Those with Tethered Chord Syndrome I need your advice

I have an appt with a neurologist next week i'm hoping he will schedule an MRI as I have never had a full spine MRI done only neck/head

I have been suffering the last 4 weeks or so with severe back pain and "I" think it may be TCS

Here are my symptoms;

1) Horrible lower back pain from mid back to tail bone area; its not muscular. if I lay on floor it is excruciating!! It feels better to stand than to sit or lay down flat.

2) Some Urinary incontinence

3) Burning tingling in feet and hands

4) Numbness in ring finger and pinky of left hand

5) Weakness (some) in legs

Are any of these ringing a bell with you TCS patients?

As I said, I have an appt with a neurologist (whom I don't know, but I have had pretty good Docs in our system) next week and i am hoping he will schedule an MRI to see just what is going on

Wow....I've been having very similar issues as well that totally came on out of the blue in the last couple of weeks too. The pressure I'm feeling in the lowback/tailbone area is as bad as the pressure in the base of my skull. I started thinking the same thing. I have many of the same sx too, which I believe many are that of TCS...but then my other concern was a syrinx formation as I think if there's CSF obstruction a syrinx can form anywhere in the spinal cord. If I lay back sometimes it even pulsates...which really grosses me out!

I hope the NL is of help to you and you get the MRI. Sorry I'm not of much help other than to validate and commiserate with you. Keep us posted on what you find out

Good luck!

Abby,

I wasn't aware we had medical professionals on here thats is great to hear! How Do I contact Him

I just happened to see your post. Please check out the Wisconsin chiari center website. I was misdiagnosed with TSC for many years, actually from my first NS. My previous NS did not pick this up on my last MRI. It had been on my MRI from several years ago. I had been going downhill for many years. I was really, ill last fall and in bed. I just had to trust in God at the time and move forward and take a leap of faith. Long trips, sitting in the car and lifting and bending over kept triggering this. It would be helpful to just call the Wisconsin chiari center for more advice. Also, everyone presents with a little differently. When you go to the website, it is extremely informative and then you can see for yourself how it adds up to your own symptoms. You would also have to be evaluated for any other issues that can cause problems. That is why Dr. H. looks at everyone individually, because everyone presents differently because of other multiple issues a person can have.

I had two surgeries out there this year with Dr. H. He is extremely qualified in this area. http://www.wichiaricenter.org/ Dr. H. would like to be able to speak to other NS.

God bless you, Mary Lou