Help, not sure whats wrong with me

[ntughan]

I have had lots of neck and back pain for many years. 7 to be exact, I was pregnant and fell down my stairs at home.  I had chiropratic and massage therapy then and have just assumed that the pain off and on that I have felt was because of this fall.  I have had a couple of strange things happen over the last year, first I had completly no feeling in my toes and that went away, after that I fell at home again, I just lost control of my legs, I got up and was ok, then months later I had this weird sensation like a shock in the left side in the front of my neck and then a numb feeling and had a wrench neck for 3 days through all of this I have had intense pressure and pain at the base of my skull and between my shoulders(spine area), this pain would come and go as weel as a numb feeling in my arms but mostly in my right arm . For the last 3 weeks the pain has been constant and I have now lost the alot of feeling in my right arm and it feels very weak, at times I can not cut my food.  I also have some skin symptoms, very dry skin even after moisturizing and these blistery scabs on my shoulders and upper back.  My physiotherapist has stopped treatment for now, she believes I need to see a neurologist and have an MRI.  She mentioned Syringomelia?? not sure what this is Do my symptoms sound like anything you've heard of or experienced??

[selmaS]

A syrinx is a cyst, but I am finding non-chiari drs tend to use diff types of terms do describe issues they r not that familiar with.

It is possible that it is in fact a lesion, but the best bit of advice I can give u is relax and get to a chiari specialist.

MRI's are considered current for 6 months or less...otherwise u will need to get them redone.

Let us know how the lyrica works for u...and an update after ur visit!!
: )
"selma"

[ntughan]

No the neurologist is not a Chairi specialist.  I'm not sure what a lesion means, I'm sure there could be lots of reasons for a lesion.  He really didn't seem to want to discuss anything until the results come back.  He did prescribe Lyrica to see if that help with the pressure pain in the back of my head, I'm only suppose to take it at night.  It has seemed to help me sleep better, but the pain is still there throughout the day.  I hope it dosen't take weeks to get a answer from the MRI.  Is a syrinx a lesion?

[selmaS]

Hi..was the NL a chairi specialist?...Could it be that u have a syrinx?
Most drs need a dx for the insurance company to get the MRI approved...so he propably put what he knows will get an approval.

"selma"

[ntughan]

I went to see a neurologist and after the exam he changed my MRI appt to have the head and spine done, he wrote on requistion form that his working diagnosis is cervical cord lesion with an alternative diagnosis of MS.  I not really sure how he has come to this conclussion, was it the results of my examination? also I'm not really sure what it would mean to have either of these things?  I guess I'll just wait for the MRI results

[selmaS]

U r welcome....I am not aware of a chiari dr in Canada.I know other members here from Canada have traveled to NY and Chiacago.

If u want to try and start a new thread asking if neone knows of a chiari specialist in Canada, that may help.

Also, I will look and u may want to also...we do have a thread for chiari specialist list.....

Good luck on ur appts and please update us so we know how it went!!

"selma"

[ntughan]

Thank you for your quick reply.  I live in Toronto (Canada).  I was able to get a neurologist appointment Apr 13th and MRI on Apr 19th.  I don't know if this Neurologist is a specialist in chiari or syringolmyelia, if you know of a specialist in Toronto,please let me know  Thanks again

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the CHIARI /Syringomyelia forum.
Many of ur symptoms can be identified by those here with chiari and chiari related conditions.

Syringomyelia is a fluid filled cyst that can happen as a result of a trauma such as ur fall.

Since ur issues have gone for so long it is important to one- stop all chiro adjustments until u see a chiari/syringomyelia specialist.
Let us know what aarea u live in and we can suggest drs that specialize in these conditions.Most of us do have to travel to get to see these drs...so be advised it is a possibility.

A NL or NS in ur area can start by doing some MRI's of ur Brain, cervial,thoracic and lumbar spine....they should look for a syrinx (syringomyelia), chiari,tethered cord and other related conditions including restriced CSF flow.

Please keep us posted on what u find out.

"selma"