The Siamerican

Last Tuesday, the SW finally checked into the hospital to proceed with the dreaded Myelogram procedure. As expected it was quite an unpleasant procedure involving needling of the spine to inject some radioactive contrast dye to help determine/confirm the lesion site at the brachial plexus spinal roots via a CT scan. During the overnight in the hospital laying down, no serious symptoms were experienced.

pinky, thumb and forefinger can extend open nearly all the way as of 4 months post injury

after the fact, had orders not to get up, not even to pee!

However, at the time of this writing three and a half days after the fact, he is barely able to sit up for more than 10 minutes at a time before his head starts bulging with unbearable migraines and nausea. Apparently this is normal for up to several days and he can only hope it will pass through a weekend of rest, as trying to stay on his feet to commute and work the past few days has proved torturous.

The worst was coming home today after work during rush hour. Knowing the skytrain was to be packed, he initially opted to catch a cab on the packed avenue downtown after a painful 30 minute ride in a sawngtaew from the school to the prime road, for atlleast a private cab would opermit him to lie down in the back seat and ease the pain–but no, the lazy and inconsiderate driver only laughed at his distance demanding request, knowing the jam could last hours as cars budged inches every five minutes. “Does it look like I’m in good spirits you prick!” He only had enough energy to mumble to himself, sucking it in for the rest of the difficult struggle home.

Sucking it in, he continued with the mass transit plan, lying down several moments on the platform bench before boarding the packed train of mostly highschool students and office workers. Of all the healthy commuters with privileged seating, it was a senior lady well into her sixties giving up her seat to the SW who was barely able to stand as all the indifferent young city folk looked on.

She and another senior man nearbye were real kind inquiring what was wrong, even offering some aroma oil to help boost his senses. He was/is real thankful for their concern, and really hopes the other younger indifferent folks felt /learned humility; when he’s healthily on the commute again, will be sure to remember this day when someone else appears suffering. To everyone else, don’t just give your seat up to pretty girls and little kids, give it to those who really need it!

So anyway, today, during lunch hour, the SW went back to Chula Hospital to pick up the Film / Report for the CT Myelography–the evil perpetrator to all the latest woe, learning that the hospital has also lost-misplaced the old film for the 80,000 baht MRI he did several months ago. Again, due to the pain, he had little will to do more than 10 minutes of protesting and complaining about yet another mishap, vowing to deal with it on a better day. Woe is He!!!

The results have been transcribed below. Quite confusing, but from brief research, he suspects that the doctor will confirm the worst on his appointment next Tuesday–that there are multiple root avulsions, most likely damage that is irreversible–that those severed roots can not be reconnected to their original sockets. That is not to say no more recovery will be experienced, just reconfirming that prognosis foer full recovery is quite low. Nevertheless, indications for some kind of reconstruction surgery–i.e. rerouting nerves to restore some function–may still be on my plate. Joy to the world, my breath is still here. Stay tuned..

CT Myelograhy Report

There is a 1.4 x 0.6cm well defined lobulated outpouching lesion arose from the left lateral aspect of the thecal sac at C7/T1 level extending into adjacent left C7/T1 neural foramen. The rest of intrathecal subarchnoid space and cervical root sleeves appear normal. Irregular contour at left anterolateral aspect of spinal cprd at C6-7 level is seen. The rest of cervical cord appears normal.
There is a normal cervical alignment. The atlanto-axial joint is intact. No fracture line is seen. The intervertebral disc spaces are within normal limits. No narrowing of the neural foramina is demonstrated. Paravertebral soft tissue appears unremarkable.

Impression: A 1.4 x 0.6cm well defined lobulated outpouching lesion arose from the left lateral aspect of the thecal sac at C7/T1 level extending into adjacent left C7/T1 neural foramen, representing pseudomeningocele.
Irregular contour of left anterolateral aspect of spinal cord at C6-7 level, possibly insults from previous injury .

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