My spinal avm

[kennyb]

Hello. My name is Ken. I'm a 52 year old male. Last August while mowing my lawn I noticed some leg weakness. Also around the same time frame the little toe on my left foot became numb. I have a very physical job and I was starting to have problems getting backup after kneeling down. I went to my Dr because he had me on Lipitor. He took me off of that but I continued to slowly get worse over time.
In March he sent me to a neurologist. The neurologist ordered several mri's with and without contrast, a brain scan and a lumbar puncture. They told me that I had swelling in my spinal cord around t6-8 and he thought I had a condition called transverse myelitis which there is no cure for. All the while my feet and my legs are becoming worse. I had muscle weakness in both legs, Hot and cold sensations in both legs and feet as well as continuing spasms in my toes/feet. He prescribed a series of iv steroids over a course of four days. I'm don't know if this is a coincidence, but I got much worse afterthis treatment. The numbness progressed up to my waist and affected bowel movements, urinary and sexual activity.
He talked to several Dr.s and he was ready to send me to John's Hopkins when another Dr that specializes in reading mri's specificaly looking for avm's became involved. He diagnosed me as having an avm that was on my spinal cord.
In May I went in for a proceedure where he put a cathetor in my groin and he tried to glue the fistula. He tried for three hours but to no avail. He then referred me to another neurosurgeon.
I was scheduled for surgury on 6/6 and it took them four hours to complete.
I have gone back for a follow up mri and the surgeon told me that the operation was a success.
It has been four weeks now and my back is healing nicely. They cut me between my shoulderblades so I haven't been able to do any physical work while I wait for the muscles to healin my back.
As far as my legs go, I feel worse now instead of better. I still have a problem urinating but bowel movements have improved. (I think being on the percocet made that worse). I still have decreased sensitivity and I could care less about having sex right now. My legs still feel like they are on fire and or are cold. My feet are still numb ans I have a hard time trying to curl my toes. I can walk but I get very tired easily. My legs are still weak and Ilose my balance a lot. The Dr told me to be patient because it could take up to a year to recover, IF I recover. He could not guarantee that to me.
I'm sorry I was so long winded, but to all of you out there suffering like me, hang in there and keep thinking positive thoughts about getting better!