7 replies to this topic

[gchesman]

The lack of circulation to the spinal cord that results in a spinal cord infarction (blockage). Spinal cord infarction is not common, but only fragmentary or indirect data are available on incidence or prevalence. If spinal stroke is approximately 1.2% of strokes, an overall annual incidence of 12 in 100,000 can be estimated.

Spinal cord infarction is usually marked by an acute onset, often heralded by sudden and severe spinal (back) pain, bilateral weakness, paresthesias, and sensory loss. Most (>80%) spinal infarcts are painful. This is an interesting and unexplained difference from cerebral infarction, which is usually not painful.

Identifying the cause of spinal cord infarction according to clues related to the location of the vascular pathology is generally ATTEMPTED. No direct studies have examined efficacy of drug therapy in spinal cord infarction. This is because of the uncommon nature of the disorder and frequent delay in diagnosis. A minority of patients improve; rarely (<10%), patients achieve a remarkable recovery of function, particularly of motor control and ability to walk.

The acute stage involves an urgency for diagnosis and the necessity for excluding emergency spinal decompressive surgery that mandates admission to a MAJOR center or hospital facility with the requisite imaging, neurosurgical, and related capabilities. The overall life expectancy is diminished because of the vascular, infectious, and other medical complications.

Spinal Cord Infarction: Thomas F Scott, MD, Professor, Program Director, Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine; Director, Allegheny MS Treatment Center
Aug 21, 2009

[August]

gchesman, on 18 May 2010 - 08:27 PM, said:

The lack of circulation to the spinal cord that results in a spinal cord infarction (blockage). Spinal cord infarction is not common, but only fragmentary or indirect data are available on incidence or prevalence. If spinal stroke is approximately 1.2% of strokes, an overall annual incidence of 12 in 100,000 can be estimated.

Spinal cord infarction is usually marked by an acute onset, often heralded by sudden and severe spinal (back) pain, bilateral weakness, paresthesias, and sensory loss. Most (>80%) spinal infarcts are painful. This is an interesting and unexplained difference from cerebral infarction, which is usually not painful.

Identifying the cause of spinal cord infarction according to clues related to the location of the vascular pathology is generally ATTEMPTED. No direct studies have examined efficacy of drug therapy in spinal cord infarction. This is because of the uncommon nature of the disorder and frequent delay in diagnosis. A minority of patients improve; rarely (<10%), patients achieve a remarkable recovery of function, particularly of motor control and ability to walk.

The acute stage involves an urgency for diagnosis and the necessity for excluding emergency spinal decompressive surgery that mandates admission to a MAJOR center or hospital facility with the requisite imaging, neurosurgical, and related capabilities. The overall life expectancy is diminished because of the vascular, infectious, and other medical complications.

Spinal Cord Infarction: Thomas F Scott, MD, Professor, Program Director, Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine; Director, Allegheny MS Treatment Center
Aug 21, 2009

Thank you for posting that. My son's SCI was caused by an infarction. There is so little info around on spinal strokes - nor any real interest on the part of the medical profession. You'd think that if they came across someone who had had one, they would be queuing up to study the case. Unfortunately not. Anyway, I shall try to get hold of your source material and see if there is any more information.

August

[gchesman]

I tried contacting the author but never connected with him.

I'm curious to hear your son's story...if he approves.

[alex4bs]

gchesman, on 20 July 2010 - 07:17 PM, said:

I tried contacting the author but never connected with him.

I'm curious to hear your son's story...if he approves.

all im told clot from my legs travelled to my spine and snapped my spinal cord im paraplegic no motion controll im also interessted if your son approves

[shoelover]

i'm pretty sure that's what happened to my boyfriend. it's all familiar but i'm not sure if it's exactly the same. he's t4-t12. i want to learn as much about it as i can, but i never like asking him. he'd have no problem telling me about it, but it's just too hard hearing about it from him specifically.

[gchesman]

shoelover, on 11 August 2010 - 01:28 AM, said:

i'm pretty sure that's what happened to my boyfriend. it's all familiar but i'm not sure if it's exactly the same. he's t4-t12. i want to learn as much about it as i can, but i never like asking him. he'd have no problem telling me about it, but it's just too hard hearing about it from him specifically.

This might help shoelover:
http://emedicine.med...164217-overview

[allen54]

Hi
I had my spinal stroke at T10 in October of 2007. It started when I bent over to pick something up at work,an extream super sharp pain in my left side, I drove myself to the hospital and lost all feeling from the waist down when I got half way there and managed to get to the ER and slam the car in park and laid on the horn.Paramedics picked me out of the car and into ER.After many months of rehab I'm able to some what walk but still have next to 0 feeling below my waist and have broke all my toes from being stupid and not wearing shoes or brace

[gchesman]

allen54, on 23 August 2010 - 12:03 AM, said:

Hi
I had my spinal stroke at T10 in October of 2007. It started when I bent over to pick something up at work,an extream super sharp pain in my left side, I drove myself to the hospital and lost all feeling from the waist down when I got half way there and managed to get to the ER and slam the car in park and laid on the horn.Paramedics picked me out of the car and into ER.After many months of rehab I'm able to some what walk but still have next to 0 feeling below my waist and have broke all my toes from being stupid and not wearing shoes or brace

Hey Allen,

We've had very similar experiences. If you have any questions or just want to talk, I'm around.