meylogram gone bad

[bdm92]

I had a meylogram about 10months ago, during the procedure right after the needle was inserted I had extreme pain all down my lower body, I could not even stand to put a sheet on my feet I had to leave the office in my hospital gown and in a wheel cahir.  I even had pain in my vaginal area. It was unreal !! I was crying and sreaming for hours.  Had a MRI later that night and it showed the entry level of the needle at T12- L1.  My neurosurgeon says this was too high, that the guy that did it should have never went that high on my spine.  Is this true?   I to this day have pain and numbness down my R leg and in my foot and toes, and pain in my ankle, and when I walk stairs I have a stabbing pain in the back of my leg.
I was told that only a drop of dye was injected beofre I was screaming in pain and the procedure was stoped. I swear I felt like I had been hit by lighting and my feet were blown off. It was horrible.
What are the chances that my leg and foot will fully recover?  Is this something that could get worse over time or just stay the same?  I can walk now but the firat 5 days I couldn't walk on my own and it got better over the first few weeks but after that it just stoped getting better and it hasn't changed since.  


This discussion is related to myelogram complications.

[bdm92]

Thanks for your response, as of now my neuro dr just wants to wait and see if it gets better in time.  We discussed a spinal stimulator but I don't want any more procedures or surgeries that involve my spinal cord.  I will just put up with the pain as much as I can and hope it does not ever get worse.  I have never had anything that could compare to that kind of pain, and I have had cervical fusion and a  L4-L5 microdiskectomy, and two children.  I would do the two surgeries and child births before I would EVER have another myelogram.

Again thanks for your response!!  

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I'm sorry to hear what happened.  Normally, spinal procedures are done between the L2-L3 or between the L3-L4 area as these are the safer zones to insert needles and inject medications.  However, I'm not sure if some myelogram protocols would specify using higher areas of the spine as access point.  The lightning sensation is characteristic of nerve involvement.  Recovery is the rule, however for some people, this would really take time.  It is also not likely for it to get worse since the injury is only transient.  I suggest that you continue with your rehabilitation plan, and to report to your doctors any new symptoms that you might experience.

Regards and God bless.