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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Back pain and eye problems
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Back pain and eye problems
by JoeShmoe, Jul 23, 2006 12:00AM
I'm a 22yr male in great health except for a herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 impinging centrally on the thecal sac so as not to pinch directly on nerves exiting the spinal column. It causes radiating pain done my legs, but not down the back and not in a continuous line. The back pain is severe. It all started in March when I began to feel lightheaded and dizzy at random times, then the pain started. I have also noticed I see dark spots in the periphery of my vision that flash rapidly and when the pain is very bad I see stars like I was hit in the head. I suddenly developed a large number of floaters in my eyes some time after that. I also have a twitch in my neck so that sometimes my neck whips to one side when I meant to move it slowly. I have seen many doctors. CBC, kidney, liver and arthritis profile all normal. Stool normal and no eosinophylia (no parasites). Lyme test early on was negative. Two ophthamologists found nothing wrong with my eyes. Should I revisit the lyme issue? Could this be something neurological or could it just be back pain and unrelated floaters for whatever reason?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Jul 23, 2006 12:00AM
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes. From the symptoms you describe, it sounds like you may have migraine headaches and disc related back pain.
Migraine headaches are often associated with an aura of spots in the peripheral vision that look like stars and flash. This can occur before, during or after the headache and in rare cases, unassociated with headaches. It is also possible to get dizzy with with migraine headaches. Dizziness with migraine headaches often has a connection to the neck (muscle tightness, misalignment, disc disease, trauma, etc) and is helped by specific neck physical therapy, by a therapist that has been educated about the migraine-neck connection (you should always ask). Your eye exam would be expected to be normal in migraine headaches. I would recommend an MRI of the Brain and cervical spine to evaluate for secondary causes, and to see a neurologist regarding this evaluation.
For the back pain, the imaging report is a little helpful in that you know you have a disc bulge, but it waffles on whether this would be expected to cause symptoms (impinging on the thecal sac, but no pinching of exiting nerves). Mostly likely this is the cause of the pain radiating down your legs. An EMG would be helpful to determine if there is any weakness or electrical damage to the nerves. A consult with a neurosurgeon and physical therapy would be indicated after your EMG to determine the best route of treatment.
Lyme is always possible and if you are concerned about it, get retested. A tick bite, rash, living in a lyme endemic region, and/or joint pains would steer me in that direction. "chronic lyme" is very difficult to diagnose and sometimes the tests do not return positive until treatment is started. If there is suspicion, then a trial on antibiotics would be warrented. I hope this has been helpful.
Migraine headaches are often associated with an aura of spots in the peripheral vision that look like stars and flash. This can occur before, during or after the headache and in rare cases, unassociated with headaches. It is also possible to get dizzy with with migraine headaches. Dizziness with migraine headaches often has a connection to the neck (muscle tightness, misalignment, disc disease, trauma, etc) and is helped by specific neck physical therapy, by a therapist that has been educated about the migraine-neck connection (you should always ask). Your eye exam would be expected to be normal in migraine headaches. I would recommend an MRI of the Brain and cervical spine to evaluate for secondary causes, and to see a neurologist regarding this evaluation.
For the back pain, the imaging report is a little helpful in that you know you have a disc bulge, but it waffles on whether this would be expected to cause symptoms (impinging on the thecal sac, but no pinching of exiting nerves). Mostly likely this is the cause of the pain radiating down your legs. An EMG would be helpful to determine if there is any weakness or electrical damage to the nerves. A consult with a neurosurgeon and physical therapy would be indicated after your EMG to determine the best route of treatment.
Lyme is always possible and if you are concerned about it, get retested. A tick bite, rash, living in a lyme endemic region, and/or joint pains would steer me in that direction. "chronic lyme" is very difficult to diagnose and sometimes the tests do not return positive until treatment is started. If there is suspicion, then a trial on antibiotics would be warrented. I hope this has been helpful.
Member Comments (2)
by JoeShmoe, Jul 23, 2006 12:00AM
Forgot to mention that I live in Dutchess County, NY which has a very high incidence of Lyme Disease and that I was in Southeast Asia this past winter for about three weeks.
by oam, Jun 12, 2008 07:58AM
A related discussion, Hi was started.
