bones from the L3 shattered into pieces and landed on my cauda equina nerves. These nerves are...

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Hi Everyone,I was injured November, 29 2006. My injury is a L3 burst fracture from a gunshot wound and I have rods and plates stabilizing my back. The bones from the L3 shattered into pieces and landed on my cauda equina nerves. These nerves are at the end of your spinal cord and operate your legs, feet, and toes. The first month I was in the hospital I could not move my legs or feet. I was also pretty much numb from the waist down. The doctors were not real hopeful I would walk again but said it would take about a year to year 1/2 to know what the outcome would be. By the second month I started moving my quads which was very encouraging. I spent 2 1/2 months in the hospital and by the time I got out I was able to walk with AFO's up to my knees and a walker. Three years later I now walk with one cane and AFO's mid calf. I can walk without using the cane but I don't completely have my balance. I also have very little sensation in my feet. My legs have patchy numbness. I basically have cauda equina syndrome. This is a rare syndrome and can be due to tumors or compression of the vertebrae. It's hard a times to find people to relate to me because I'm basically in between a normal functioning person and a paraplegic. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining because I'm extremely blessed. My life has changed in many ways but I still pretty much do everything I used to do. I have a 5 year old son and we do everything together. It has been a rough road and at times I've wanted to give up but the two main things that keep me going is God and my son. I have been extremely inspired by a lot of the people on this website and am so excited I found it. It's amazing what the human body can overcome!

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