Re: MRI WAS NORMAL???

Posted By Barb - Also Spina Bifida  on August 07, 1998 at 05:05:21:

In Reply to: Re: MRI WAS NORMAL??? posted by CCF NSG MD /gsh on August 06, 1998 at 11:08:11:






I'm a 25 yr old female who was involved in a motor vehicle accident 4 weeks ago. Prior to the accident I had suffered from a back/shoulder/neck problem that I really didn't get any treatment for. My pain was tingeling, aching, numb, and sharp at times. After the head on car accident I was in (had my seatbelt on :) )) the pain went through the ROOF, it was about 100% worse and I could barely turn my head to the right it hurt so bad. So the DR I go to is an OD and he gave me meds for the pain and he tried to adjust my back which did NOTHING......(the pain meds did help just not the adjustment) Then I get sent for an MRI and it comes back within normal limits, so now I have made an APPT with a neurosurgeon cause I really think this is a nerve thing...I was suprised that nothing abnormal showed up on the MRI since my x-rays showed I was born with spina bifida occulta, two vertabrae that are fused together and in between two vertebrae there is a disk that never really formed.....I would have figured all those things would have showed up on the MRI.....What can a Neurologist do for the nerve pains?????
KIM
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Dear Kim,
Sounds like you had quite an accident.  Remember that an MRI won't always show
the cause of neck and back pain after such trauma.  Pain in the setting of
trauma is commonly due to muscle spasm as well as muscular and ligamentous
injury.  The reason for the MRI is to be sure there are no surgical issues.
You should have had x-rays of the cervical spine to be sure no fractures were
present.  In the absence of a 'fixable' lesion, such cases are treated conservatively
with rest, pain medicine and muscle relaxants.  Physical therapy may be of
benefit as well.  Getting back to normal can take a long time and can be frustrating.
Try to be patient.  Incidentally, spina bifida occurs in the lumbar spine,
so, it may not have been imaged on a routine cervical MRI.
Speak to your physician concerning the above issues and see if he doesn't agree.
Certainly check it out if your pain gets worse or you notice any new numbness
or weakness in your extremities.
Good luck.
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Hi Kim,
I was also born with Spina Bifida and Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which sounds like what
you have as well(OI). For me the spina bifida was the lack of formation of the coccyx and
a couple of bones in that area are not totally fused. The OI for me is 2 extra ribs (thoracic
vertabrae) and a tendency for joints to dislocate easily, as well as slightly thinner bones then
most people.
Just a word of caution for you, I was told in my late 30's, that I'd develped
Severe Osteopenia (Brittle Bone Disease)which was likely related to my skeletal birth defects as
it was rare to have it so severe at such a relatively young age. I am now on Didronel, a 'bone stablizer' and
high amounts of cal/mag/vitD, but it's just to mostly prevent further damage but my bones are still Very fragile.
He also told me that I should have been taking Calcium (1000mgs)and Magnesium (500mgs)per day with 400 mg vit D,
since my twenties as a precaution against early bone deterioration Because of the SB and OI).
Well it's too late for me, the damage has already been done (I broke the 8th posterior right rib 5 months
ago just from coughing,for example!)but there's still time for you to take early precautions.
Please please talk to your doctor or bone specialist about this and get started on something like
this BEFORE (or in case) this happens to you in just 10-15 yrs. At least get a bone densitometry every
few years (as a high risk osteo patient) and take the vitamins and minerals (if your doc approves)to
avoid ending up like me, in constant pain.
I just thought I'd respond to your post because it's so very rare to run into another person with
the same rare disorder and I hoped I could spare you some of what I've gone through. Just think of me
as a 'Cyber-Mom' trying to help (my own son is also 25 *s*). Well I sure hope the injuries from your accident heal quickly and that
you feel better real soon *s* Take care - good luck, good health, and God bless.

Barb H.