Guest guest Posted February 4, 2000 Report Share Posted February 4, 2000 In a message dated 2/4/00 3:36:36 PM, lyme-aidonelist writes: <<e ordered head and neck MRI's head was clear but neck showed " c-5,6+7 damage with disc protrusion into spinal chord " Anyway, I am still hurting, damage is causing constant headaches and you cant take migraine meds for this type of headache. My LLMD also found that I have Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis, Dxing Dr tested me, but lab was not to good and tests were neg. Hope this has helped ya a bit. Bet your daughter was tickled pink with that pony! I know I would have been! have a good day, Pepi>> Hi While I know that my view is not a popular one, I speak from personal experience. I recently went through a three level anterior cervical decompression and fusion. I can tell you that if you are experiencing spinal cord compression, you need to take it seriously and have it addressed! Because of the delay in finding and treating my spinal cord compression, I have spinal cord injury! No one can guarantee that I will regain sensation. I continue receiving both Physical and Occupational Therapies. I have a nasty looking scar, dealt with Lyme flares, but I am WALKING! I am NOT a quadriplegic, which is what would have happened if the cause of the injury to the spinal cord went untreated. If you have a herniated cervical disc that is impinging upon the spinal cord, you need to see a specialist! Damage or injury to the spinal cord is NOT reversible.... Pepi... the numbness you are now experiencing can become permanent paralysis... I am not talking about nerve impingement or single nerve damage.... I am addressing problems associated directly with the SPINAL CORD. I urge everyone to seek the correct treatment for whatever ails you... I am fortunate that my LLMD encouraged me to continue searching for other possible causes for my neurological symptoms... I got the double whammy... Lyme and Spinal Cord Injury. All of my physicians believed, as did I, that the spine surgery was necessary regardless of the presence of the Lyme Disease. Below I have copied some information on spinal cord problems... If you have any of these symptoms, I urge you to get treatment immediately! " Spinal cord compression: Medical emergency. Can be caused by trauma, tumor, disk, cervical spondylosis. Symptoms usually begin with numbness or paresthesias in feet and legs. Weakness usually starts in legs and ascends. Bowel and bladder problems are common. Spinal shock: flaccid weakness, loss of DTR, loss of sympathetic autonomic control. Eventually develop hyperreflexia. Brown-Sequard syndrome: damage to half of spinal cord. Contralateral pain and temperature, ipsilateral vibration and power. Central Cord syndrome: syringomyelia most common cause. Also tumor, abcess, blood. May have band of sensory loss caused by disruption of crossing sensory fibers. " As you can tell.... I take this very seriously. Be careful that you don't put on Lyme " blinders " ! Take Care of Yourselves! Jane (getting off my soapbox now!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2000 Report Share Posted February 4, 2000 Hi Jane, Good to hear form you again, I just replied to Pepi earlier to write to you as I knew you had lots of experience with this. I am sorry that it turns out you now have permanent spinal cord injury, would it have helped if you had the surgery sooner. I guess I better pull out the copies of my cervical MRI of last year and discuss with my doctor getting another one to see what's going on there now.....sick of all these darn tests, but as you say, this is nothing to take lightly. Can you write again and describe your symptoms that led to your seeking a neurosurgeon, my neck and back problems come and go, and since I never overdo for fear of hurting my neck more, I am concerned. Hugs, Marta > From: JVSPL@... > > In a message dated 2/4/00 3:36:36 PM, lyme-aidonelist writes: > > > > Hi > While I know that my view is not a popular one, I speak from personal > experience. > I recently went through a three level anterior cervical decompression and > fusion. > I can tell you that if you are experiencing spinal cord compression, you need > to > take it seriously and have it addressed! Because of the delay in finding and > treating my spinal cord compression, I have spinal cord injury! No one can > guarantee that I will regain sensation. I continue receiving both Physical > and Occupational Therapies. > > I have a nasty looking scar, dealt with Lyme flares, but I am WALKING! I am > NOT a quadriplegic, which is what would have happened if the cause of the > injury to the spinal cord went untreated. If you have a herniated cervical > disc that is impinging upon the spinal cord, you need to see a specialist! > Damage or injury to the spinal cord is NOT reversible.... Pepi... the > numbness you are now experiencing can become permanent paralysis... I am not > talking about nerve impingement or single nerve damage.... I am addressing > problems associated directly with the SPINAL CORD. > > I urge everyone to seek the correct treatment for whatever ails you... I am > fortunate that my LLMD encouraged me to continue searching for other > possible causes for my neurological symptoms... I got the double whammy... > Lyme and Spinal Cord Injury. All of my physicians believed, as did I, that > the spine surgery was necessary regardless of the presence of the Lyme > Disease. > > Below I have copied some information on spinal cord problems... If you have > any of these symptoms, I urge you to get treatment immediately! > " Spinal cord compression: Medical emergency. Can be caused by trauma, > tumor, disk, cervical spondylosis. Symptoms usually begin with numbness > or paresthesias in feet and legs. Weakness usually starts in legs and > ascends. Bowel and bladder problems are common. > > Spinal shock: flaccid weakness, loss of DTR, loss of sympathetic > autonomic control. Eventually develop hyperreflexia. > > Brown-Sequard syndrome: damage to half of spinal cord. Contralateral > pain and temperature, ipsilateral vibration and power. > > Central Cord syndrome: syringomyelia most common cause. Also tumor, > abcess, blood. May have band of sensory loss caused by disruption of > crossing sensory fibers. " > > As you can tell.... I take this very seriously. Be careful that you don't > put on Lyme " blinders " ! Take Care of Yourselves! > Jane > (getting off my soapbox now!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2000 Report Share Posted February 6, 2000 Hi Jane, You have convinced me to ask for another cervical MRI next doctor appt. I did ask for one in November but he told me to wait....if something is wrong, he will be in big trouble (not really, but I will let him know about it.) My numbness and tingling is primarily in my upper extremities, my herniation is C-5. 6 and 7 though. Ever since this topic came up I am having more neck and between the shoulder blade pains, probably psychosomatic....LOL! Actually, probably because I had to sleep in spare room in awful hard bed for three days as husband just painted our room. Thanks for your good wishes and excellent advice and references. Hugs, Marta [Lyme-aid] Spinal Cord Problems > From: JVSPL@... > > Marta wrote: > >> Can you write again and describe your symptoms that led to your seeking a > neurosurgeon, my neck and back problems come and go, and since I never overdo > for fear of hurting my neck more, I am concerned.>> > > Hi Marta > Some of my symptoms include: numbness, tingling, pins & needles, and muscle > weakness. The symptoms are primarily in my lower extremities, but do exist > to a lesser degree in my hands and arms. Additionally, I had difficulty > with proprioceptive feedback, distorted temperature sensation, and hyper > reflexes. I am strange, in that I had no pain, or range of motion > limitation. I developed a spastic gait. What led us to check the cervical > spine was when my right hand became a " claw " . > > I have copied some information about spinal cord problems/injury for you > below. A differential diagnosis is often difficult, many Lyme symptoms also > mimic other problems. Please make certain you check out any and all possible > causes for your symptoms... > Wishing everyone well! > Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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