Trudy,
I am also appalled about your treatment. How awful. I am very sorry you had to
go through all of that. And Carol, your son-in-law is right, it does depend on
the type of needle used that helps prevent the horrible spinal headache. My
neurologist did my lumbar puncture himself, and he told me he was using a very
small needle - it takes longer to do the tap, but almost guarantees no
headache. And I did not have one, thank goodness. Carol, we don't want you to
have to tell us any horror stories so good luck with yours this Friday. I'll be
thinking about you.
Linda in Eagle, ID
----- Original Message -----
From: Carol E<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Trudy <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 6:47 AM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] UPDATE on tingling pins/needles spreading in leg
Trudy,
I am appalled that you would have to lie on the rock hard table for 2 hours!
I would think they would have a more comfortable bed to move you to for the 2
hour holding time. I am guessing that they wanted you to lie still for 2 hours
to prevent the very pounding headaches that can occur after a spinal tap.
Although my son-in-law, who is an anesthesiologist, says that it depends on the
type of needle that is used for the tap on whether or not you will get the
spinal headache, not the lying still for 2 hours. I would sure be conveying my
disconcert with someone at the hospital. Call and ask to speak to the person
in charge of complaint resolution. Tell that person that you were abandoned
and no one came in to check on you and you were not even given a buzzer to use
in case of an emergency. That's just my opinion. But I am extremely sorry
that you had to lie on that hard table for 2 hours.
Certainly hope my experience is going to be better. I am having a spinal tap
this Friday. Maybe I will have a horror story to share with you!!! :)
Carol in Culver, IN
----- Original Message -----
From: Trudy <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 'Sharon Marsden'<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ;
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 8:00 PM
Subject: RE: [TMIC] UPDATE on tingling pins/needles spreading in leg
Sharon,
I had almost the exact same reaction to Lyrica. But because I had fallen
and fractured a bone in my knee I had to go back to a wheelchair for 3 months.
I had just started taking Lyrica when I fell.. so I thought the awful numbness
was due to being in a wheelchair for so long and then my right leg would drag
and buckle on me! So I have stopped taking Lyrica but the numbness has not gone
away completely but it has improved. I was sure I was having an MS attack. I
will see my neuro in 3 weeks and we are comparing all tests taken the night I
experienced my attack and how things look today (4 years later). Is it MS??? Is
it TM???
Is this normal: I went for a spinal tap last week. I was given a gown and
put on an examination table. When it was over I was told I had to stay on the
table and remain on my side for 2 hours. The exam table was extremely hard and
the pillow was pathetic.. It had a paper covering. During that time not once
did any one come in to check on me to see whether I had fallen asleep and
fallen off the table or that I just might need to use the restroom.. After two
hours I worked my way off the table, got dressed and walked out! Is it me or
is there something wrong here???
Hang in there Sharon
Trudy in Virginia where it's leaves, leaves, leaves falling all over!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sharon Marsden [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 5:47 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [TMIC] UPDATE on tingling pins/needles spreading in leg
Thanks to everyone who wrote offering advice and urging me to see/call the
doc. I'm stubborn and contrary for sure. :)
You may remember that I have severe nocturnal nerve pain in my legs. I
have been so excited to have the Lyrica because it was helping with that pain.
Then this past week I started having the problems I wrote about earlier. The
numbness/tingling got worse after I wrote before until I couldn't feel anything
at all, no pin prick... nada, zip, zilch. My leg was dragging and the leg kept
buckling when I put weight on it.
Yesterday evening I finally gave up and called my neuro's after hours
number. The on-call NP called me back and wanted to put me in the hospital for
IV Solumedrol. She felt I was in an MS exacerbation and I did too. I asked
her though if Lyrica could cause something like that but she didn't think so.
I have wondered about it because the increasing symptoms have gone along with
the Lyrica use--but I didn't want to think it could be that.
I did some research before bedtime on Lyrica. I had to go to NINDs and
then to Medline to get the info because the Lyrica site doesn't tell.
According to Medline, Lyrica's side effects can be "burning, tingling, numbness
or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs". Those are lists as "more common"
side effects. The "less common" include "burning, crawling, itching, numbness,
prickling, pins and needles or tingling feelings". That was all me!
So, I didn't take my bedtime dose and my numbness/symptoms was a little
better this morning. I didn't take my morning dose either and I feel I'm still
improving. The NP called me this morning at 7:30 to tell me she spoke to the
doctor and he agreed with hospitalization. I told her about the Lyrica and
that I was feeling better. She had already called the hospital to get me a bed
today. Whew! That was a close one!
I've been telling my daughter for the last week that my leg was
hurting/itching where I had the skin sores from Bextra. Anyone remember about
Bextra? It was taken off the market 2 years ago because it caused necrotizing
fasciitis. I was on Bextra and had black sores on my leg. That's when I was
living in the backwoods of Alaska and couldn't get out to the doctor. I heard
about the Bextra problem on NPR Radio and stopped taking it. The sores started
getting better within a week. Anyway, on the Lyrica that area started hurting.
Odd, hey? Lyrica is made by the same company as Bextra (and Neurontin). I
think I may feel like staying away from their products! lol
Now this morning my daughter-in-law told some people at work that I had a
problem with Lyrica and had to stop taking it. A co-worker walked over to her
and said "let me guess--she went numb and couldn't walk". The same thing had
happened to her when she was taking it. What do you think of that!
So that's my story of a close call with Solumedrol and hospitalization. I
will do nearly anything to avoid being in the hospital anyway....... lol
Sharon
who is feeling better today, but I think I have a long way to go.....
Sharon --from Arizona TM 1997 to MS 1998
It's not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in
line. ~Ashleigh Brilliant
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSersLife/<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSersLife/>
----- Original Message ----
From: Sharon Marsden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, November 9, 2006 9:17:50 PM
Subject: [TMIC] tingling pins/needles spreading in leg
Hi everyone:
My left leg is always my weaker leg. And I always have numbness and
strange sensations. But yesterday morning my left foot started tingling in a
different way with pins/needles. It was uncomfortable to step down, but not
painful. Now it's spreading up my leg and is up to my upper thigh. I was
dxed with Transverse Myelitis in 1997 (then MS dx came the next year). I just
realized today that the left leg is reminding me of the beginning of my
experience with Transverse Myelitis in 97. It is kind of like the feeling of a
foot going to sleep but my leg is feeling draggy.
Now my right foot is more numb than normal and is feeling stranger than
normal. I thought about calling my neuro but he's 45 miles away and I don't
want to go in to see him. And I don't want to be on solumedrol. I'm contrary,
you know.
Just wondering.....
hugs)))
Sharon
Sharon --from Arizona TM 1997 to MS 1998
It's not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in
line. ~Ashleigh Brilliant
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSersLife/<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSersLife/>
