Leg contraction

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zacko

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My wife suffers from contraction of both legs. Though the specific cause is unknown, doctors believe its related to her brain tumor. We've been unable to stretch the legs so she can stand and walk. Has anyone had such a dilemma? Any solution? We are trying Botox injections of the leg muscles, so far with little success. Any information would be welcome.
 
while a brain tumor CAN easily create alot of different symptoms, including this depending upon just where it is exactly and what it is actually impacting within the brain, anything that can possibly be impacting the spinal cord to a much more very direct degree can also do this too. has she EVER actually had a full contrasted spinal MRI done just to make certain that her spinal cord does not have something directly impacting it either in it or outside severe compression? this is just something that if not already ruled out as a possible or simply have a look at that whole cord area really should be done now, esp given the tumor issue? exactly what type of brain tumor does she have since there just can be many different types and other things too that can be 'called" tumors that are actually something non cancerous like AVMs or other forms of lesions too.

one possible here for severe leg spasticity that they do use on spinal cord injury patients who can get some really horrid levels of both the severe spasticity and contracture would be the baclofen pump being implanted eventually into her body? they can do a trial run with this and see if it actually even would work before they would EVER consider actually implanting it. this would deliver baclofen directly to her spinal cord. baclofen is just a very powerful type of muscle relaxer? the thing is, while using any med actually it is limited when taken orally, ONLY because it would be delivered into that cord itself, they can use much much more this way that would realistically even have the best possible chance of actually even wortking. they also use this form of pump to deliver morphine to chronic pain patients too. the ability to simply be able to actually use much much higher doses when delievered whats called 'intrathecally"(into the cord) vs orally is a huge huge benefit to patients who cannot take that much usually without it creating some horrid side effects?

this is just one possible well tried and true type of option you may be able to explore with her treating docs. they would simply refer her to the best type of surgeon/doc for the procedure and would not more than likely even be able to actually even do this themselves. it all depenRAB upon what types of docs you are seeing and their overall level of knowledge on this stuff. but this just 'does" work on some really contracted body parts in SCI patients. what types of treating docs are you seeing for her situation? FB
 
Thanks so much for your response. It's appreciated. My wife was diagnosed in 2001 with an inoperable benign cavernous sinus menigonma, subsequently she received 28 radiation treatments at Mayo Clinic with excellent results. The tumor stopped growing and has actually shrunk slightly. However, two years ago she developed motor problems, fell twice and soon had difficulty standing. She also started suffering from painful leg spasms causing leg contractures. She has had numerous MRI's and seems to experience setbacks with frequent urinary infections. She is receiving both baclofen and neurotin with some relief of the spasms. However, while one neurologist suggested the pump another was strongly opposed due to a variety of noted problems, i.e., infections from the pump, location of the pump impeding physical activity, and most importantly, difficulty regulating dosage. Instead, she is now taking a series of Botox injections into the leg muscles, successfully used for MS patients. After the first series, we have not noted any significant improvement (sadly). A second series of the painful injections will be done in 3 months. Your thoughts?
 
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