[linsky]

Full body paralysis with negative MRI
________________________________________
I was recently involved in a road traffic accident which resulted in the 'normal' whiplash activities including severe neck spasms. Then one of the spasms violently jerked my head and neck backwards which resulted in 'total body paraysis' for 3-4 hours. The total body paralysis has now happened a second time and I am being treated by a movement Neurologist whom thinks I may be suffering from Paroxysmal Dystonia, but is at a total loss as to why I should have been paralysed even temporarily.
The second episode of ‘Total Body Paralysis’ resulted in some residual damage in that my speech is slower 50% of the time and I don’t think as quickly as I used to. Eg. Sometimes when I want to pick up, say a cup, I think about what I am going to do, then do it. Whereas before, I would not have to think I would just do it.
My worry is that there may be a very fine line between 'temporary total paralysis and 'permanent'.
Has anyone else heard of such a thing happening?
I live in the UK and am searching for an answer that my Neuro at yet does not have.
The strange thing is that I have had MRI and MRA scans that are negative. Perhaps if I was scanned whilst I was paralysed would have shown what the cause was, but getting an MRI so quickly seems to be reserved for the rich and famous, so I had to wait for a few days to when the paralysis had subsided before I could have my MRI.
To end up with total body paralysis that could have been prevented would be very sad.
I would appreciate any knowledge that could be shared with me.

Regards

[edlee]

It's possible that your problem isn't with your spine, but with your brain. Whiplash injuries can cause concusions or even more serious damage to the brain.

You might ask your doctor if he would consider eeg or other brain scan studies be done.

Obviously, full body paraysis is a serious symptom and all possibilities should be examined.

Good luck
ed

[linsky]

edlee, on Sep 3 2007, 10:48 PM, said:

It's possible that your problem isn't with your spine, but with your brain. Whiplash injuries can cause concusions or even more serious damage to the brain.

You might ask your doctor if he would consider eeg or other brain scan studies be done.

Obviously, full body paraysis is a serious symptom and all possibilities should be examined.

Good luck
ed

Thank you ed for your reply. I will put this possibility to the Neurosurgeon whom is treating me and hope he will arrange for this. I feel that a brain injury cannot be ruled out at present. I will let you know how he responds to this suggestion.

Best Regards

Linsky

[linsky]

linsky, on Sep 4 2007, 02:18 AM, said:

edlee, on Sep 3 2007, 10:48 PM, said:

It's possible that your problem isn't with your spine, but with your brain. Whiplash injuries can cause concusions or even more serious damage to the brain.

You might ask your doctor if he would consider eeg or other brain scan studies be done.

Obviously, full body paraysis is a serious symptom and all possibilities should be examined.

Good luck
ed

Thank you ed for your reply. I will put this possibility to the Neurosurgeon whom is treating me and hope he will arrange for this. I feel that a brain injury cannot be ruled out at present. I will let you know how he responds to this suggestion.

Best Regards

Linsky

I agree with you Ed that my problem exists with my brain and not my spine.

When I was seen again by my Neurologist, he said that as the results of the MRA and MRI were Negative, that is 'Good News'. Yes, I agree in one area that it is good news, but in another it is not so good as it does not give me a diagnosis.

Another condition that I have is that I get very tired when I do the most (what would be normally simple physical things, like tidying up my garage) Then I have to go to bed for at least 30 mins to recover. I also frequently struggle to speak properly at times.

My Neurologist is now referring me to a Neuro Psychiatrist to help me to deal with the symptoms that I have as he says if I don't deal with the symptoms, I could have them for life. He told me that he does not want to do any more tests yet. Can I take this that he thinks my symptoms are non organic?

I am worried that this may be the case. My Family Doctor thinks that I have 'raised intraventricular pressure' which he says is difficult to find. My Neuro said that is one of the things he checked for with the Scan.

Myself, wife and close friends are absolutely certain that there is something organically wrong with me.

The only benefit to me as far as I can understand in my having any Psychological problem is that I am in fear of what I can only describe as the 'figurative axeman' waiting to Paralyse me again.
The first time I was temporarily paralysed left no residual damage. The second time left me with an intermittent speech problem, and a bigger fear that I will be struck yet again by the 'figurative axeman'. As the second Paralysis was worse than the first, I, from a common sense (not medical knowledge) point of view, fear the third (if it happens) could be worse than the second.
Also, when I am struggling to get my words out and when I do they are slurred as though I am drunk, I don't speak to people unless I have to.

[nomis]

Since you've got speech interference I'd take that to mean there must be some brain damage as in organic. Slurred, slow speech typical of cerebral vascular accident, ie stroke.

[linsky]

nomis, on Sep 23 2007, 11:15 AM, said:

Since you've got speech interference I'd take that to mean there must be some brain damage as in organic. Slurred, slow speech typical of cerebral vascular accident, ie stroke.

Thanks for your reply.
I agree that I do have a definite organic problem. My speech (intermittent) problem resulted from the second bout of 'total body paralysis' that I suffered.
The whole of my problems resulted in me being rear ended in a car accident.
I would accept too that I may be suffering from Non organic problems in that I am in fear of having a third and possibly final (in regard to being temporary paralysis) episode.

Paradoxically, I think that a person whom had been temporary paralysed on two occasions, and the second occasion being worse than the first, and no one could fix or explain the reasons behind this, had no fear of it ever happening again, would need to be examined by a Psychiatrist. Can you understand my reasoning on this?

Regards
Linsky

[nomis]

I guess we can never rule out the influence of the mind.
If it is organic as in a mild CVA or psychological as in anxiety, I would expect both to settle down in time and return to normal or near normal. The longer you go without a further paralysis the more you'll accept it's not going to happen. And the brain is good at learning new neurological pathways after minor injury. I don't know but I reckon there's a good chance of a good outcome. Meantime it's an unsettling feeling when you're faced with unknowns.

[linsky]

nomis, on Sep 24 2007, 12:58 AM, said:

I guess we can never rule out the influence of the mind.
If it is organic as in a mild CVA or psychological as in anxiety, I would expect both to settle down in time and return to normal or near normal. The longer you go without a further paralysis the more you'll accept it's not going to happen. And the brain is good at learning new neurological pathways after minor injury. I don't know but I reckon there's a good chance of a good outcome. Meantime it's an unsettling feeling when you're faced with unknowns.

Thanks for your valued input and time Nomis. I would certainly think Organic has a definite role somewhere along the way. I have never (to my overt knowledge) had a problem with anxiety or other related illness. I also wonder if 'raised intraventricular pressure' had times when it may not show up on a scan, but still be there behind the scenes somewhere.

Regards
Linsky

[smokymtn memories]

Hope you find a "good' answer soon, Linsky. Wishing you well!

[linsky]

smokymtn memories, on Sep 24 2007, 03:58 PM, said:

Hope you find a "good' answer soon, Linsky. Wishing you well!

Thanks for your thoughts

[Lukus Black]

I would also be interested in your findings. Some time ago I had an episode much like your own. I had not been in any accidents, so as far as I know, I have not had any injuries.

One night, I was sitting at my desk, researching something for a new website I was writing. For a few seconds I felt a little dizzy and nauseous. Within 30 seconds I was paralyzed from head to toe. I felt nothing, and was %100 immobile. Barely able to breath, I was just able to let out a grunt which signaled my mother. she found me, rolled the computer chair to my bed, and dumped me on it. She kept asking what was wrong, but I could not make any noise at all aside from a heavy wheezing. Even my eyes were funny, and darting all around my room, but I could not shut them, and had I not heard her voice, I would never know my mother was present.

My symptoms slowly subsided, and within about an hour, I was perfectly fine. I walked on my own to the car, and we drove to the ER. The doctors tested my blood, my heart and my head, and found nothing at all wrong with me. The main doctor even had the gaul to say I had made it all up with my mother and sister present.

After a few years of research, I have found practically nothing that would cause such a thing, though it has happened a few times since. The closest thing I have ever found is Sleep Paralasis, which covers every single symptom but leaves out some facts. I was wide awake, and had been wide awake for some time, and sleep paralysis does not last more than a few minutes.

I have noticed my motor functions and mental ability have decreased since then, but I never attributed it to that problem. Perhaps I should.

[Tetracyclone]

Tortfeasors,

I wish there were someone you could sue- keep your mind busy when you are cooped up in your apartment. I get out of mine about once every 2 weeks.

Another thought is the swallowing difficulty could be related to vagus nerve damage if your vertebral bones and discs are wandering enough. The vegas nerve runs along side the cervicals, and I have had more swallowing difficulties since my accident. But i also had a bit of difficulty before my accident. Its a mystery.

NEVER SURRENDER, even for a minute.

This post has been edited by Tetracyclone: 28 January 2010 - 02:27 PM

[ThatCatIsFat]

I have a genetic disorder caused Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis. Since it's got nothing to do with SCI, I don't post on these forums, but it may be a disorder that some of you in this thread should look into so I'm posting now because it causes temporary paralysis/weakness.

It's a muscular disorder that causes sudden changes in blood potassium and that in turn causes temporary muscle paralysis (or in some people, just bad muscle weakness). Blood potassium is often completely normal between weakness/paralysis episodes, so it can be hard to diagnose. Ask your doctors to have a prescription for a potassium level so you can get it taken immediately if it happens again. If your potassium is either abnormally high or abnormally low during the episode, it could be periodic paralysis.

The episodes are usually triggered by things like sodium, carbohydrates, stress, heat and hunger. Sometimes, hypokalemic periodic paralysis is caused by abnormal thyroid activity, so you should have thyroid levels drawn during an episode, too.

More information is here: http://hkpp.org/

[Treblig]

Lukus Black, on Jan 28 2010, 02:42 AM, said:

I would also be interested in your findings. Some time ago I had an episode much like your own. I had not been in any accidents, so as far as I know, I have not had any injuries.

One night, I was sitting at my desk, researching something for a new website I was writing. For a few seconds I felt a little dizzy and nauseous. Within 30 seconds I was paralyzed from head to toe. I felt nothing, and was %100 immobile. Barely able to breath, I was just able to let out a grunt which signaled my mother. she found me, rolled the computer chair to my bed, and dumped me on it. She kept asking what was wrong, but I could not make any noise at all aside from a heavy wheezing. Even my eyes were funny, and darting all around my room, but I could not shut them, and had I not heard her voice, I would never know my mother was present.

My symptoms slowly subsided, and within about an hour, I was perfectly fine. I walked on my own to the car, and we drove to the ER. The doctors tested my blood, my heart and my head, and found nothing at all wrong with me. The main doctor even had the gaul to say I had made it all up with my mother and sister present.

After a few years of research, I have found practically nothing that would cause such a thing, though it has happened a few times since. The closest thing I have ever found is Sleep Paralasis, which covers every single symptom but leaves out some facts. I was wide awake, and had been wide awake for some time, and sleep paralysis does not last more than a few minutes.

I have noticed my motor functions and mental ability have decreased since then, but I never attributed it to that problem. Perhaps I should.

Lukas,
I am certain that you have been having TIA's or Transient Ischaemic Attack's.
The most common cause is due to a temporary tiny blood clot in the brain. This is often a warning sign/precursor to a full Ischaemic/blood clot type stroke or further TIA's.

The same thing happened to a friend of my mother( paralysis and loss of speech [N.B.vision loss is also common] ), but he left it too long before getting an informed medical opinion and he is now in hospital having suffered a full stroke and is permanently paralysed and speech impaired.
When my mother told me about his symptoms, I too came to the same (incorrect) conclusion as yourself of sleep paralysis, but on talking to my girlfriend tonight, who is a senior specialist hospital registrar, she immediately recognised the initial episodes that my mothers's friend had as classic TIA's.
Your episodes also sound like classic TIA's.

The symptoms you had, are likely to be the same with a permanent full stroke, but will not be temporary.

On the positive side, you can think yourself lucky to have a warning, which a TIA is.( providing my informarion is not already too late ).
I urge you to investigate this fully on the internet and seek preventive medical treatment.
This is best done very soon after a TIA.
Preventive medical treatment (medication to reduce clotting and thin blood) can, I believe, reduce the likelyhood of a full Ischaemic/blood clot type stroke by 80% and greatly reduce the risk of a heart attack and further TIA's.

I hope this advise is helpful and not too late!

Sincerely
Treblig.

[The Black Sheep]

I think the above posters are probably correct, but I wanted to maybe put a similar experience on here. I woke up paralyzed with a very similar experience, but at a lower level. When I was first admitted into the ER, my first 4 MRI's came back with nothing. Three doctors diagnoses me with hysterical paralysis and also told me I was making it up. I was later transferred to a different hospital and diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, which was a small amount of swelling in the spine, but not visible on the MRI. They found the circulation in my spinal fluid was restricted while doing a milogram, where they inject a white dye into the cord and do a basic x-ray. I have no idea if this is helpful, but if there is swelling in the spine, it can cause paralysis. I fell off a trampoline 5 days prior to my paralysis and became very sluggish over the next few days. Then paralysis while I was sleeping. Mine has not been temporary, though, and I've only had one occurrence of it.

Again, I don't know if this is helpful, but maybe something to ask your neurologist?

[hoopie]

First, regarding possible cognitive problems, a neuropsychologist would be a better choice than a neurologist because the evaluation is more fine-tuned. If you were in the US, I could recommend someone, but I don't know about the UK. If you lost consciousness, were dazed for a long time or had an "alteration" of consciousness, you are more likely to have had cognitive effects. THe sluggishness you describe is fairly typical for traumatic brain injury, but it could be a zillion other things, I guess. I would see a neuro to rule out other things, have repeat neuro exam, etc.

Second, regarding the temporary paralysis, my understanding is that people often have temporary paralysis with SCI even if they are incomplete. I am C6 incomplete ASIA D. I did not lose consciousness and remember my "whiplash" accident very well. For about the first 30 seconds I could not feel or move my arm and leg on the left side, then it immediately came back.

Good luck.

Hoopie