Inspired Spinal Cord Injury Support Forum

Lαrα
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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 12, 2015 12:51:12 GMT -8

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Post by Lαrα on Apr 12, 2015 12:51:12 GMT -8

For one reason and another, ive been having to attend so many medical appointments lately. Probably most of you know that I am incomplete walker ( with aids) and use a chair for longer trips out.

Well i have always known that i have no ankle reflexes but during my appointment on friday with a specialist he said that i dont have a left knee reflex either. It was almost amusing because he kept tapping away then waiting a few and then tapped again lol then gave up

I guess its not so funny really but it was rather funny...

So my question is, those who are incomplete also, do you know what reflexes you have functioning and what you dont have? After all, reflexes are pretty important though not much discussed!

jerseyboy Member Posts: 171 Post Likes Received: 88 Date Joined: July 2013 Injury: C4-7 Date Injured: December 30, 2011 Member is: Offline Send PM	Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 12, 2015 14:35:50 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by jerseyboy on Apr 12, 2015 14:35:50 GMT -8 Im on the other end of the spectrum. I have all my reflexes, some of them are too jumpy sometimes.

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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 13, 2015 3:22:51 GMT -8

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Post by Lαrα on Apr 13, 2015 3:22:51 GMT -8

Walking with reduced muscle power is pretty hard going, my left leg is rubbish but to be honest i was pretty much surprised that i didnt have any knee reflex in my left leg as well as no ankle reflexes.

Its interesting but explains somethings to me.

jerseyboy, if you have all your reflexes, im curious how your walking is affected mostly? Im going to do a little research on this and maybe i will start with a poll because i think its worth looking into.

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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 13, 2015 13:48:30 GMT -8

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Post by jerseyboy on Apr 13, 2015 13:48:30 GMT -8

Apr 13, 2015 3:22:51 GMT -8 Lαrα said:

Walking with reduced muscle power is pretty hard going, my left leg is rubbish but to be honest i was pretty much surprised that i didnt have any knee reflex in my left leg as well as no ankle reflexes.

Its interesting but explains somethings to me.

jerseyboy, if you have all your reflexes, im curious how your walking is affected mostly? Im going to do a little research on this and maybe i will start with a poll because i think its worth looking into.

My issues stem from weakness, tight muscles(spasticity), limited ROM(only a little limited). When i say i have all my reflexes, i mean that all my reflexes work - but not necessarily properly. I have a spastic gait.

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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 14, 2015 1:52:45 GMT -8

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Post by Lαrα on Apr 14, 2015 1:52:45 GMT -8

Ah i understand jerseyboy, thanks for explaining.

I think all things considered, im pretty amazed that I have upright mobility to a fair degree. My walking is greatly affecting once i wear shoes though.I dont feel the floor too well at all and its significantly more difficult to walk.

Anyways going back to reflexes, just some info for anyone who is interested:

The ankle jerk reflex, also known as the Achilles Reflex:
Occurs when the Achilles tendon is tapped while the foot is dorsi-flexed. A positive result would be the jerking of the foot towards its plantar surface.
Being a deep tendon reflex, it is monosynaptic. It is also a stretch reflex. These are monosynaptic spinal segmental reflexes.
When they are intact, integrity of the following is confirmed: cutaneous innervation, motor supply, and cortical input to the corresponding spinal segment.
Wikipedia

The patellar reflex or knee-jerk is a deep tendon reflex and is a myotatic reflex.

After the tap of a hammer, the leg is normally extended once and comes to rest. The absence or decrease of this reflex is problematic, and known as Westphal's sign.
This reflex may be diminished or absent in lower motor neuron lesions and during sleep.
The test itself assesses the nervous tissue between and including the L2 , L3 and L4 segments of the spinal cord.

Wikipedia

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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 19, 2015 8:21:57 GMT -8 via Inspired Mobile

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Post by Knight on Apr 19, 2015 8:21:57 GMT -8

I recently had my reflexes tested, and the doctor got the little reflex hammer to my ankle before I could say, "I'm hypersensitive!" Fast forward to 20 minutes later, and I'm still grasping my ankle, trying not to cry. I cried. Even the slightest tap against my right ankle sends horrible I-think-it's-broken pain messages to my brain. The only sensations I get in most of my legs are pain and itching (it feels like bugs crawling under my skin, and I accidentally scratched through my skin one day because I had no idea what was going on!). Those are the only 2 responses to stimuli that I have on the backs of my thighs, and from 3" above my knee, all the way down. It sucks.

I'm just glad I have no sensation whatsoever in my buttcheeks; however, I can feel pain in my tailbone & anus. It makes getting shots painless!

Too Pretty to Walk™

Lαrα Global Moderator STAFF Posts: 7,350 Post Likes Received: 3,100 Date Joined: August 2013 Injury: CES Date Injured: March 2011 Member is: Offline Send PM	Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 19, 2015 11:55:59 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Lαrα on Apr 19, 2015 11:55:59 GMT -8 Hahaha the numb butt has advantages eh Knight! lol
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DJ Administrator STAFF Posts: 8,162 Post Likes Received: 2,829 Date Joined: July 2013 Injury: C6 - ASIA B Date Injured: June 2011 Member is: Offline Send PM	Ankle and Knee Reflexes? Apr 19, 2015 18:43:53 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by DJ on Apr 19, 2015 18:43:53 GMT -8 Ouch, sorry to hear that Knight, that must have really sucked!

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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? May 8, 2015 10:59:52 GMT -8

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Post by jeff1967 on May 8, 2015 10:59:52 GMT -8

I don't have any ankle or knee reflexes either. I walk with the assistance of AFO braces. I do use a walking cane when I will be up and walking a lot. I am just over 19 years post and besides the increase in pain everything else has been relatively the same.

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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? May 9, 2015 5:32:21 GMT -8

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Post by Lαrα on May 9, 2015 5:32:21 GMT -8

May 8, 2015 10:59:52 GMT -8 jeff1967 said:

I don't have any ankle or knee reflexes either. I walk with the assistance of AFO braces. I do use a walking cane when I will be up and walking a lot. I am just over 19 years post and besides the increase in pain everything else has been relatively the same.

jeff1967,Its good in a way to hear that everything is still as it was, by this I mean, nothing is worse ( sorry about the pain though) but im pleased you continue to walk especially when its a challenge!

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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? May 11, 2015 5:01:19 GMT -8

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Post by jeff1967 on May 11, 2015 5:01:19 GMT -8

Lαrα, Yes, as much as I would like to see improvement I will not complain that nothing has gotten worse. I will be seeing a new pain doctor on Friday so I am hoping he may have some answers. I am not getting my hopes up but definitely keeping my fingers crossed.

kilg0retr0ut and Lαrα like this

kilg0retr0ut Advanced Member Posts: 2,507 Post Likes Received: 1,862 Date Joined: July 2013 Injury: L4/5 Cauda Equina Date Injured: 7-15-10 Member is: Offline Send PM	Ankle and Knee Reflexes? May 11, 2015 6:53:07 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 11, 2015 6:53:07 GMT -8 I hope this new pain doctor will help. Pain sure wears you down. You driving on for nineteen years gives me and others a positive example. My right knee has some reflex, the rest is toast.
	Lαrα likes this L4/5 CES

Lαrα Global Moderator STAFF Posts: 7,350 Post Likes Received: 3,100 Date Joined: August 2013 Injury: CES Date Injured: March 2011 Member is: Offline Send PM	Ankle and Knee Reflexes? May 11, 2015 10:57:04 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Lαrα on May 11, 2015 10:57:04 GMT -8 jeff1967....what kilg0retr0ut says also
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Ankle and Knee Reflexes? May 12, 2015 7:11:01 GMT -8

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Post by jeff1967 on May 12, 2015 7:11:01 GMT -8

May 11, 2015 6:53:07 GMT -8 kilg0retr0ut said:

I hope this new pain doctor will help. Pain sure wears you down. You driving on for nineteen years gives me and others a positive example.
My right knee has some reflex, the rest is toast.

Thanks kilg0retr0ut, The past week or so has been hell. It sure does make getting up and going to work every day rough but I refuse to let it get me down. I'm sure I won't get any feedback on Friday but hopefully some relief.

I have developed a shooting pain down my right leg that is constant and most of the time feels like an electrical shock. It is there when I am sitting or laying but when walking it is very painful.

Just going to hope and pray that we can get this figured out because it sure is hard to concentrate on work when my legs and feet feel so miserable.

kilg0retr0ut Advanced Member Posts: 2,507 Post Likes Received: 1,862 Date Joined: July 2013 Injury: L4/5 Cauda Equina Date Injured: 7-15-10 Member is: Offline Send PM	Ankle and Knee Reflexes? May 12, 2015 13:56:08 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 12, 2015 13:56:08 GMT -8 It still floors me you been doing this for as long as you have. How long has it been since your last MRI?
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Ankle and Knee Reflexes?

Post by Lαrα on Apr 12, 2015 12:51:12 GMT -8

Post by jerseyboy on Apr 12, 2015 14:35:50 GMT -8

Post by Lαrα on Apr 13, 2015 3:22:51 GMT -8

Post by jerseyboy on Apr 13, 2015 13:48:30 GMT -8

Post by Lαrα on Apr 14, 2015 1:52:45 GMT -8

Post by Knight on Apr 19, 2015 8:21:57 GMT -8

Post by Lαrα on Apr 19, 2015 11:55:59 GMT -8

Post by DJ on Apr 19, 2015 18:43:53 GMT -8

Post by jeff1967 on May 8, 2015 10:59:52 GMT -8

Post by Lαrα on May 9, 2015 5:32:21 GMT -8

Post by jeff1967 on May 11, 2015 5:01:19 GMT -8

Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 11, 2015 6:53:07 GMT -8

Post by Lαrα on May 11, 2015 10:57:04 GMT -8

Post by jeff1967 on May 12, 2015 7:11:01 GMT -8

Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 12, 2015 13:56:08 GMT -8

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