[cibolo]

hi,

i've been dealing with this injury since january of 08. i've been to a few doctors and have been out of work since the injury. i am not paralyzed,so if me being on here is a problem,please let me know and i will remove myself quickly. i found this site just today and it stated that it dealt with spinal injuries,so i figured this would be the site that would possibly give me real world view on what i'm facing. i fell down some stairs and was knocked out. my injuries as they have been described to me are c4-5,c5-6 herniation,indenting the thecal sac,abutting the spinal cord,slightly encroaching on the right neural foramen. at t8-t9 indenting the tecal sac,touching the spinal cord,encroaching on the left lateral spinal canal. t5-t6 herneation indenting the thecal sac,abutting the spinal cord.t9-t10 same. l3-l4 and l4-l5 touching the thecal sac. l5-s1 almost reaching the thecal sac. i have been in severe pain for a while and sometime's it put's me to the ground. i have severe to moderat headche's,ringing in the ears and burning sensation at the back of my neck sometime's. and what i can only describe as thunderstorms that go down my arm's and my legs. the doctor told me that wouldn't recomend surgery on my thorasic region until paralysis become's an issue. i have numbness in my left arm and pinky and index finger (wich come's and goe's but lasts up to a month sometime's). i have sharp pain in my groin region and trouble urinating. my wife is really concerned and really worried as i am, especially with the pain pills they have had me on since january (can not be good for the body). i'm scared to get surgery,especially if there are other options out there(surgery has been suggested as the only viable option for my neck). i've been through physical therapy with mixed results. they sent me to a chiropractor in the very beginnig and that seemed to make matters worse. i hope i can find some advice on this site and hope to maybe be able to contribute in some way also. i can't imagine what it is like to face what most of the people on here are up against,but hopefully we can help one another somehow. thank you.

[nomis]

Hi cibolo

That must have been some fall down those stairs to have gathered all those injuries to and around your spine. To be frank it's too complex a situation for me to get my head around. I imagine you've got a number of concern categories one of which obviously is pain.

From what you say it appears you have escaped serious neurological damage, at least to the central nervous system. I'm wondering what's upsetting the urinary system and whether that might involve some nerve damage.

I assume the medical treatment has focussed on taking precautions not to cause damage to the cord. They're likely holding off surgery to the thoracic area for fear they could make it worse. As I said, it's all too complex for me to get my head around and I think you're going to have to rely on the word of your medical people.

Maybe some others here have some ideas for you.

[Kwag_Myers]

I've had some similar symptoms to yours. The headaches are most likely from the disruption of the thecal sac that surrounds the spinal cord. I had a leak in my which caused me to have a headache. Once they closed the leak my headache and the numbness in my arms was gone. You may want to ask about the possibility of a leak, but my guess is that the flow of fluid is being hindered.

The rest of what you’ve described seems like it could be subdued with medication – baclofen or lyrica. Baclofen really helped me with the “thunderstorms” in the legs and the lighting bolts to the groin.

As for the urinating issue, I’d recommend seeing a Urologist about using a catheter. Once you get the hang of it, it’s no big deal (just time consuming). You want to be sure you’re emptying your bladder. My guess is that your sphincter muscle isn’t working correctly, which is something most of us have to deal with.

I hope this helps. Keep us posted.

[Kwag_Myers]

lonely_para_girl, on Aug 31 2008, 10:22 PM, said:

eeeeeeeeekkss!!! i can't remember so many scientific words even if i study neurology!!!
it's so so so complicated!!! i think i should study more. lol.

Yeah, it's amazing how much my vocabulary has increased since my SCI.

[Ches]

I dont have much input on your current condition. It is exactly what it is.. I just hope you can maintain your current state! Best of luck!
Aside from that, a random thought here.. Considering all the injuries obtained, I have to ask.. Just how big was that stair case? And.. I cant help but think of the typical 12 step flight of stairs, and to be that banged up makes me wonder if there isnt something else going on. Weak bones, scoliosis.. I dont know really.. Im no doctor. It would just be really unpleasant to fall again and suffer more severe injuries, ya know?!

This post has been edited by Ches: 03 September 2008 - 05:25 AM