6 replies to this topic

[concerned_sister]

Hi all, I am the sister of a 17 year old boy who was involved in a car crash only 6 weeks ago, he suffered a C5 and C6 sci. He is doing well in Southport at the moment. The reason for this post is that everytime he has leg spasms he gets an odd taste in his mouth and smell an odd smell in his nose. The physio's and docs says this is unique but I was just wondering if anyone here has experienced this?? Thank you for your time.

Em.

[royter]

concerned_sister, on Apr 1 2006, 10:55 PM, said:

Hi all, I am the sister of a 17 year old boy who was involved in a car crash only 6 weeks ago, he suffered a C5 and C6 sci. He is doing well in Southport at the moment. The reason for this post is that everytime he has leg spasms he gets an odd taste in his mouth and smell an odd smell in his nose. The physio's and docs says this is unique but I was just wondering if anyone here has experienced this?? Thank you for your time.

Em.

sorry never heard anything like that before im sorry to hear about your brother i wish him all the best for the future.and my heart goes out to you and your family and friends take care

[Joed]

I've never experienced what you've described with my spasms. I did, however, sense a 'chemical' taste everytime the nurses would flush my IV...or when I'd get those anti-clotting abdominal injections (warafin?)...and also when I received caudal injections. Is it possible that he's mistakingly associating the taste with his spasms, when it might actually be a response to something being administered? Just a thought. Apparently, sensing a taste after certain injections isn't very common either.

[concerned_sister]

Well thats really interesting, never heard of this before. To is off all drips and drains and takes as much medication orally as he possibly can, the only injections he is having in his stomach i can think of is antisickness as he was on tramadol, which i have had myself - it is awful stuff. I will keep an eye on him, but he always mentions it when he has a spasm. So strange, thank you both for your help, it is nice to know there is this support for people with SCI's and their families.

Em xx

[Apparelyzed]

I'm a C5/6, and I suffer nasal congestion whilst laying down.

The nasal congestion is caused by my autonomic nervous system being compromised due to my spinal cord injury, and is quite comon with quadriplegics.

If I trigger my spasms, my nasal congestion clears for about 60 seconds, giving me a clear nose, and I can smell, and taste as normal.

It's possible that this is what your brother is experiencing. Maybe the strange taste and smell is always there, due to medication or diet, and when he spasms, his sense of smell is returned to normal.

Regards

Simon

[concerned_sister]

Thankyou that is so interesting, I will mention it to him and my mum, we were just very curious as to what it may be!

Em x

[LizzyB5280]

Joed, on Apr 2 2006, 04:20 AM, said:

I've never experienced what you've described with my spasms. I did, however, sense a 'chemical' taste everytime the nurses would flush my IV...or when I'd get those anti-clotting abdominal injections (warafin?)...and also when I received caudal injections. Is it possible that he's mistakingly associating the taste with his spasms, when it might actually be a response to something being administered? Just a thought. Apparently, sensing a taste after certain injections isn't very common either.

Getting a chemical or metallic taste when something is put through the IV can be very common, depending on what it is...having it with caudal injections seems to make sense too. I'm not sure how common it is with abdominal or other injections into a muscle.