3 replies to this topic

[tboomerj]

I am 34 and have been suffering for 4 years from numbness of the right leg (from my hip down), extreme stiffness in the leg, extreme heat sensitivity in the leg, tripping and falling when I get hot. It began 4 years ago with inability to balance on my right leg and has gradually gotten worse. After a year or so, I remember tripping and falling about 4-6 times in one summer while trying to do yard work. 3 years ago, my left hand began going slightly numb. I drop things and try to grasp things without realizing that I'm doing/not doing them. About 2 years ago, I began having trouble with incontinence.

I have been talking with my Dr about it and have thought for years that I was struggling from MS (because I had 2 episodes of Optic neuritis). I have NEVER heard of anyone having the same problems as me, and as I don't have insurance, did not go to the doctor because I have no pain.

Yesterday my Dr. called for a MRI on my L1 vertebrae. Until yesterday, I had never thought that these problems could be from a spinal cord injury.

I only ever remember hurting my back when I was in my teens (20 years ago) and I remember even back then, I didn't know how had I hurt my back. (I was very active as a teen, loving the outdoors. I was an avid basketball player and did yard work.) I just remember going throughout the day like normal, and then when going to bed, I would place pillows around me, forcing me to sleep on my back. The pain would be excruciating for about 45 minutes, then would subside and I would eventually fall asleep without much pain. This went on for about 9 months or so. After a while, I forgot about it because the pain wasn't so bad.

My questions: if I have a spinal cord injury, why would it take 15 years (from around 15-30) to show any problems? Is this normal? Have any of you experienced anything like my symptoms?

Thanks so much for this forum. I am being shocked into a NEW idea for me and don't really know anything about this subject.

[wheeliebear75]

Problems with the lumbar region of the spinal cord wouldn't cause any issues with the hands/arms. As to IF & how I would think that's something a Dr. needs to diagnose.

[pinkcloud]

hi,

the area of the spinal cord that is injured will only affect the area below the area of injury.

Having said that i have weakness etc above the level and am only just having an mri to see why..but it wont be because its the area in me thoracic spine....that i am having trouble with the cervical spine area.

Now there lots of reasons why you may be having these troubles..until you have the mri result you wont know, for some reason i hear time and time again doctors sending patients for lumbar spine only mri scans....is this your family doctor? if so that explains why..i would always be asked to refer to a spinal surgeon/neurosurgeon first..gp's dont understand mri results for a start....only basic knowledge.

It may be you have a herniated disc....or bone around the cord thats irritating the spinal cord...i believe its only when theres damage to the spinal cord and it does not heal/neurology tets are done to assess this...

once the pressure of the disc is removed..things can get better and if not..wont get worse.

Its not always accidents that causes spinal cord injury....other things can too...if you do have a accident..this can set about early degenerative changes..or you may have just inherited this to happen.

No matter how much we guess..until results are here we dont know..and even then sometimes the doctors cant promise a cure.

If its took 15 years sice you started to have this..it means your doctor hasnt been listening to you (more common than you may think) I for example showed 'no signs of any neurological disturbance' a week before the mri scan that showed big time compression of the spinal cord....obviously i had lots..i had had for 2 years........................................

may i suggest you dont goggle stuff...get questions ready to ask ya doctor on a pice of paper.

[Painted Daisy]

numbness in the legs is nothing to be lax about. Something is causing this & it is important to find out ASAP. I experienced tingling in my left foot mid-May of 2009 & I thought it was from itch weed. It progressed into full blown stabbing hot daggers pain up to my knee, I asked numerous Drs about it, had my back adjusted, took meds, all to no avail, even went to ER. It wasn't until my husband insisted on an MRI that my tumor was found. This was mid-August, just 3 months from the really noticeable onset of symptoms.
Talk to a specialist & don't sugarcoat your symptoms, the more info they have the better they can help you.
Good luck!