Another back pain question

[Firefoot]

I have recently developed a problem with my back.

I get very bad pain in my lower back if I walk any further than around 100 metres. I am not aware of straining anything, it just happened one day as I was walking around. If I ignore it and keep walking, the pain gets to a level where I feel sick and get very flushed. If I stop and rest, I can then walk a short distance again before the pain starts to kick in.

I would describe the pain as being to each side of my back rather than in the center.

Any ideas? Had it for about 3 weeks now with no sign of it going away.

[Firefoot]

Don't know if it's related, but for about a week now I have also had numbness in both hands and most of my right arm.

Any ideas? Could I have trapped a nerve somewhere?

[mattikake]

Hell man, get to the docs!

Any numbness down both arms indicates pressure on your upper spine! You could have a disc location injury or a boney vertebrae growth putting pressure on disc, and therefore the spine, if it's been a progressive thing.

You certainly shouldn't be walking about!

[mph1977]

red flags flying everywhere - get to the doctors ASAP OP

[Firefoot]

I actually ended up in A&E who admitted me as the numbness was climbing up my arms and I lost a lot of strength on the right side. Docs thought I was having/had had a stroke.

Had blood tests, pee test, MRI, X-ray and the outcome is a suspected infection in spinal column in neck area. Now scheduled for Lumbar Puncture and brain scan on Tuesday.

So, you are indeed correct! Get my bum straight to the docs next time anything like that happens.

(have to say 40ish minutes in an MRI machine is half way between scarey and awesome, didn't like being in there, but what a fantastic piece of kit!)

edited to add - just nosed at the letter the hospital gave me for my doctor, diagnosis is Transverse Myelitis

Edited by Firefoot on Friday 29th April 12:44

[Sticks.]

Sounds very unpleasant. What's the treatment? Hope you're soon 100%

[mattikake]

Firefoot said:

I actually ended up in A&E who admitted me as the numbness was climbing up my arms and I lost a lot of strength on the right side. Docs thought I was having/had had a stroke.

Had blood tests, pee test, MRI, X-ray and the outcome is a suspected infection in spinal column in neck area. Now scheduled for Lumbar Puncture and brain scan on Tuesday.

So, you are indeed correct! Get my bum straight to the docs next time anything like that happens.

(have to say 40ish minutes in an MRI machine is half way between scarey and awesome, didn't like being in there, but what a fantastic piece of kit!)

edited to add - just nosed at the letter the hospital gave me for my doctor, diagnosis is Transverse Myelitis

Edited by Firefoot on Friday 29th April 12:44

A spinal infection is a pretty rare thing. How is the treatment going?

I've had an mri for a footy induced niggling knee injury. I said i just need physio to remove the scar tissue, but they gave me an mri, then said i need physio to remove some scar tissue. but yeah it was kinda scarey and kinda cool at the same time. Loved it.

[mph1977]

mattikake said:

A spinal infection is a pretty rare thing. How is the treatment going?

I've had an mri for a footy induced niggling knee injury. I said i just need physio to remove the scar tissue, but they gave me an mri, then said i need physio to remove some scar tissue. but yeah it was kinda scarey and kinda cool at the same time. Loved it.

resists the temptation to point out

1. What if it wasn't scar tissue and was something that needed intervention, if they'd not done the MRI you'd be in the queue at the local NWNF looking to claim ...

2. If the examination can be justified the tendancy now does seem to bedo it esp for MRI or USS primarily for 'customer service' reasons, as the radiation protection arguementsare a lot weaker.

[mattikake]

^ Maybe I was looking for a nice cash injection from a claim?

tbh I tend to go by Occam's Razor. Knee is fine. I get clattered in footy. Limp a bit for then next couple of weeks. Doesn't really go away or get worse. Most likely to be an injury from the footy than an infection, cancer, something else. But I take your point!

[Firefoot]

mattikake said:

A spinal infection is a pretty rare thing. How is the treatment going?

I've had an mri for a footy induced niggling knee injury. I said i just need physio to remove the scar tissue, but they gave me an mri, then said i need physio to remove some scar tissue. but yeah it was kinda scarey and kinda cool at the same time. Loved it.

My GP said I am only the 2nd person she has had contact with in her entire career that has transverse myelitis. She even joked about how many neurologists I was attracting in the hospital, so yeah, it does seem to be pretty rare.

The conclusion after loads of tests, many neurologists sticking many pins in me and taking shed loads of blood is that it has been caused by a virus. I have to rest, rest and more rest so am now signed off work for at least a month!

[Firefoot]

Just an update
Looks like I may have MS. Having another lumbar puncture and MRI in two weeks as the last set showed nothing.

Since gettiing the tingling/numb hands I have had a couple of sporadic periods of stuff not wanting to work properly. Foot dragging, can't open bottles etc.

Has anyone had any experiences of MS? I understand it is different in everyone, just trying to work out what I can expect from the future.

[Lotus Notes]

Lots of information and help available, get stuck into t'internet..albeit MS has not yet been confirmed?

My work colleague has MS, it limits his speech and physical movement a bit, his wife appears more worried than him. He has periods of respite, where things are going well, but also periods of symptoms restricting functions, in the long run things don't improve though.

Take advantage of the support out there.

[NDA]

That doesn't sound great news.....

Keep us posted.

And good luck......

[Firefoot]

Not confirmed yet, no. The last time they ran an MRI they said there was something there, but it was so difficult to see that it may be nothing. The signs are all in place though and I am quite a realist.

I had an episode where I couldn't see properly out of one eye for a week or so last October, my hands/arms went numb & tingly a few months after that then got better, a few months after that my hands & right arm went again, a few weeks after that my left leg went and foot started dragging etc.

One day I went to a car show and couldn't lift my leg to cross the low rope dividing the car areas.

Somedays I can't open a bottle of pop for myself.

I know something is very definitely not right even without a label from the doc.

[NDA]

Poor you.... It must be very worrying for you and your family and friends.

I worked with a girl who has MS, I think in her case it was genetic, or at least that's what the docs thought. It seemed to be largely managed with drugs.

Is there any history of such a thing in your family?

[Firefoot]

Nope, nothing in family history. All of the women in my family lived to be in thoer 80's or 90's.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not feeling sorry for myself and still intend on living into my nineties I just kind of want to know what I am facing to be ready. All the web sites say that it varies from person to person so it is difficult to know.

[NDA]

Well fingers crossed that it's something benign.

[Firefoot]

Thanks

I'm liking your GT40 BTW. What's it like to drive?

[NDA]

It's lovely to drive. . Although being left hand drive and rather wide, does make it a bit of an event to take it for a spin!

It's more pleasing to the eye than most cars I've owned, including the Murcielago, to me anyway. I find it impossibly beautiful......

[Firefoot]

They certainly have good road presence. I had one wait for me on the M4 one day. He drove along side for a bit, then put his foot down, left my 200sx like I was standing still