M
Mary64
Guest
Hi All - It's been a while but I'm finally doing a little better so I thought I'd post an update.
After going to a sleu of specialists, numerous tests including a spinal tap (UGH), admission to the hospital, and visits to drs from another hospital they finally figured out what is wrong with me.
The initial ESI injection punctured nerves in my cauda equina and spinal column causing ongoing bladder incontinence, peripheral neuropathy w/balance issues, & a persistent CSF leak. Then the huge dose of antibiotics I was put on (2,000mg erythromycin/day) caused me to contract severe campylobacter - a bacterial infection in the intestines. I still have ongoing issues from all of this and have no idea if/when anything will resolve.
I've had 2 blood patches to date but the headache, dizziness, photophobia keep returning. The initial relief is awesome but within 3-4 weeks I'm right back to where I started. The next step is a CT myelogram to find the leak and try to patch it thru surgery. The bladder incontinence & foot/leg neuropathy has me more nervous. I'm having an EMG next month to pinpoint the degree of damage and permanency.
The campylobacter is causing chronic, long-term, and maybe permanent problems of it's own. I still suffer daily from fever, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain/bloating, joint arthritis & severe fatigue. I've lost a total of 35 lbs but I'm shocked it's not more because I have no appetite and still can't eat anything until after 6-7pm. I'm having a colonoscopy & endoscopy this Fri and upper & lower GI the week after. I now have IBS and I'm lactose intollerant and was told that there's a good chance I will be like this forever.
I've been out of work now nearly 5 months and I'm going to lose my job & med insurance if I don't return by the time my LOA enRAB (4 weeks). My supervisor is being as cold as a freezepop. I'm so angry. Those rotten SOBs did this to me at the hospital where I work!!!! They refused to treat me and tried to brush me under the carpet and now I have ALL of this long-term damage!!! I also found out that the hospital was fined this year by JCAHO for allowing fellows to perform procedures without an attending present BEFORE they allowed a fellow to give me this injection-WITHOUT AN ATTENDING PRESENT!
Of course I'm filing a lawsuit. I don't want to get into a long, drawn out legal battle but I have no choice. The problem is these things go on forever. In the mean time, I can barely function with no income and no medical insurance.
Any of you thinking about getting a 'routine' steroid injection to your spine, think long and hard. Mine was given at one of the top 10 hospitals in the country!:nono:
After going to a sleu of specialists, numerous tests including a spinal tap (UGH), admission to the hospital, and visits to drs from another hospital they finally figured out what is wrong with me.
The initial ESI injection punctured nerves in my cauda equina and spinal column causing ongoing bladder incontinence, peripheral neuropathy w/balance issues, & a persistent CSF leak. Then the huge dose of antibiotics I was put on (2,000mg erythromycin/day) caused me to contract severe campylobacter - a bacterial infection in the intestines. I still have ongoing issues from all of this and have no idea if/when anything will resolve.
I've had 2 blood patches to date but the headache, dizziness, photophobia keep returning. The initial relief is awesome but within 3-4 weeks I'm right back to where I started. The next step is a CT myelogram to find the leak and try to patch it thru surgery. The bladder incontinence & foot/leg neuropathy has me more nervous. I'm having an EMG next month to pinpoint the degree of damage and permanency.
The campylobacter is causing chronic, long-term, and maybe permanent problems of it's own. I still suffer daily from fever, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain/bloating, joint arthritis & severe fatigue. I've lost a total of 35 lbs but I'm shocked it's not more because I have no appetite and still can't eat anything until after 6-7pm. I'm having a colonoscopy & endoscopy this Fri and upper & lower GI the week after. I now have IBS and I'm lactose intollerant and was told that there's a good chance I will be like this forever.
I've been out of work now nearly 5 months and I'm going to lose my job & med insurance if I don't return by the time my LOA enRAB (4 weeks). My supervisor is being as cold as a freezepop. I'm so angry. Those rotten SOBs did this to me at the hospital where I work!!!! They refused to treat me and tried to brush me under the carpet and now I have ALL of this long-term damage!!! I also found out that the hospital was fined this year by JCAHO for allowing fellows to perform procedures without an attending present BEFORE they allowed a fellow to give me this injection-WITHOUT AN ATTENDING PRESENT!
Of course I'm filing a lawsuit. I don't want to get into a long, drawn out legal battle but I have no choice. The problem is these things go on forever. In the mean time, I can barely function with no income and no medical insurance.
Any of you thinking about getting a 'routine' steroid injection to your spine, think long and hard. Mine was given at one of the top 10 hospitals in the country!:nono: