Paraplegic Man Suffers Spider Bite, Walks Again

[Celebration]

http://cbs13.com/local/Paraplegic.Man.Suffers.2.958151.html

A motorcycle accident almost killed David 21 years ago. At the time he might have wished he was dead.

"I asked my doctor, 'Sir what happened? I can't feel my legs'," said David.

Ever since, David's been relying on his wheelchair to get around. Then the spider bite. A Brown Recluse sent him to the hospital, then to rehab for eight months.

"I'm here for a spider bite. I didn't know I would end up walking," says David.

A nurse noticed David's leg spasm and ran a test on him.

[MinneapolisMatt]

1. OMG!

Wow. Huge K&R. What a shock that must have been.

[dalaigh lllama]

2. totally amazing!

Hopefully some research will begin ASAP on just how this happened. A brown recluse bite to be grateful for? wow!

[acmavm]

3. It's hard to imagine the absolute joy one would feel if something like this

happened.

<snip>
She says,'your nerves are alive. They're just asleep'," explained David.

Five days later David was walking.

[1776Forever]

4. WOW - I hope some lab does a study on this one. Brown Recluse bites are dangerous!

Maybe it was something in the venom or maybe it was the therapy - Hope they find out for sure! We used to put out traps in Florida to catch these spiders before they could get you! I know many people who had spent weeks in a hospital because of these bites.

[wildflowergardener]

5. Spider

It would be amazing if they somehow found a cure for some types of paralysis because of a chance event like this. I guess it must be something in the venom if it really was the spider?

Editing: Not clear it was really the spider bite that did it. One article says there aren't brown recluse spiders where he lives. Other sounds like maybe he just had some nerve testing since he was in the hospital and found out his nerves were still alive.

Another article
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/article/2117/

[DCKit]

6. Goodbye Stem Cells, Hello Neurotoxins. n/t

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

16. I don't believe it's a Neurotoxin.

I believe the Brown Recluse's venom is cytotoxic. It is likely a complex venom though and may exhibit many characteristics.

David

[beam me up scottie]

17. Hi Dave, I was recently bitten by a brown recluse.

This is an old house and they're everywhere, but this is the first time (that I know of) that I've been bitten.

Most people who think they've been bitten by a BR are mistaken since they never actually see the spider. Their bites are usually painless(at least at first) and don't sicken people immediately like bites from Black Widows. You're correct about the difference in toxins.

The only reason I know a BR got me was because I realized too late that I was about to squish him with my arm.

I have some very nice photographs of these spiders if anyone is interested in identifying them.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

18. Are you okay?

I had a friend bitten 2 years ago. The bite was in the middle of his back, he didn't realize it and went septic. 2 weeks in ICU and a couple very close calls but he made it through.

David

[beam me up scottie]

19. Except for a horrible sinus infection, I'm fine. Thanks for asking.

It's healing fine, I've had worse reactions to black fly bites.

I've read that only a small percentage of BR bites are as serious as your friend's and may be caused by staph infections, not venom.

I hope you are well, my friend.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

20. Doing okay, we lost our puppy a couple of weeks ago still trying to get over that.

Blood pressure is on the rise again, had to double up on my cozaar and I'm still getting those hypertension headaches. I think the stress of our puppy dying and job related stress pushed it over the edge. I'm glad you are doing well. Thanks for asking about me, I seem to be one of the most hated people here, nice to know someone likes me.

David

[beam me up scottie]

21. I am so sorry. Our animals are our kids, it's devastating when you lose one.

Those headaches are brutal, my mom suffered from them.

You should take better care of yourself, don't you know how many people here care about you?

I'm sorry your puppy's time here was so brief, I'm sure he was happy and knew he was loved.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am in a thousand winds that blow
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain
I am the fields of ripening grain
I am in the morning hush
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight
I am the starshine of the night
I am in the flowers that bloom
I am in a quiet room
I am in the birds that sing
I am in each lovely thing
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there. I did not die.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

22. She was a good girl, lots of congenital problems.

She was a foster dog through the rescue when we discovered the problems. We have another terminal foster. I got really attached to her though. Liver failure got her in the end, her blood wouldn't clot anymore. She started bleeding on Sunday morning it stopped but the vet said it was only a matter of time. So we played with her all day, took her for ice cream and then took her to the vet and held her until she went to be with the rest of our babies. Thanks for everything.

Here's another poem.

Rainbow Bridge


Just this side of Heaven is a place called The Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes over the Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart!

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together……..



Now I'm crying again. Take care.

David

[beam me up scottie]

24. It takes a special kind of person to care for foster dogs and cats.

(my apologies to the op, I know that this is off topic and this will be my last ot post)

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.
I would promise to keep her safe.
I would promise to always be by her side.
I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.

**

:hug:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

25. Thank you.

My apologies to the OP as well.

David

[Dorian Gray]

23. Off topic to the thread

but I am so sorry about the loss of your puppy. Really and truly sorry.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

26. Thank you.

[Jim__]

7. Was it the spider bite that did it?

Or, was it the spider bite that sent him to the hospital where the nurse noticed his legs spasming? Was he misdiagnosed 20 years ago, and lived with that misdiagnosis ever since?

[Celebration]

8. good question

One would assume, though, that at least for a while, he was under the continuing care of a neurologist. It sure seems logical that he would have had these same tests when he became a paraplegic.

But the reporting could have been more complete, from a medical standpoint. One would only hope that someone would go back through these records.

This is a guess--but I think the spider bite may have set some things in motion. It seems to me that if he had a little feeling before that, he would have noticed it at some point.

[uppityperson]

13. Those are good questions and it would be nice to know more since either would work.

It is possible to be misdiagnosed for years, even under the care of a neurologist for yrs. I'd like to know more as your scenario works also.

[verdalaven]

9. In a related story

I went looking for more info and found this. Hope the link works.


Spider Bite Miracle Man Arrested

[rateyes]

11. If guilty, then this miracle happened to a real asshole. nt

[intheflow]

14. God, sloppy reporting running rampant in both these stories.

A) Was it the spider bite that caused dude to walk again, or bad initial medical treatment 20 years ago?
B) Arrested for domestic abuse under what circumstances?

I hate bad reporting! :mad:

[Why Syzygy]

15. The story of the arrest

I read, said "warrant", which also tells us nothing about the time frame of the original complaint.
It could be years old. This entire story screams for more facts.

One of my first questions would be WHERE was the bite? What necessitated physical therapy after the bite? Etc. Not enough info to even begin a conclusion.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Fuuuuuh. Spider Man

[SidDithers]

12. Exactly...

Sid