DEERFIELD – Just a few months ago, former world record-holder Andy Coan\u00a0had his life\u00a0turned upside down in a matter of weeks after what doctors originally diagnosed as a pinched nerve turned out to be an auto-immune disease called Guillain-Barre syndrome.<\/p>\n
Coan, who set the world record in the 100m free at age 16 and then qualified for the boycotted 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, first experienced tingling in his extremities, which his doctors diagnosed as a pinched nerve in his neck. He went into surgery days later and had several discs in his neck removed. However, not long after the surgery, it became clear that something was very wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially what happens is your immune system goes haywire and eats away at the sheath attaching your nerves to your muscles, in every part of your body,\u201d Coan said. \u201cWithin 72 hours, I was totally paralyzed. I couldn\u2019t walk or move my fingers or anything. It was very scary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through a contact at Johns Hopkins, Coan and his family discovered that he had Guillain-Barre, not a pinched nerve, as originally suspected. It\u2019s now been six months since his diagnosis, and thanks to the support of friends and family and a lot of physical therapy, he is on the road to regaining use of his arms and legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout 90 percent of patients get about 90 percent of their physical capabilities back,\u201d Coan said. \u201cBut no one tells you what happens in between. It can take a few months or a few years. It took a couple months to where I could move different parts of my legs. About a month ago I was able to stand and hold my leg. We\u2019re now working on walking, and I\u2019ve gotten back in a pool here in Deerfield (Florida). The lifeguards walk me in and then I\u2019m able to walk forwards and backwards in the pool. I\u2019ve also been doing occupational therapy for my hands, fingers and elbows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Interestingly enough, Coan isn\u2019t the only elite-level swimmer affected by\u00a0Guillain-Barre.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s interesting about this is that Rowdy Gaines also had the same disease about 20 years ago. I reached out and talked to him and he was one of the first people I called when I found out what I had,\u201d he said. \u201cRowdy and I have stayed in touch and he\u2019s given me hope. I just have to stay patient. He told me to get my butt in the water and do whatever I can to just wiggle around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowdy and the rest of the swimming community, including swimmer Karen Sharp, who is now helping Coan with pilates and yoga, have been a tremendous support system for Coan and his family during this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe swimming community has been unbelievable,\u201d he said. \u201cThese people are coming in and helping me, and it\u2019s amazing how many friends and teammates have stepped up to help. The swimming family is a beautiful family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coan demonstrated his water therapy techniques recently in a video produced by the International Swimming Hall of Fame, saying “there’s nothing in this pool I can’t do twice as good as I do with my therapist.” He has limited use of his arms, but the water helps him to gain some movement.<\/p>\n