Loss of use Hands and Feet after medically induced coma

[Ckbrowder]

My husband was on a ventilator for 24 days with a fentanyl and propofol medically induced coma so that his lungs could heal from Covid. Oddly, it took him about 12 days to even wake up . Afterwards, he had no use of his arms and legs. He can move them (barely) but nothing meaningful. Will this go away as the drugs wear off? I get there is weakness but this is totally different. He has to concentrate hard to move one finger enough to even say it moved a hair or two. Any ideas? I’m hoping this resolves in the next couple of weeks. He is completely cognizant but lays completely still staring at the ceiling.

[Sepsur]

There is weakness & chronic muscle loss.

In trauma, a body can use 6.5k of calories a day, it doesn’t hold excess protein as stores, fat is too slow to convert so the body strips muscle which leads to muscle waste and ICU acquired weakness (ICUAW).

Neuropathy ( nerve damage caused in part as a consequence of muscle waste) can also play a part.

It is possible to lose 40% muscle in the first 10 days of ICU.

[BigH63]

Hi

Yes this is a consequence of being in ICU. I have Neuropraxia and my left arm would not move at all, no matter how hard I tried. I had a great physiotherapist whom advised to give the affected limbs stimulation, ie rub with you’re hand , use a bath body scratcher rubbing it over the limb, basically any stimulation you can think of to try and get the nerve to see there is a limb at the end of its reach. It worked for me and along with time my arm did slowly start to move. A year on and I’m still not there but my arm is way better than it was and I can use it/ them but I’m under the spinal injuries team that are looking at helping. I might have to have injections to get the nerve impulses to fully recover?

Keep you’re hope high and fingers crossed things improve

[Lux95]

Nerve damage seems common, though where and how extensive does seem to vary significantly. My right thigh was numb from hip to below the knee for several months. It didn't directly affect movement (which took weeks to restore anyway), but I couldn't feel any touch, pin prick, hot/cold, etc. It is mostly healed now.

I also had damage to a cranial optic nerve, causing severe double vision for a couple of months. That has also mostly improved.

Based on the reports of others here and my own experience, it does seem to improve in most cases.

[FamilyHistorian]

it does take time for the effect of the drugs to leave the body. Everyone is different. What mustn’t be forgotten is that weight loss includes the muscles. It takes time to get the use back.

[March_h]

I was in an induced coma for about 6 weeks when I was 18, (now 27) and the drugs they give you to keep you induced a very strong. I had my left lung removed at 11 years old and I was on ECMO + tracheostomy for the duration aswell, the waking up process is slow, the movement process is slow because after 3 weeks your body loses muscle mass, brain forgets how to move limbs when they have been sedentary for so long so it just takes a while. I couldn't write, talk/ walk nothing for about a few weeks after they woke me up, and still you are in a drugged up haze of not knowing who's there/whos not/nightime day time, but then after a while the drugs wear off and you gain clarity again! It just takes a lot of time, the body is so resilient and strong, each day he will go from strength to strength! Being there with him is the most comforting thing right now, hope thats helpful and wishing him a fast recovery!

[Copse77]

please be patient. It is the most exhausting time for both of you but it will take incredible effort on his part to move. I remember how it was for my brother. It took almost a month for him to fully come round and the body is fighting infection and the drugs to put someone in an induced come take time to work out of the system especially when the body is fighting to hard to recover. It is nothing like in the films. My brother had to relearn how to swallow how to speak and how to walk. I’ve posted on here in response to other questions today in ICU so if you have a look at my reply you can read about our family story. I wish the best for a healthy recovery.

[Copse77]

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[Twoblu]

Hi. I am sorry to read this. My brother was put into a medically induced coma As he had a breathing issue. This was in October 2019.

His muscles wasted away within a month.

When he was brought out of the coma, he could neither speak nor move from the neck down.

He got slurred speech back after a while.

He remains paralysed from the bevk down.

He was quickly shipped out of hospital to a care home in June 2020.

He did not have intense physio. He was permitted 2 hours of physio a week. Then it stopped. But family produced a video of slight hand movement which had not been noticed by the physio.

Anyway. Long story short.

He remains quadrapleagic. He can move his head.

He is in a care home as we were told he would never be able to come home or come off the ventilator.

He did come off the ventilator but they still sent him to care home. With a trackhy.

We try and move his arms and fingers.

To no avail.

Be prepared for a shock. If your husband fully comes round and his arms and legs start moving again you will be ok. If he doesn't. Push foe intense physio. My brother has his brain too.

I will keep my fingers crossed that things change for you.

[Ckbrowder in reply to Twoblu]

Thank you so much for your reply. He now has full cognition and can slightly move both hands and feet. He is having physical therapy one hour per day and occupational therapy per day. I am so sorry about your brother. What a travesty!!!!!! Is it too late to try physio now?

[Twoblu]

Sadly he has list the chance. A request for re referral to neurology dept came back with, referral denied.Try Bradley unit at woking surrey. However the gp and the care home decided it would be too much for my brother to travel backwards and forwards to the place.

No reason given as to why it wouks be too much fir him.

Is there anyone out there who as successfully applied fir and receives continuing health care funding.?

I've appeared but am getting no where and was wondering. If there is anyone who has been granted it could cobract me or put a copy of report with name blanked out but showing what was written fir each heading to get it through.

Any help would be gratefully appreciate.

Thank you for taking your time to read thus.

[Ckbrowder]

UPDATE: it’s been 24 days since this post. He gets 2 hours or less of physical therapy per day, 5 days per week. I stay up here in the ICU both day and night. Every hour on the hour during the day, I have him move whatever he can. He went from not being able to move a finger or toe to now use of his arms below the elbows and movement of his legs. He still cannot walk or raise his arms with his shoulders but he is improving every day. He can now suction his own mouth (has a temporary tracheostomy). In addition to me going around his body “shrug your shoulders 20 times. Wiggle your left hand fingers, move your left foot, etc. etc. I also got silicon gloves with spiky nubs on them from Amazon. I do this every single hour. He is expected to make a full recovery. If I weren’t here day and night, they were taking about sending him to a nursing home because he was a quadriplegic I wasn’t going to let that happen because you guys gave me hope and advice. Best wishes to you all. I’ll update you again in a month.

These are the gloves. One for his head/face. Other for arms/legs/hands/feet.

[Misterpaulwood]

I'm a year on and have got most of the use in my arms and have learnt to walk again, it takes time but things get better, just don't expect too much to quickly