RE: [TMIC] Sudden Onset

[Robert Pall]

My TM started as a feeling of first my right leg going numb, followed about an hour later with my left leg doing the same. In all it took less than 3 hours for me to lose all sensation below my waist. Even  though it is over 9 years ago I cannot recall any pain whatsoever. In fact all of my discomfort started months later when some feeling returned. Unfortunatley the feeling that returned was pins and needles, numbness, and horrible banding.   I had my annual evaluation last week with Dr. Kerr and as always he gave me hope. He is going ahead full steam with stem cells and hopes to have his first human tests within 2-3 years. As always I volunteered to be in the first group.Don't lose faith, I truly believe help is on the way...if not for some of us old timers, certainly for the younger people in our group.    Rob in New Jersey From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 7:56 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; TMIC-LIST@eskimo.com Subject: Re: [TMIC] Sudden Onset My onset was sudden also, but not with numbness, but severe pain.  The pain was from the mid chest to toes, and extreme.  I thought I was having some problem with my back as I have had some low back issues in the past, but never like this before.  To me, it felt like childbirth was a breeze next to this, and I had natural childbirth without anesthesia, none at all!!   I had just gone to bed and rolled over to give my hubby Pete a kiss and hug goodnight when it started, (quite lethal, eh)?  When I couldn't get comfortable by changing positions on the bed with pillows between my knees, I changed positions all over the bed, top, bottom, etc.  Pete was beside himself trying to help, and I finally asked him to get me some Tylenol to try and help some.   I stood up and walked around the room a little, but that didn't help either, so I laid back down.  Within 15 minutes I tried to stand up again and could not.  My back just rolled out from underneath me.  That was so scary, and I couldn't stop him from calling for help at that point.  I thought it was just something that would pass, but he called our son to get me to agree to go to the hospital, as I was very resistant.  I don't remember when the numbness came, but before long, I was paralyzed from waist to toes with no torso strength.  But, I sure still felt pain at that point.  I was carried down the stairs.    After several hours in the emergency, they wanted to send me home, but when I told them that I couldn't get into the house since I had stairs and wanted to be evaluated they admitted me.  I am not sure if my IV steroids started that night or next day, it all seems like a blur at this time, but I know it was quickly.  The next day I was seen by a Neurologist and given a TM diagnosis T8-10 within 2 days at the latest.    I was transferred to Stanford after one week for a second opinion, which was agreed that I had TM, and started my OT and PT rehab.  Then, about 5-1/2 yrs later, my original Neurologist says to me that he doesn't think that I have TM at all, and that it doesn't really follow the pattern.  Go figure.  I don't know why he originally told me that, or why Stanford Neuro's agreed with the diagnosis.   Another infarction possibly.  Hmm!    Hugs to all, Barbara A in Auburn, CA