Quix asked me to post my dx, as she has suggested the possibility of CIPD, to others.
Christmas, of 1997, I contracted a serious, un-dx'd virus. Literally, in bed for 6 weeks, fevers, unable to swallow anything but tea w. honey, lost weight. By spring of '98, my joints began to ache so much it was hard to walk. Went the round of doctors, 7 over a 5 year period, finally dx'd hypothyroid in 10/02.
March of '04, my legs began to burn, sometimes like a mild sunburn, other times like a blowtorch was aimed at them. D.O. never was overly concerned.
6/05, minor car accident, rear ended, bulging discs in neck flared, for a few months.
11/05, my low back began to ache. By Christmas all I could do was lay on the couch. Bowel problems began; constipation.
Spring of '06, I went to 2 months of PT to strengthen my muscles. No pain relief.
06/06, I had a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo oophorectomy. Gyne felt fibroids were causing my low back pain & constipation.
10/06, I had an A & P repair. (Small bowel & rectal prolapse.)
12/06 nerves in my spine began to sting. D.O. sent me to a Pain Management Clinic where I had 3 nerve blockes and a radiofrequency ablation; still no pain relief.
Over this past past spring, I lost all bowel function. Proctography showed constipation as functional, not structural.
Since September, I have been going through neurological evaluations; ruled out things like SLE, Diabetes, Lyme. Neuro here in Valparaiso felt it was MS, based on my symptoms, and results of Brain MRI & spinal tap. (1 white matter lesion, 2 OG bands) but he wanted a 2nd opinion, so he sent me to Cleveland Clinic where I was evaluated by a wonderful Neuro, Dr. K. I had a deep nerve/muscle EMG. Results showed problem with nerves in my spine.
Received her report, dx of Cauda Equina Syndrome as a result of CIPD.
I had IV Infusions of 500 ml Solumedrol once a day, for 3 days, last weekend, then began oral Prednizone this past Monday.
So far, abslolutely no pain relief, no improvement in bowel function.
I have gait/balance issues. The low back pain has literally stopped, what once once, my very active life.
I hope this helps someone.