Trauma related CIDP

[bazza]

Hi my name is Bazza, Is there anyone out there who can help me? I had an industrial accident in 1999. I fell into a inspection pit approx 2mtrs deep. I suffered multiple injuries including a suspected wedge fracture to my spine. A week or so later I started to experience pins and needles and numbness in my hands and feet, over the next few months my condition worsened to the point where I started to collapse. Following hospitalisation and numerous tests I was then diagnosed with CIDP. As there is insufficient information and lack of research into trauma related CIDP I would be interested to hear from anyone who has suffered a trauma especially an injury to their back and ended up with this condition.

[bazza]

Hi thanks for your response, I can sympathize with you, when I started to get the pains in my back about a week after my accident I was told by one hospital that it was just indigestion, even after telling them that my back was going numb and that I had pins and needles in my hands and feet, luckily the second hospital took more notice! but they still will not say that the CIDP I suffer with now is to do with the accident, personally I think its to much of a coincidence not to be related, but then hey! what do I know I'm only the patient. Hope you find some relief from your problems soon
                                                          Bazza

[bodyelectric]

Well, I haven't been diagnosed with this, so please take this for what it is -- speculation.

However, I strongly suspect I do have this, if not this, something pretty dang close to it.

Basics: Head Injury @work on 03.31.02. Old nail meeting the frontal part of my skull. Punctured. Carrie on Prom Night. There is a brief period of which I have no recollection, right before finding my face to the ground.

About 20 minutes before that, my Dad called to tell me my Aunt had died from cervical cancer, so the wound was kinda secondary. Wanted the colleges and co-workers branishing semi-clean towels to stop fussing so I could just leave and make travel plans. Funeral was hard. Had a beloved, best-friend Grandmother wailing in my arms for about 5 days after that, so the only time I really thought about it was when the bandage felt droopy.

Approx one week later, it began. Pins&Needs, tingling, numbness,  and limb heaviness whenever I bent over. Like an anvil was on my chest Also -- my breathing was getting shallow, and there was a slight 'heartbeat in my ears' feeling, as well. (Was later told by Zombie-Dr#2 that I had asthma, after breathing into a tube. [!] The Inhaler sales rep was there putting in his face time, so...)

Offtrack again. As the next few weeks passed, I only had to bend at a lesser level to get the same pain sensations. Then the sensations became more intense. Then, I didn't have to bend at all to get the same feeling. Of course, now is the era where it gets worse without much provacation. Increased electricity, spreading upwards thru the feet, hands and sides.

Ok -- getting ouchie. Hope this helps in some way.

[bazza]

Thank you for the replys. First I do not think my CIDP is due to a vitamin deficiency because it seemed to come on more or less straight after my accident, I didn't have any symptoms what so ever prior to that, I was quite fit and healthy. but thank you for the info. I asked the question about back injuries and CIDP because I came across another gentleman who had an accident very similar to mine and injured his back, he too ended up with CIDP and he  had no symptoms prior to his accident either. I spoke to my consultant who said to his knowledge there had been no research done into back related injuries and CIDP and perhaps this is an area that needs to be looked into. Since I've asked the question I have had responses from other people who have had back problems from accidents, surgery,and even arthritis in their spine and ended up with CIDP. So I think I'm going to keep an open mind on the subject. thanks again  Bazza.

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

I am not aware of any link between trauma and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. It is not uncommon for these symptoms to begin slowly , and for patients not to notice them immediately. Then following an injury, one is more attentive and notices the symptoms. The other possibility is that you had the acute form of inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy which became chronic. There are also pure sensory forms of this disorder. I hope this helps

[Freddd]

I have a history of bouts of severe fatigue with multiple neuropathies with major crisis following an injury or mild illness and possibly even vaccination.  What I found was that I was severely deficient in metyhylcobalamin (methylB12), the active form of rthe vitamin.  Cyanocobalamin, the inactive form of the vitamin usually given, isn't easily converted by some people.  There is an inexpensive, easy and harmless way to test this hypothesis.  For about $8 you can buy a small bottle of Enzymatic Therapy Bioactive B12 1000mcg methylcobalamin (so far for us this is the one of two brands tested that works for me and a few others with similar problems; the other brand tested  not relieving symtoms.  This should be taken with hi potency Bcomplex and additional folic acid (about 2 mg).  

For me, the turnaround was dramatic.  Fifteen minutes after putting a tablet under my tongue my whole conciousness changed.  One hour later, the nonstop abnormal severe fatigue of 15 years was gone.  The depression of a lifetime was gone.  The muscle pain was mostly gone in a week.  I just got back from a 3.5 mile walk in 45 minutes.  Siz weeks ago I could walk 1 mile in 15 minutes.  I am building muscle again after 25 years of deterioration.  In some ways I feel the best I ever have in 55 years.  Of the 30 or 40 other symtoms of various neuropathies, most are changing.  I'm tasting flavors in food I've never tasted before in everything from carrots to coffee.  I'm smelling with more detail and distinctions.  Touch is becoming more pleasant as I feel aspects of it I never felt before.

Good luck.  I had my first B12 crisis at 20 months induced by riding my tricycle down the basement stairs and breaking my collarbone.  Maybe you won't have a lifetime of suffering knowing qabout this vitamin.