fractured spine and neurological symptoms

I was hit by a car whilst cycling to work and fractured T11,12, 6, 7 and one side of L5 posterior column.  I have a small bony prominence at T12 and the lamina of L5 is damaged at one side and projects into the canal slightly distorting the dural sac slightly contacting a nerve root.  I have a kyphosis of 40o over T11 and T12.  These MRI images were taken over a year after the accident a little while after a third set of x-rays finally alerted the doctors to the damage on the initial x-rays (reported on as Chance fractures + kyphosis and NBI/NAD by two different doctors). Prior to that the diagnosis had been sprain/strain.

When I awoke from a short loss of conciousness, I was in severe buttock and back pain and I had a numb buttock.  I could not walk and I could not urinate for the first 2 days.  I had constipation and did not go for a little over two weeks followed by problems with control.  Urination is also painful at times and the start of it is delayed.  I was sent home in this condition and lay on the sofa on my side, proped in a half reclining position.  I have slept between 12 and 20 hours every day ever since.  I currently average 15 hours - the average has been as high as 20 hours nine months after the accident. I started gentle physio 6 weeks later.

I had leg pain after the accident but 3-4 months later I started getting numbness and tingling in my calf (outer side) and foot.  I often stumble as my leg seems to give way.  The other day I could not lift my leg up the step - this occured on 2 attempts and then on the third attempt it moved.  I have fallen down the bottom 3 steps once because of this and I have fallen in the kitchen once.  I am frightened that I will fall from the top one day and do myself further injuries.  I nearly fall on a regular basis.

I am also in constant pain and take Oxycontin (20mg - unchanged since they started me on it a year and a half ago).

My memory is also badly affected - perhaps by the medication.  They started me on fluoxetine when 4 months after the accident I complained about my lack of recovery and constant pain.  Now they want me to take it prophylactically.  But my memory is extrememly patchy.  I hardly ever go anywhere but the 2 medical visits I made last month I had no memory of when questioned about them.  Even after my memory was jogged, I can't remember any detail about what happened at them.  When my friend (who lives over 100 miles away) rang to say he was coming to see me for the first time since the accident, I immediately forgot he was coming.  My wife could tell from just one side of the phone call that he was, but when she asked about it I insisted he was not visiting.  I was shocked when he turned up.  If I try to cook, I forget about the food until the fire alarm wakes me.

I have been told that surgery is very risky - but I can only see that my situation now is also very risky.

Please could you advise me of my options and risks.

Thank you,

James.

[matab]

Does anyone know why I am sleeping so much and why I suffer patchy but sometimes quite alarming memory loss?

James