acute transversemyelitis
Greg & Mary Gentry (ggmg(AT)alltel.net)
Sun, 24 Jan 1999 19:09:17 -0800
On Nov.1, 1997 I experienced severe pain in the back of my neck with an
elevated blood pressure. I immediately went to the local hospital
where X rays were made and showed deteriorating disks. They advised to
go to an orthopedic specialist for further diagnosis. I went to the
orthopedist the following day and he examined the X rays and indicated
it was deteriorating disks, but they had not progressed to the point of
needing surgery.
On Nov. 14, 1997, I awoke with the same severe pain in the back of my
neck. I again went to the emergency room after contacting my doctor who
was not available that morning. They treated me for the same symptoms
they had previously. They administered high dosages of demerol and
valium, and after several hours, I returned home very sedated. Several
hours later, I got up to go to the bathroom, and my entire left side of
the body, arms, legs, feet, and trunk, went numb. I collapsed onto the
floor and went immediately into respiratory distress. Luckily, I live
next door to a doctor. My wife ran next door and he came in his bare
feet as fast as he could to assist me. My wife called 911 and the
ambulance arrived within minutes. The paramedics worked with me for
30-40 minutes before I could be taken to the hospital.
Once at the hospital the doctor on turned out to be a doctor of internal
medicine. He immediately started giving me high dosages of steroids.
He had as MRI done on my head, neck, and spinal cord. A lesion was
detected between C1 and C2. I was quickly transferred to a regional
medical center and put under the care of a neurologist and an infectious
disease specialist. The doctors were unable to isolate any organism
such as a virus or perhaps a bacteria that might have caused the
infection in the outer layer of the spinal cord, the mycelium. After
five days in ICU, they had determined the extent of the paralysis, but
had begun to bring the infection under control. I remained in the
hospital another week with daily treatments of physical therapy. I was
then transferred to a rehabilitation center for intensive therapy. I
was there about 21 days with almost daily improvement in the weaknesses
caused by the paralysis. I continued physical and vocational therapy
for about a year and have improved to the point that I have returned to
work and can use with limitations all my extremities. The main source
of pain I now have is in the trunk on the left side of my body.
The doctor has prescribed neutronpin, a seizure drug, to try to
alleviate some of the pain. Also, I am on a vitamin regime that
contains high dosages of folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6,
and B12.
I am 66 years old and living a pretty normal life with a few
limitations. I enjoy my family and my seven grandchildren that live in
the same community. I would enjoy hearing from you if you know any new
treatments or therapy that might be available.
--
Greg & Mary Gentry
ggmg(AT)alltel.net