SPECIALISTS SAY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME PRESCRIBED GABAPENTIN AS MUCH AS I CAN TAKE ONLY 35 YEARS OLD


(Bolton UK)

Dear Sarah

Writing on behalf of son, desperate to help him.

Basically my problem started in 2010 when my messing around in the pool with my younger brother and he landed on my back while I was lying face down on a lilo. I was temporarily paralysed but feeling returned although I was in a lot of pain.

I could walk around and on returning home from holiday went to the hospital, who informed me I would not be walking if my back was broken and told me to take pain killers.

Needless to say my back was broken but healed. Two years down the line, I still had pain and started getting electric shock type pains down my legs and dropping to the floor.

I have had MRI scans, nerve conduction tests and told I have broad based posterior disc protrusion L5/S1 with faraminal stenosis and nerve irritation.

I am told that after all this time my nerves are permanently damaged and will not repair and that surgery is too dangerous. I am dropping to the floor several times a day and find it difficult to get up from sitting position. I cannot sit in one position for any length of time and have no confidence going out in case I drop to the ground - people think I am drunk and give me dirty looks.

I have been told to take gabapentin and keep increasing the dose. I cannot work until the dose is correct and the side effects are horrendous. Please can you help or advise, it is hard to accept that at 35 years old my quality of life is so bad. please help.

Comments for SPECIALISTS SAY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME PRESCRIBED GABAPENTIN AS MUCH AS I CAN TAKE ONLY 35 YEARS OLD

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Jun 11, 2013
 your son
by: Sarah says:

Hello Karen,
I was requesting a couple of pictures of the scan itself, rather than the report. This clinical picture of dropping to the floor several times a day is an extremely unusual presentation. This sounds harsh but it strains credibility and I dont know quite I can say to make it easier for you. You have been much on my mind and I have not known how to respond to you. This is a case that is very difficult to comment upon, sight unseen. However, I will say this: If the surgeons can see no credible reason (such as frank instability) rather than be dumbfounded, they will tend to assume that there is a psychological overlay. This may be very sobering and unwelcome comment from me but rather than leaving you up in the air with no comment, I feel I must say what it looks like to me from this end.
May 25, 2013
 MRI RESULTS AS ASKED FOR BY SARAH
by: ladybridgek@aol.com

MRI RESULTS PAUL HIGSON 12 06 2012
CLINICAL INFORMATION

Trauma to back 2 years ago. Episodes of loss of feeling in both legs.
CLINICAL INFORMATION:
Trauma to back 2 years ago. Episodes of loss of feeling in both legs.
MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE
Sagittal T2, T1 sequences of the lumbar spine are provided with additional STIR sequence and axial T2 sequences from L3/L4 to L5/S1.
Normal lumbar segmentation is assumed.
The usual lumbar lordosis is maintained. There is no spondylolisthesis. There is disc space narrowing and some desiccation at L5/S1. This is associated with active end plate reactive changes. The remaining disc space heights are normal. Vertebral body heights are normal. The distal cord is normal. No para vertebral abnormality.
L3/L4 no nerve root compromise.
L4/L5 no nerve root compromise. Early facet joint hypertrophy noted.
L5/S1 broad based posterior disc protrusion extending from foramen to foramen. Both exit foramina are narrowed with margins of the disc touching and elevating both escaping L5 nerve roots thought likely to cause irritation. There is also moderate canal stenosis at this level due to the disc changes and to epidural fat. There is minor facet joint hypertrophy. No para defect.
CONCLUSION
The cominant finding is of a borad based posterior disc protrusion at L5/S1 extending from the foramen to foramen causing likely bilateral exiting L5 nerve root irritation.
Dr Johnny Jones/J J Telemedicine Clinic, Consultant Radiologist(s)
MR SPINE THORACIC
Sagittal T2, T1 images of the thoracic spine are provided with axial T2 block from T8 to T11.
The usual thoracic kyphosis is maintained. Vertebral body heights and disc space heights appear normal. There is some end plate irregularity involving the mid thoracic vertebrae in keeping with Schmorl's nodes. There is no wedge compression fracture. The thoracic cord is normal. There is no significant canal or foraminal stenosis. No para vertebral abnormality.
CONCLUSION
No evidence of cord compromise.
May 25, 2013
 MRI RESULTS AS ASKED FOR BY SARAH
by: Karen H

Hi Sarah - Many thanks for offering to read my son's MRI report, it is below, I am so grateful to you. Karen

MRI RESULTS PAUL HIGSON 12 06 2012
CLINICAL INFORMATION

Trauma to back 2 years ago. Episodes of loss of feeling in both legs.
CLINICAL INFORMATION:
Trauma to back 2 years ago. Episodes of loss of feeling in both legs.
MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE
Sagittal T2, T1 sequences of the lumbar spine are provided with additional STIR sequence and axial T2 sequences from L3/L4 to L5/S1.
Normal lumbar segmentation is assumed.
The usual lumbar lordosis is maintained. There is no spondylolisthesis. There is disc space narrowing and some desiccation at L5/S1. This is associated with active end plate reactive changes. The remaining disc space heights are normal. Vertebral body heights are normal. The distal cord is normal. No para vertebral abnormality.
L3/L4 no nerve root compromise.
L4/L5 no nerve root compromise. Early facet joint hypertrophy noted.
L5/S1 broad based posterior disc protrusion extending from foramen to foramen. Both exit foramina are narrowed with margins of the disc touching and elevating both escaping L5 nerve roots thought likely to cause irritation. There is also moderate canal stenosis at this level due to the disc changes and to epidural fat. There is minor facet joint hypertrophy. No para defect.
CONCLUSION
The cominant finding is of a borad based posterior disc protrusion at L5/S1 extending from the foramen to foramen causing likely bilateral exiting L5 nerve root irritation.
Dr Johnny Jones/J J Telemedicine Clinic, Consultant Radiologist(s)
MR SPINE THORACIC
Sagittal T2, T1 images of the thoracic spine are provided with axial T2 block from T8 to T11.
The usual thoracic kyphosis is maintained. Vertebral body heights and disc space heights appear normal. There is some end plate irregularity involving the mid thoracic vertebrae in keeping with Schmorl's nodes. There is no wedge compression fracture. The thoracic cord is normal. There is no significant canal or foraminal stenosis. No para vertebral abnormality.
CONCLUSION
No evidence of cord compromise.
May 21, 2013
 dropping to the floor
by: Sarah says

Can you upload a scan, just one or two in a new submission and I can have a look?
Sarah

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