MYELOGRAM COMPLICATIONS CONTINUING 3 MO. LATER

[laylapooh]

DURING MELEOGRAM EXPERIENCED SEVERE PAIN IN LEFT BUTTOCK, GENTIAL AREA, LEFT LEG. MADE DOCTOR STOP AND LATER CONTINUED PROCEDURE.HAVE EXPERIENCED EXTREME PAIN IN GROIN, GENTIAL AREA, AND LEFT LEG, BUTTOCK. WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL, ADMININSTERED PAIN MEDS AND HAVE CONTINUED ON PAIN MEDS(PERCOCET 10, DILAUDID,ULTRAM,NEURONTIN - THIS HAS CONTINUED FOR 3 MONTHS-
AT PRESENT TIME DOCTORS, NEUROLOGIST, NEUROSURGEON HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS.  ALSO HAVE HESITANCY IN BODILY FUNCTIONS, AND HEADACHES. CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME, I'M DESPERATE TO KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE OR IF IT IS GOING TO EVER STOP???

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

One of the potiential and known complications of a myelogram is a contrast induced bulge in the spinal fluid space, which may compress a nerve root

I don't know if this occurred in your case, and I have not seen your scans - this complication would be apparant on the scans taken during the procedure or afterwards. This is more common in people who already have some spinal/disc degenerative disease (and I presume the myelogram was done for this reason)

An EMG if not already done may provide objective evidence of nerve root compression, and an MRI if not already done may reveal a potentially treatable cause for nerve root compression.

Good luck

[snafu]

hi, i'm not sure how this works yet and first time on.  i guess you can only post so many questions per day so i will wait for that.   in the meantime your post caught me b/c...and w/out all the details...i'm scheduled for more tests and one is a myelogram/ct scan of cervical, thoracis, lumbosacral and also for dsf during it.   i've put off (since saw dr. on 5/31 for emg/and nerve conduction) checking on this and the other ones he's got me going for.   but since i got the call from hisoffice and they are scheduled.....now it seems real.

sorry, tend to ramble. i do want to find out exactly what to expect, etc. and then i saw your post.  doesn't sound like it went too well for you.   how are you doing now???  were you given any info on what they were doing and WHY?    and please, what you want to share or not is fine.  don't want to pry and don't want to make anything worse for you than it is.  

i'll try also posting a question tomorrow.  i guess everyone needs answers and they are usually freakin hard to get from docs.  one last thing..a neuro prescribed narcotic for pain??  if so, i may have some glimmer of hope. too much pain for too long and can't take any of what i guess is normally used for pain management.     ok, went on here long enuf.  hoping to connect w/some other people.  can get to being pretty isolated dealing w/it alone and not knowing.     take care please.....dj

[phillip1026]

I'm going in for a Myelogram on Friday June 17th. What is the probability that I will have complications afterwards? I have read some horror stories... in wheelchair for 4-years... in bed for 3-months... etc.

[neuroradpa]

I work in a neuroradiology practice. We do 4-5 myelograms a day. Our patients have minimal problems after the procedure as we are very detailed in our instructions when going home.

There are many who feel myelograms are not needed since MRI.
We had 2 myelogram today that demonstated finding significantly different from the MRI. The first gentleman was scheduled for Surgery in 4 days but the myelogram demostrated that the problem was not as severe as the MRI showed. His surgery was cancelled. The other person had a block. (That is when the contrast does not travel past a certain point due to bulges or other things.) This was much worse than anticipated and she will be going to surgery.

Myelograms are operator dependent. All myelograms should be performed utilizing Whitacre needles. These are pencil tipped needles that minimize risk of nerve damage as they do not cut tissues, they move them aside. These can be used on most patients except very obese patients where a longer needle is needed. The whitacre needle is not made in a long enough length.
Older people who have small openings due to bone spurs may require a spinal needle in order to penetrate the opening.

Taking it easy for 2 to 3 days after the procedure.

laylapooh -Good luck to you. It will take time. It is hard to say what aggrevated your nerves.

snafu and phillip Ask for the most experienced practioner. It may not be a doctor. It may be a Physician Assistant.

Good Luck

[snafu]

I hope you see this....

believe it or noti was jst checking thru here for the person who had a problem w/the myleo - forgot i posted that was having on.  jst saw your comment and could use info/answer..even estimated guess as you sound like you certainly know what you're talking about.

had myleogram and ct scan on 6/14...took 5 viles of csf (i was more nervous about that part of it but that wasn't as bad as i thought) --- sure you know the radiologist/doctor(?) goes behind a window and checks w/an xray that shows on a screen for i guess the rite spot to insert needle.    took csf...took a while.   then put dye in....first moved what i guess was needle? around some and one point caused like a severe electric painful shock down my rite leg which jumped (almost along w/me) off the table.   he said s/t w/inflammed/damaged nerves can do that.

ok, so figure he knows and i just let it go.  now...dye goes in and i kid you not that i have never felt such excruciating pain in my life and i've lived w/pain that's progressed along w/other sx for months w/no medications - also gave birth to 3, including over 9 lb baby--sorry, trying not to lose sense of humor along w/rst of my body.     seriously i didn't scream - not a screamer - couldn't hardly talk...jst remember saying "what the ---- is going on??????????     i felt it moving thru and pain continued.    then all of a sudden like a lightening bolt was excrutiating pain on the whole rite side of my face which i tried to jst cover w/my hand.    i could not speak  b/c of the pain and as you know you're strapped in.

nurse comes in w/shot of toradol?  goes in and i said owww...she said i know it stings but didn't sting....hurt - painful (if that means anything).    procedure ended up taking almost 3 hours (was scheduled for i think close to 2).

not long after the dye and the radiologist i guess taking the pictures he then left and the assistant(?) finished up the rest. i could hear him telling her what to do.  i say this b/c of something you mentioned in your comment.      i'm sorry this is so long....i've been trying to just get some answers..that's all.

then ct scan...then recovery...you know head up so no headaches. problem was pain still very much present then. could not lay on back.  no headaches.  they did give me a shot of demerol.   then a nurse comes in to tell me they will be coming to take blood.  then another person comes to tell me the same.  i ask what for, what tests, why, ordered by the neuro....i always ask.   could not get an answer...noone "knew"...even the lab person said she didn't know or even know what was ordered only to get a "red top" - took about 5 or 6 viles (different colored tops) and no answers.

i've gone on long enuf so i won't go into lots of detail here unless you ask and unless you happen to see and read this.  i had problems from time i got home, of course w/the pain and also other things started.  the pain i was having b/f this was bad enuf (along w/otr sx i can't make sense of and have made me less and less functional)   but it has been WORSE . still cannot be on my back or even sitting is pain in back.  tingling/some numbness all worse or new - new places.  rite foot toes except big one pulled in under - could not move them -trying to walk jst dragged and painful.  legs like lead at first not as much now but still difficult (moreso than normal difficulty) getting around.

i'm sorry, i'm so sorry if you do by chance get this that i've gone on.  obviously there's more and more hx leading up to that test.   the only thing close to an answer was when i called the nurse there (who at least gave me something) and said s/t's dye effects nerves (think i said this already)  and i said fine..was trying to drink a lot and once out of my system..ok. she said s/t's it goes away and s/t's it doesn't..it's permanent.  i at least appreciate her honesty though doesn't help much.   she said wait few days if still there call neuro. did that...got his ***'t (what else is new)  she said will tell him monday (guess we'll see - usually don't get call backs).

and finally they called in referral to pain center and happens to be the orthopedic hospital i went to for these procedures.  all i want and asked, asked, asked is WHAT ARE YOU TESTING FOR? 5 VILES OF CSF...THIS TEST/CT SCAN...WHAT??  i'd like to know....can't get an answer.  

ok, really now i'm stopping...if by some miracle you get this and would consider just even a few comments, whatever you're comfortable with or not....i don't freak out, i don't think i have some horrible disease...i've stayed (though getting harder) optimistic thruout and that whatever it is i will get fixed and get my life back but am also a realist so if that helps at all.      my email is ***@****  

thank you neurorad.......dj

i will try again to check archives or otr  places - so far - nothing.   if anyone else reads this that has had anything similar?

[alicep]

A related discussion, Severe Stomach pain after myleogram was started.