Slipped Disk or Tethered Cord

[Alvy]

My condition is as such, I've SBO and am able to ambulate quite well. Been having a shooting pain from the lesion area at my lower back all the way down to my left heel. Only when I'm lying down on my back and I happen to sneeze or cough. In addition, if I accidentally hit my lower back, the pain could be that bad till I'd almost be knocked out cold.

I've been referred to a spinal specialilst and will be seeing him on 12th August. Do you guys think it's a tethered cord or a slipped disk? I'm 20 years old btw. I do not even want to entertain the thought of having to lose my ability to walk independently. Been having a hard time coping with everything and school.:kleenex:

[HelenCate]

that does kind of sound like sciatica type pain, so you would probably be right in thinking disk..but hey..not a healthcare professional, yet at least :D..so please see your doctor if pain persists :D..no really don't mind me, clearly in a mood..since you are 20 and skeletally you are done growing your sbo shouldn't be suddenly springing surprise symptoms on you..so I would be too concerned on that front, but again..do check

[Alvy]

Thanks for the reply!

Yea, I've read up on it and it does sound like sciatica pain, something along that line. The sciatica nerve being compressed or something. I'll be consulting the spinal specialist soon. Based on my previous MRI done in February, they said it seems fine other than the Spina Bifida deformities. They might order a new MRI though.

Actually, I'm wondering if I really have SBO. There wasn't a "lump" at my back during birth and I wasn't diagnosed. The lump appeared when i was about 15 months old. That was when the spinal corrective surgery was done. I thought usually SBO don't have those growths at their back?

[Dodger67]

As I understand it the "growths" are usually lipomas - but ask your doctor.
SBO can and does "spring surprises" on fully grown adults as a consequence of spinal injuries - even minor ones.

[Alvy]

From my MRI lumbar spine, it states:
Spinal cord abnormality compatible with lipomeningomyelocoele; diastematomyelia and syringomyelia is also noted.

Anyone know what's all those terms? I tried searching online but it's kinda in-depth. ._.

Yea I'll try to get things cleared up when I see the spinal specialist. Haven't seen one since I was a kid. Don't know why though. =/

[LisaJoy]

SBO doesn't necessarily present in an obvious way at birth. Lipomyelomeningocele means there's a lipoma present and nerve roots are tangled up in it. Diastematomyelia is a type of split cord malformation. The cord divides into two hemispheres and then rejoins and a spur of bone or cartilege often grows in between the two hemispheres, causing the cord to snag. It is not unusual for both conditions to occur together with SBO -- I have all three as well. I started having symptoms that led to the diagnosis of diastematomyelia when is was 33 (already knew about the others). So you can develop symptoms of tethered cord at any time.

Syringomyelia is sometimes present with these conditions -- it is a fluid-filled cyst in the spinal cord caused by the traction of the tethered cord. It can become symptomatic.

[Alvy]

SBO doesn't necessarily present in an obvious way at birth. Lipomyelomeningocele means there's a lipoma present and nerve roots are tangled up in it. Diastematomyelia is a type of split cord malformation. The cord divides into two hemispheres and then rejoins and a spur of bone or cartilege often grows in between the two hemispheres, causing the cord to snag. It is not unusual for both conditions to occur together with SBO -- I have all three as well. I started having symptoms that led to the diagnosis of diastematomyelia when is was 33 (already knew about the others). So you can develop symptoms of tethered cord at any time.

Syringomyelia is sometimes present with these conditions -- it is a fluid-filled cyst in the spinal cord caused by the traction of the tethered cord. It can become symptomatic.

I don't know if it's my spine acting up but I kinda had a hard time walking around in school the entire day. There's this nagging pain at my lower back and the more I walk, the more achy it gets.

Are the symptoms of a tethered cord similar to a slipped disk? What if it is a tethered cord and I don't go for the surgery? All 3 conditions can result in further problems in the future, no? I'm really afraid of losing my ability to walk. This thought has gotten me down for really long, crying, yes.

What makes all these worse is that my lecturer is joking about my absences from school when I'm not around. And then claim he's joking. I've been absent from school at least once a week for medical appointments or I'm just plain unwell. My friends told me that and I'm really upset. Nevermind that he doesn't understand me. But can't he see that I'm struggling? Do I look like I'm enjoying it? I can take jokes, but this I can't. Some things just aren't meant to be joked with. Why can't people just go through that simple process of THINKING before shooting their mouths off? What more, he's a lecturer..

Sighs...:(

[LisaJoy]

When and whether to have surgery is one of the big questions with tethered cord in adults, because the surgery itself can result in a loss of function. After my last TC surgery, I lost a lot of function in my right leg below the knee. I now walk with an AFO and one crutch, but I used to require no assistance -- in fact, in my 20s and early 30s I used to enjoy hiking (day hikes, nothing big). However, the surgery did stabilize my bladder and bowel function, so it was a trade-off.

I've developed new symptoms in the past few weeks -- intense back pain at the lesion site, neuropathic pain in my right leg and left foot, and, as of last week, my bladder has suddenly gone haywire. My neurosurgeon has retired, but as soon as I get in to see a new one, I'm quite certain I will be facing this decision again. Unlike you, however, I'm not concerned too much about losing more ability to walk -- I'm concerned about loss of bladder and bowel function.

I'm a college professor (equivalent of your lecturer) and here is my advice to you -- go and talk to him, explain that you have been having major medical issues (you don't have to get specific), ask if he'd like a letter of confirmation from your physician (he'll probably say it's not necessary), and let him know that you really enjoy the class and hate it that your health is interfering (say it even if it is stretching the truth). Ask what you can do to make sure you are keeping up and getting the most possible out of the class. You don't have to say anything about hearing that he's been making comments -- in fact, he may intend you to hear about them, hoping that you'll come see him. A bit passive-aggressive, but not unusual. Perhaps he is offended, thinking your absences are the result of lack of interest in his class (college professors can be very insecure!)

That should nip the problem right in the bud. If he has ANY kind of professional integrity, he will work with you and stop the comments. If he doesn't, go over his head to the department chair (or the equivalent). But whatever you do, address it face to face with the lecturer FIRST before pursuing it further. If it were the US, once he was notified of your ongoing medical problems, he would be in deep trouble for discriminatory behavior if he persisted with the public comments. Don't know about the law there, though.

Chances are, a face-to-face meeting will clear things up.

[Alvy]

I've read about it in this forum and tethered cord sounds scary! I only required the use of an AFO after surgery when I was 10 and 14 years old. Thereafter, I didn't need to wear them. Until recently, I've been falling on my knees a lot and hence, been ordered to wear an AFO for my left leg. Bladder and bowel function's kinda screwed but bladder managed by cathing.

It's really tough getting around in a wheelchair here in Singapore as it's not very handicap-friendly though we're trying to. I was on the crutches for 2 months because of my falls and more often than not, whenever I'm on the bus or train, people don't bother giving up their seats. Not that they have to but it would have been nice if they did so. Even I give up my seat to the elderly/disabled when I'm not using the crutches. You're right, bladder and bowel functions are also a concern. However, being wheelchair-bound here it's hard to get a job etc.

I enjoy my freedom in terms of walking independently even though I still get nasty comments from random people when they see the way I walk.

I've made my move in terms of letting my lecturers, course manager, careperson (form teacher) and counsellor know of my medical problems and the countless medical appointments that I have to go for. Though only my careperson and counsellor knows more in-depth information with regards to my problems. I take the initiative to ask them for help because I've been missing lectures etc. and I need a heck load of help to pass my modules and eventually graduate hopefully by April next year. I've put in a lot of effort to keep up with my peers. Even to the extent of telling my doctor not to extend my medical leave, 1 day is enough. I would even go to school despite being on medical leave. Which kid out there would do such a thing? Most kids I know would be more than happy to be absent from school for days.

I certainly hope he respects me as a person and stop doing that. Funny thing, he works with me but behind my back he said those stuff. If I didn't give a hoot about my studies, I'd have given up on myself and my studies a long time ago. The temptation to give up is relatively high, I must say. And it takes a lot to move on after getting hit by waves of negative news. I'm not having an easy time playing "catch-up" with my peers. My counsellor and careperson said to me that, given my circumstances, in and out of hospital and what-not, it's already an achievement to obtain a diploma. I'm literally slogging my butt off to get that cert! However, glad that most of my lecturers understands and are more lenient in terms of me missing lessons and quizzes.

[LisaJoy]

Alvy,

I'm glad you've already taken as much control of the situation as you can. Basically, that one lecturer is a jerk, and in some people that is an incurable condition!

It is a shame that people can be so intolerant and inconsiderate. When I've traveled in the US, I've found people are usually pretty good about giving up their seats on public transport (all public transport has designated "handicap" seats that people are supposed to give up if they see someone who needs it, but compliance is voluntary). I did have a negative experience once on a subway in NYC -- the car was full and a bunch of teenage boys were sitting in the handicap seats. The boys ignored me, so an elderly gentleman gave me his seat. I would have refused, but those subways are so jerky that I was not sure I could keep from falling and I couldn't get to a vertical railing through the crowd -- the overhead rails are too high!

Hang in there -- keep your eye on the prize as we say over here.

[Alvy]

Apparently, I took a fall in front of him (not on purpose =.=) in the staff room this morning. Something happened in my family last night and I wasn't holding everything together really nicely. The moment I fell, I broke down in tears and I guess it was only then that this lecturer realized the seriousness of my condition because I told him so. It wasn't because of the pain but more of the pent up feeling in there that just made all hell break loose. Finally, he understood why I'm not around in school so often.

Btw, we also have reserved seats on trains for the elderly, pregnant and disabled. People don't give up their seats either. Oh wells. Life has to go on whether we like it or not isn't it? Heh! :happy065:

[bcain]

:clap2: You have great stamina, and courage to keep going. I'll keep you in prayers for good outcomes, and continued success with school.

[Alvy]

:clap2: You have great stamina, and courage to keep going. I'll keep you in prayers for good outcomes, and continued success with school.

Thanks Bcain! I hope all turns out well too! Your pictures of your baby girl before and after surgery kinda let's me have a rough picture of what my back must have looked like when I was a kid. My mum never had pictures of me before and after surgery. Heh! Always wondered what "it" looked like. She always said it smells bad though..hmm:33a:

[bcain]

It shouldn't smell bad ever, unless it is infected. I never noticed any odor, even though it was scary looking, due to the surgery site opened up and skin slowly dissolved. It was ugly, but never smelly. I had to pack her wound twice a daily with a dry sterile dressing. It slowly healed from the inside out, the scar doesn't look bad either. So maybe your wound site got infected.

Again, well wishes to you.

[Alvy]

At least it's over! Heh! And I've no recollection of it what-so-ever, a plus point for that! =)

Same to you, have a great day my friend! =)