husband gong paralyzed

[momjmsbb2]

My husband had been having trouble running  IN july noted no ankle reflexes atrophied calves. Two neurosurgeons said not back MRI with l2-3bulge 3-4 mass effect on thecal sac with mild stenosis, mild circum disc bulge l34 l45 l5S1 and milde neural foraminal arrow bilat L5S1. overall said not stenosis.  So we go to neuro and EMGs with demyelination severe Rt l5-S1 and SI on right. Sensory motor panel athena neg CSF neg ANA Lupuis neg but CPK high.  abnormal Lt post tib latency unobtainable bilat superficial peroneal latencies. Has loss of cold on feet and vibration to mid calf.  Had sig LB pain Jan and some Lt hip pain but no pain for awhile jjust numbness tingling feet calves.  I AM DESPERATE I STILL THINK IT IS HIS BACK. What do I do at this rate he wont be walking in another month. Do we go back to back repeat MRI discography etc last 2 weeks diff maintain erection.  We have three children he is 49 PLEASE HELP US.

[mddcj4]

I hope this all works out for him. I myself have a similar problem. I had pain and numbness in my legs, got to a point where I could barely walk and lift my leg at all and had the ankle drop thing too.They said it wasn't my spine either because my disc bulge causing stenosis is in the cervical spine. But if you have access to a pool, have him get some noodles the kids swim with, one will be fine. Then have him go in the pool in the deep end so his legs can hang. Have him wrap the noodle behind his back and have the ends pointing towards his chest up under his arms so he is floating (like a letter U). This is a form of traction for the low back, it takes the pressure off his low back by stretching the back out without pain, and Oh my goodness did it make a big difference for me.If it is his back.................this will help, if not it will not hurt him. Let me know how it all works out.

Good Luck...............Michelle

[Stephen Ryu, MD]

Sorry for your husband's problems. I think you have condensed a lot of information above and I will try and see what I can say.

First, the MRI does not sound impressive. But a picture is worth a thousand words. Based on what you report, it is not suprising that the surgeons were not convinced it was his back. It does not sound like he has back pain either.

Does he have bilateral atrophic calves? If he has bilateral atrophy and sensory changes, this is concerening for a nerve issue and less so from the spine. The EMG notes demyelination which is also off. It sounds like he might have a peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy is when the nerves away from the brain and spine have disease and fail to function. It is uncommon but often why people get worse after spine surgey because it was present in addition to a spine lesion or misdiagnosed. Unfortunately, there are many types of PN, most of which have to cure. So, if this is the case, his conidtion might progress inexorably.

I would recommend you get additional opinions from a spine surgeon to make sure you aren't missing something in the spine and a neurologist to confirm a nerve disorder. It is my experience though, that when there is some wacky nerve findings (ie. possible peripheral neuropathy) the ortho-surgeons refer these patients to a neurosurgeon or neurologist ASAP.

Good luck.

[familyman3679]

first of all you need to go to a orthopedic surgeon, right away, neurosurgeons in my opinion don't know **** when it comes to back pain, if I had listened to any on the ones I saw I would be paralyzed right now, and I saw 5 of them, saw the ortho doctor and he said I need to have lower lumbar surgery immediately or I would be paralyzed in about a month, wheeeew talking about God putting someone in your path at the right time, I had congenital stenosis, and had numbness and tingling in my midsection and sharp pains going down my legs, get to a ortho doc immed.!!!!!!!!!!!! when you husband starts having numbness he is close to being paralyzed.

[alinpain]

wow,im so sorry to hear what your going through,i wish i could tell you something.my prayers are with you.............just make sure you stay on top of the situation with the docs.keep pushing for a answer.if not go to another doc.im also in a lot of pain everyday,had four surgurys and for disc and nerve damage,plus i just had my gorebladder out,and having another surgury on my l4 l5,a fusion,also my wife had her gorebladder out a week before me and had a herniated bellybutton fixed,came home coundnt do to much now i had to rush her to the emergency room friday...........she has bloodclots in both lungs,she has been in icu ever since,she is only 38,im so scared for my partner,my lover.i pray everday.i dont know what i would do with out her...........im sorry i seemed to turn this chat about me,but i guess what im trying to say there are a lot of people out there struggleing.so i feel what you are goingf through,all i can do is pray
god bless-al