spinal avf at t6/7

[1jamief]

Hello to all, just wanted to share my story with you all.
It all started 2 years ago, when I noticed hot and cold sensations running up and down my legs, then I noticed I had problems urinating, but thought nothing of it, just put it down to age. then just before Xmas 2008 my legs became very weak and when playing football with my sons found it difficult to run. My job kept me physically fit as I am a paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service, but this felt different but again did not see a Dr till March of 2009. Was examined and he sent me to local hospital where I walked in on Thursday the 12th of March. Within 3hrs I found it impossible to walk and after two mri scans and a ct scan was transferred to neurological institute where I was told I had 4 avfs on my dura at T6 and T7. I went through a horrible waiting period while they found a surgeon who could perform the operation to clamp the avfs and finally went under the knife on Thursday the 2nd of April 2009 where I had two of the avfs clamped .After this op, no change as I still had little or no movement in legs, bowels and bladder also affected and lower back weak. I had to wait untill the next week before I saw surgeon who then said I needed another op to clamp the other two avfs, so on the 17th of april another op. This one gave me some movement back in left leg but nothing on the right. Was then transferred to spinal unit for rehab. Spent 6 months here getting physio and learning how to use my wheelchair. I am now home and thats a year gone since my ops. I try not use the wheelchair as my left leg is quite strong but have limited movement in my right leg, sensations in both legs non existant and have really bad spasms which are hard to live with. Recently have been getting bad sensations on soles of both feet, feels as if I'm walking on broken glass. Sorry to go on but this is just a quick resume, will keep you all posted as to whats going on. thanks for reading. Jamie

[traci]

Thanks for the info, my son is 13 and has had op on his avm his is doing well and walking with a limp but complains about pain in right leg and spasms, sometimes the drs tell me he is ok and should not be feeling any pain but they dont understand what is going on. I have to watch him struggle everyday with pain. Complain to your dr. hopefully soon they will research the spinal avm and can tell us more.