Question on neuro consult being pushed to neurosurgeon
 

Very very sorry, this may be a bit long. I am in need of some common sense advice. I know many of us with PN also have spinal problems. This is whats happening to me.

Back in March 2011 I had a MV accident and got whiplash. That whiplash caused a bad sensory PN flare bodywide pins and needles. Before that I had 3 years of full recovery from PN. I was fine after May (even though my thoracic spine was sensetive). In late October 2011 after I did yoga stretches I started having migrating numbness in my thighs, and butt. MRI of lower lumbar showed no compression of any nerve roots. Within 2 weeks after that, 1 elbow was involved and left top of head. Now both my legs tingle and burn and I have migrating pain and numbness in my back and my head. I have seen my neurologist last month and I had a normal EMG, Brain MRI, and NCV. I was diagnosed with Wartenbergs Migrating Sensory Neuritis.

My GP has a patient who has a heniated disc at T10/T11 and he has burning in his legs and she has referred him to neurosurgeon.

After my MV accident an upper back MRI said I had a disc extrusion at C5/C6 that could impinge left C6 nerve root, and a disc bulge at T5/T6 with an annual tear that is mildly flattening right anterior thoracic cord, but normal signal,normal foramina,and spinal canal is clear.

My GP thinks that this thoracic or Cervical disc has caused all the neuropathy in my entire body and legs and was pushing me into the hands of a neurosurgeon for surgery. I don't know alot about anatomy and spines but my thoracic MRI did not say I had cord compression. Last March 2011 my thoracic MRI was reviewed by my own spine specialist and he said that there was nothing to worry about. Thoracic surgery is brutal and I am very worried. I asked my GP how can a thoracic disc cause numbness in head and she said it cant. I decliend to see a neurosurgeon and am in process of trying to figure out what to do.

I have an entirely different purely sensory migrating neuropathy and it is nothing like the first time in happened in 2003. My legs are the worst affected and it started in thighs and has moved down the legs not up. No weakness or balance issues. But I have freezer burn (inflammation) pain in legs thats hard to manage. I haven't told my parents because my dad is very very ill (he has died 3 times) and was recessitated and I don't want to upset them wth my stuff.

What I remeber is 2 days before the numbness came on I took Fluconazaole 1single dose for yeast infection. I was doing yoga and numbness came on.

Any advice for me would be much appreciated. Very sorry for being so long in tooth.

Ps. Thats a photo of me from last summer. I don't want to be Beaker today.
Last edited by Aussie99; Yesterday at 08:35 PM.

Hello there.

I have had 4 spinal surgeries. The last one was an 8 level fusion and disketomy from C-2 to T-3. (I had already had c-3 to t-I and they took that out and did the whole thing.) I can tell you that if you have a tear and compression no matter where it is on your spine, it can cause major pain and weakness in the most odd places. Even all over the body. Mine did.

If I had a tear, I would go see a neuro or a really good spine doc because it can migrate to other parts of your spine. Maybe two. Or three.

Just at least get to someone who can reliably tell you what you need. You can hold off if they think you can. Maybe get some real physical therapy.

Best of luck to you.

It's not unusual at all for doctors to have disparate opinions, so this may come down to who you trust/have the most confidence in.

How do you feel about seeing enough doctors to get a concensus?

Doc

Malinda k,

Thank you for your reply and I am very sorry to hear about all you have gone through. I can see your point and I agree that there is more to this than meets the eye. I too have had lumbar urgery in Feb 2011, and then had the MV accident in March 2011. That is how and why I actually do have a capable spine specialist. My theory is that the neuropathy may be some sort of chemical radiculopathy?? I don't know. The last 3 days I have been living on a bountiful diet of voltaren and panadol. I hope you are doing ok and again thank you for taking the time to reply to me.:)

Aussie

Hi Dr. Smith,

Thank you for your reply. To answer your questions I am happy to see a good doctor but I am ending up with some quacks of late. The requirements for medical and specialist qualifications in Australia are much lower than America. I actually had an appointment with a specialist, and then I googled them and turns out they have a bad reputation and implicated in unsavoury things that are actually frightened me. I ran like heck. Trust factor already shattered. Also the specialists can charge up to $500 and up for an appointment and these costs out of pocket so I am just wanting to make sure I see the right person. I am willing to pay anything for quality advice, but you don't know what you get. I believe there is also some gratuitous referral service and that is also a concern. I have to really give it a good think this weekend. I do not have any weakness or anything and as I said most tests are normal. My neurologist has said she thinks my nerves are being irritated by something. Maybe a chemical radiculopathy?? Thank you again.