Question: My name is XXXXXXX I would like to speak to a neurosurgeon regarding an accident I had last December I have already seen submitted this question and paid to speak to the specialist. Have you received my query and are you ready to chat with me now?


I have chronic fibromyalgia and multilevel disc compressions as well as tarlov cysts and meningoceles. The cysts have been there a long time and so has one of the meningoceles, but one meningocele is new and happened when I was in an assault in December 2012. I was hit with a bat on my rear, behind my knee, on the outside of my knee and outside of my ankle, I laid unconscious in my house for3 or 4ndays before my husband found me. I still have visible scars at each place. I contracted rrhabdomyelytis and ARF and awoke with a paralyzed foot and most of the lateral leg numb. I went to XXXXXXX and they did an MRN and found a lesion at the ischeal tuberosity. My surgeon up there (400 miles fdom my house) is going to explore the lesion as well as do a peroneal decompression at the lateral knee. The worst pain I'm having is from slightly above my ankle throughout my whole foot ex ept for some sensation in the medial ankle and foot. I have about 4 positive tinels from the lesion down and there is still visible scarring on my hip/glute level as well as the lateral aspects of my thigh (actually thigh is more posterior) but the knee and ankle hurt and numb laterally all the way down. I cannot bear weight at all. I can't control the leg. I can't flex or dorsiflex the foot but I can move it side to side although it is very painful. The foot instantly turns purple and gives me excruciating pain as soon as I bring it below heart level. I tried shaving my leg and just touching the area slightly above my ankle all the way around forces a scream and tears and I have to fight not to pass out. I told my surgeon about these symptoms and he said he didn't want to deal with my foot until he saw how the first surgery (ischeal tuberosity and peroneal) came out but meanwhile I'm scared of what the compression may be doing to my foot and he doesn't want to give me a straight answer about it. Can you help me to understand his thinking?

Current Medications : Pristiq, Lexapro, xanax, flexeril, keppra, oxycontin, oxycodone 5 for breakthrough
Gender : Female
Age : 43

Xrays were done and no fractures were found. I cannot move my foot and toes at all. No brain injury found with CT. I was fitted with an APO to wear inside when I sleep and another that goes in a s hoe. Also feeling detached and sad at times. Not sure what you mean by "passively" moving my ankle and leg, though.

What do you think the odds are that I'll lose my leg from the knee down? I mean personal, off the record solely opinion from what you have seen so far. I'm a big girl and I can deal with and plan for something much better if I have a good idea what to expect

Also, I don't know whether this is relevant or not, but I feel flushed and have been running a low grade fever since yesterday. I feel like I'm coming down with a cold. My heart rate has been 100 and 160 bpm since the accident. I'm assuming that's from pain. Should I reschedule my surgery (dated July 5th). I'm really in a bind here because it took a month to get THIS time scheduled! Ugh! I'm pushing fluids and doing the best I can to get it out of me.I don't want to delay any further. What do I do? Discombobulatedly yours, XXXXXXX

I am in South XXXXXXX I had to book a hotel on the 4th of July so that I can have my scheduled surgery on the 5th. I called my doctor's cell phone Saturday morning with laryngitis. He called in a Z-Pack which I started Saturday. It seems to be working fast. My fever has gone down but since my blood work was done last Monday maybe it was showing elevated white count I don't know yet. My anxiety level is so high. I also have a sore on my ankle of the paralyzed foot. It isn't open but it's brown and indented like it could turn into an ulcer. It took 3 weeks for me to get this hospital time with my Johns XXXXXXX neurosurgeon, in Baltimore, 9 hours away, on a holiday weekend. I'm totally freaking out now. I don't know what to do. Get the blood drawn again? Try to reschedule for next week? I can't believe my luck. I haven't spoken nwith the neurosurgeon's office to see if the bloodwork cleared yet. I guess that is the next step. Probably sick from all the damn doctor visits in all these different hospital in different states. If I weren't so desperate to have this operation done I would probably laugh at the pure absurdity of this situation. I'm going to check the web portals for my surgeon and see if he has found a problem and if not I guess I'll just keep pushing fluids and rest until it's time to drive up. It's a 9 hour drive. Anyway, rambling now. If you have anything to add I'll be checking back frequently. Sincerely, XXXXX

Still feverish butgetting better. Have to reschedule when my regular doctor approves me.

Too late. The surgeon forcedme to delay the surgery. I couldn't hide my voice on the phone and they said they won't operate with a fever. They won't even reschedule until I'm cleared by my regular doctor again.

I want to thank you for all your help. You're very kind. Is there an address I can send a card to? Blessings to you and yours, Dr. XXXXXXX Sincerely, XXXXX

Oh hey one more thing. I'm cocerned about my foot. I know you don't want to upset me and my doctor avoids questions about my foot too. I am a vet and I've seen and been through a lot of bad stuff. I am ready tomaccept if I'm going to lose my foot or even my leg. Frankly, I'm starting to get tired of dragging it around behind me. In answer to your query, there is a definite lesion on my sciatic nerve at the glute level and there is no distal activity on EMG. I Know the prognosis is dubious because of how far the nerve has to heal. Can you give me a straight answer? Do you think it will heal? If so how long willmit take? I know you can't tel me for sure, just your best guess please. Not knowing is for my personality harder to deal with than preparing for what I may be realistically up against. Thanks for your honesty. Sincerely, XXXXXXX

Thank you. Thank you so so much,