Passing Out and Back Injuries
 

I had a flare to my arm around easter time and ever since then I have been passing out on a regular basis
Its happening around 3pm for a few times and the stops till around 8pm when it gets more regualr and lasts right up to going to sleep
Each time I pass out I'm out between a minute and anything up to ten and when I come round I have no recollection of anything thats happened
Its ended up that I have hurt my head banginging it against the car window and then around three weeks ago I hurt my back really bad
My back has now developed a large swelling and lesion which neither my own consultant or a spinal consultant can find any reason for
They are now saying that the lump and lesion may be due to how my CRPS is reacting to the injury - great its in my back now :-(
Its not healing because I continue to hurt it when I pass out but no-one has any ideas on why thats happening either
I was due to undergo trials or a baclofen pump in the near future and nothing else seems to work pain-wise. Now thats been shelved because of my back problems so I'm in a really bad place at the moment
I was just wondering if any of you out there had experienced similar problems with your back or passing out and if you had any suggestions as to something which may help
Thanks
Alison x

Ali , That has to be awful scary ... have you changed any of your meds lately ? I know I had a similar issue sev. yrs ago and it turned out to be one of the antidepresents they had me on . Not sure which one (brain fog) , but when I weaned myself off ,that problem went away . mine came on and felt like a very sudden (within seconds) drowsiness and I would pass out/fall asleep mid sentence of talking with someone or whatever I was doing , and would awake unaware of anything I missed . I usually would have a second or two to react and I would make sure to position myself not to hurt myself . Good luck and take care !

I had that too. I would pass out and get these jerks when I woke up. My dr told me it was because my body was so exhausted it would get into a state of "relaxation" even though it doesnt feel like it, and then I subconsiously wake up with a bad shake. Its so scary not remembering what happens. I would be in the middle of a sentence and id fade away and when I came awake again I had no recollection of what happened. I was on heavy narcotics after a surgery plus neurontin, baclofen, tramadol, etc plus the others. Its scary. What meds are you taking right now??

Is the passing out due to high pain levels - or is there some other possible cause for it?

Head hitting things - can cause the c1 & c2 to get out of alignment which can start up various troubles. {called Upper cervical/ atlas/axis}

some info links-
Chiropractic care info- a good one can help with many symptoms:
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm
http://www.uppercervical.org/subpag...b/about_faq.php
http://www.spineuniverse.com/index.html
http://www.coloradochiropractic.org/.../glossary.html

Ali, So sorry for your battle with this monster. I had the passing out problem when I was prescribed Nuerontin. I had taken it for a little while before the passing out started. I pray that your problem may be as simple as just finding out this may be caused by a drug reaction. Best wishes, Lisa

Thanks for replying everyone
I don't think the passing out is medication related
The only medication I was taking when all this started was ketamine because nothing else works for me and I have been taking ket for well over a year
I tend to think its just another problem associated to the RSD
When I was in GOSH a couple of years ago my therapist told me about a girl who used to pass out regularyl because of the pain so I guess thats what might be happening here
My consultant hasn't come accross it before and is going to look into it - he wasnt overly worried until it resulted in this back injury
Its now difficult to plan my life round it because I can't risk being out when the collapsing starts
Alison x

Hi Ali,

Just to let you know I PM'd you about passing out - it's something that's been happening to me for years. It is really annoying and frustrating, but what isn't with this disease?

Pain free hugs and understanding!!

Rosie xxxx

Well, Ali, I think this new problem is alarming!

I DO think it is the ketamine. Long term use of this drug is not common, and is relatively new.

Here is a list of side effects possible...including the clonic movements resembling seizures.

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ketamine-side-effects.html

You can not stop this drug cold turkey, if you decide to not use it anymore. It should be tapered with medical supervision.

One should always consider any or all drugs they are taking when some alarming new symptom presents itself.

Hey Ali,
 

Welcome back.

I agree with Mrs. D. I think the passing out issue is something they need to be looking hard at.

I have passed out once in my lifetime that I know of and that was from the heat.

Stay on top of this and make sure they try to find the cause. It could be the high level of pain, I agree on that but it just seems like it could most likely be something more serious medically.

Take care,
Ada

This is Alisons Mum - thought I'd take time out to thank you all for replying
I'm not really sure what is happening here - I tend to think that the underlying cause is the recent flare and increase in pain as although Alison takes ketamine this is something we have tried to limit only to an "as and when required" medication as we both felt she was far too young to be taking large quantities of this drug on a regular basis
Over the past two months the passing out has been getting worse and predicatably happens around mid afternoon and then early evening onwards.
Following on from the back injury Alison was prescribed codeine and dicolfenac
She started taking this on Friday and ever since then we have noticed that when she passes out now she seems to have violent convulsions and shaking which seem to be getting worse
I've looked at the side effects of these new medications and it looks like codeine could be causing this - although it could be coincidental and be that this would have happened anyway
I've started reducing the codeine to see if things improve just to be sure that it isn't this new medication causing the problem
I'll keep you all informed
Thanks
Andrea x