Wickens provides detail on ‘paraplegic’ status and prognosis

IndyCar driver Robert Wickens has clarified the severity of his injuries and provided an update on his prognosis in a series of posts on social media.

Wickens suffered extensive injuries - including damage to his spinal cord - in a violent crash at Pocono in August and has been undergoing rehabilitation ever since.

A statement confirming the full extent of his injuries was released by his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team shortly after the accident.

On Friday Wickens posted a video showing himself completing “my first slide transfer as a paraplegic today”, as he levered himself from a sitting position into a wheelchair.

The Canadian then issued a further post on social media to clarify that his current paralysis is not necessarily going to be permanent.

“There was ‘no announcement’ to confirm I was paralysed,” Wickens Tweeted.

“I’ve been paralysed from the moment I hit the fence pole in Pocono. We were very clear that I had a spinal cord injury in the press release issued by SPM, but I guess people are not aware of what that means and are just speculating.

“Paralysed and paraplegic are paralysis from the level of injury on the lower half. I’m paralysed from the chest down.

“People may not be paraplegics forever. Since my spinal cord injury was ‘incomplete’ the nerves may be able to find a way back to my legs.

“Incomplete means the spinal cord was not severed, it was only bruised. In months' time the swelling will go down and we will learn more on how much nerve regeneration happens.

"The doctors have told us every SCI [spinal cord injury] is different,” he continued.

"Two people with the same injury may heal differently. One may walk again and one may not. Each body heals differently. So we cannot tell you a definitive answer if I will walk again. But I have full intentions of doing just that!

"The good news is, I already have most feeling and some movement back in my legs, so there is hope over the course of 24 months that I may regain enough movement to walk again!

"So far the signs are promising, but I'm trying not to get ahead of myself! I am just keeping my head down and working until my therapist and doctors tell me to stop!

"Thank you all for your support! And I hope this has brought some clarity on all of this.”

He concluded his post by joking “sorry for the long read”.

Wickens was named the 2018 IndyCar rookie of the year after occupying sixth place in the standings during his debut season prior to his accident.

Did my first slide transfer as a paraplegic today. My upper body is getting stronger everyday. I’ve only been posting videos of the small movement in my legs, but the reality is I am far away from walking on my own. I’ve never worked harder for anything in my life. More to come!! pic.twitter.com/lMw8XJgOck

— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) October 26, 2018