Blackouts

[Cathie59]

This really isn't a back problem.  Two years ago I leaned over to pick something up and a new and very large can of hairspray came off the counter and hit me on the base of the skull and I blacked out and layed on the carpet for several minutes.  This repeated itself as a blackout and my dr. sent me to a Neurologist, who in turn sent me for many, many tests, MRI, EKG, EEG, Brain Scan, Many X=Rays, Heart Monitor, Heart Tests, Carotoid Artery tests, I was told; no strokes, no seizures, heart is good, arteries are good.  He put me on Dilantin.  I still have the "episodes" .  So I was changed to Keppra.  All I did was sleep.  I still had "episodes" of blackout lasting about 45 seconds, all total of ten minutes.  So meds were changed to Topamax,  I am now on Topamax and still having "episodes".  Saw the Neurologist a few weeks ago and he said I will see you in six months.  I called him a few days ago and said I am still having these "episodes" and he said "I don't know what they are".  I am 59 years old and just retired.  I am pretty healthy until I had to start these epilepsy drugs.  I want to get better and go fishing.  Where do I turn next.  Could there have been damage from the hairspray hitting the base of my skull?  Could this have caused these blackouts?  I can't take a chance on driving.  I am homebound now and I am going crazy.  HELP!!

[sk8flo]

It could be any number of conditions and perhaps you need to take all your reports (and films/CDs, etc.) and get a second opinion, especially if this has made you housebound.  A spine specialist may be able to help you.

You might be kinking one of your vertebral arteries at the C1-2 level or at the C6 level.
Another possibility is a mild traumatic brain injury.

What are you doing when you have these 'blackouts?'   Are you turning your head to the side or backward (like looking up at the ceiling?)  Do you fall to the ground?  Do you just have loss of memory?  Are their any warning signs?  How do you feel after the episode?  Do you have sudden loss of tone in your legs and you just collapse without losing consciousness (commonly called a Drop Attack.)

I ask because I had 3 drop attacks in 3 days and on the 4th day, as I was leaning over a little to the left and lifted my head up to look at my spine surgeon (I work in an OR) I had memory loss for about 10-15 sec. and found myself upright with him clutching my shirt, then my mind cleared.  A TIA was ruled  out and my spine doc still feels like I pinched my dominent vertebral artery and the other one couldn't compensate.  But I have significant arthritis at the C1-2 level (and have a fusion C3-6.)  A good spine doc will take flexion/extension x-rays to look for bone spurs, shifting spine bones, etc.

If the EEG was normal (no epilepsy) then why does the neurologist have you on this medication?

[selmaS]

Hi..and yes, the trauma of the can hitting u can have caused an issue.

When was the last time u had an MRI of the area??.....These types of trauma do not show up right away on MRI and may take 6 months or more .....

I would suggest u find a spine specialist to look at what is going on.

For research u may want to look at syringomyelia......there are pages in the Health Pages for the Chiari forum here on MedHelp.

"selma"