banged my head two months ago, had a lumber puncture, still suffering!

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi. Banged the top of my head on gym locker door. Few days later, slurred speech, numbness and tingling on right side. Mri, Lumber puncture normal. Since lp 2 mths ago have lheadaches and nausea. Now feel fatigue and apathy. Cannot process anything complex. Am a lawyer but cannot work. Feel so lost and out of my depth. Now neuro has referred me to rhume consultant because of isolated raised ana's. Knuckles sore for 5 days. Next neuro app next week. I have underactive thyroid. On levo 75mg.

Will i ever feel well again? Never been off work in my 10 yr career and now cannot even leave house. 

Any guidance hugely welcome and appreciated. New to this site. Pls forgive if posted wrong place. 

2 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    wowzer!  I'm sorry that happened to you!

    I've had several spinal punctures testing for various things.  I found after a gamut of migraines that after anyother spinal puncture, they were looking to make sure there weren't any leaks of fluid or if too much was taken at that time.  Maybe question if this could be a possiblity?  You obviously are proactive with your health and they have to know you're going to research to the enth degree with possibilities, so by doing so, it's ok to challenge (or ask) if they had thought of this as a factor.  Any good doctor would not find it as a challenge as they want you to feel better sooner as well.  I say "any" good doctor.  Most are, some are not.

    You know what you have with regards to your doctor and truly I hope you get to the bottom of this because there is nothing worse than being nauseated and having headaches all the time.

    Let us know what transpires, please.

    Frustrated

    • Posted

      Many thanks for taking the time to reply. At the hospital, a registrar told me too much fluid was taken. Blood patch has been recommended. Too scared to do it cos it involves going back into spine. Post lp i was on a drip for 6 days. Could not eat. Wretching night and day and severe headaches. I am now scarred and do not want to risk the same feelings - even though i know fluid is not being taken out. 

      So far MS has been ruled out. The raised ANA's may indicate lupus, but in isolation, this is not likely. Will find out more at nxt neuro app. 

      Just want to feel normal again - a fun loving, independent, productive citizen. 

    • Posted

      Ang ~

      This blood patch is going to help.  Let your doctor know your fears and they can arrange for you to have some special treatments to lessen the post op.  I hear you regarding not wanting to jump into the fire as far as the wretching and severe headaches.  I'm pretty sure that won't happen.  Cannot guarantee but I was told this blood patch was the out for me and to be honest, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought.  Just tell them to knock you out (sorry for lack of wording) and wake you up with any drugs available to help with nausea and headaches.  They should be very compassionate with regards to your needs.  Hope it helps!  Let me know how you're getting along, please?

      Frustrated

    • Posted

      Many thanks for advice F. Will let u know what happens. Hope all is well with you. 
  • Posted

    i'm really sorry this has happened to you.

    more medical proceedures is not necessarily the antedote to an already failed med proceedure. i am a semi-retired nurse and i say this with the utmost regret. I have seen too many failed LP's. They are rarely truly indicated.

    ana is indicative of antibodies. try posting on alt med about antibodies ...try researching dietary methods to prevent gene expression and do not give up.

    there is help out there but maybe via other sources of help. naturopathy is an excellent system.  

    • Posted

      hi,

      thanks for your reply. 

      neurologist has now ruled out having a blood patch. I am relieved! 

      headaches have reduced a lot. so I am reducing codine dose and have stopped amytriptalene. 

      am having body aches and night sweats. I am guessing it'withdrawal. 

      neurologist has ordered more tests, for vasculitis etc.

      will look into antibodies. 

      Thanks for the advice. 

    • Posted

      this is very good ang....well done!!

      yes i'd agree with your withdrawal theory...are you able to drink lots of filtered water ...that excludes fluoride and chlorine? a decent filter is vital.

      you may truly benefit from a consultation with a naturopath....but why not come onto alt med...in due course and get more support over there with us....and talk about your antibodies and low thyroid. we have a dialogue going on at the mo about balancing vits and minerals but with ref to the thyroid.

      was the bang to the top of your head more to the left than the right?

      quite honestly, you would benefit from resting, eating loads of salad and stews and drinking filtered water like a fish.

       but talking of fish....go easy on that and all sea foods for now... until you get your TSH levels down you'll want to avoid iodine ...but once you have a reading of 1 or below ideally, then you can start slowly re-introducing per alexandre has kin ND.

      the A and E would have done neuro obs on you at the time of your accident had you gone in...did you happen to notice if your pupils were unequal...and whether they were reacting to light by constricting? prob you did not... but head injuries are delicate matters. i do not agree that a LP  was justified and am rather angry about it on your behalf. did a med student undertake the proceedure per chance?

      ANYWAY you are calming yourself down and allowing the inflammation to resolve ..thats vital not only to your head injury but also to your thyroid...you want to take it easy...gentle exercise only...but for now purely rest, lay yourself up, enjoy some lovely relaxation time....soothing music...the works.. and recouperate from your head injury. the skull has areas of weakness along its fault-lines...as it were ...from the time of your birth when these slide across each other to allow delivery through the vaginal canal before the skull bones seal and harden. This is part of the miracle of the birth process and you may have bashed a weak spot. it is always best to go in for neuro obs if you strike your head.

      well keep us informed xx

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