Question
QUESTION: Dear Dr,
My son had a lumber patch when the nerves were damaged. He was in great pain but was able to walk with crutches. After a week he was prescribed LYRICA to help with the pain. After the first dose(150 mg) taken in the evening he woke up unable to stand or walk. HIs right leg is almost useless(The nerve damage, possibly needle prick, related to this leg). This was 3 weeks ago and still cannot stand or walk unaided. He is 29 years old. We stopped medication(lyrica) after 4 tablets over 2 days but no improvement yet.
Could this have been the reaction of LYRICA or possibly just nerve damage progression?

ANSWER: Dear Mr. Payn,

I am sorry to hear about your son and his troubles.  I have very little to go on from your question, but I have some thoughts.

First of all, in regards to the Lyrica, you need to ask your medical doctors what the possible side affects of the medication are.  Here is a nice link that talks about some of the complications related to Lyrica.  Like all drugs, often we do not know of all the side affects of a medication until it has been in use for years.   http://www.drugs.com/sfx/lyrica-side-effects.html

When it comes to medications, never say never...   In other words, I doubt that the Lyrica had the affect that you are describing, but it is something to consider. You need to have clear and open discussions with the medical doctors, and in particular, the neurologists that are overseeing your son's care.  Neurologists can be a bit strange, but they are highly intelligent generally and should know of the short and long term complications of taking the medications that they prescribe.

I am unsure of what caused your son's initial nerve damage.  It is possible, however, that the nerve tissue, following injury, continue to swell. This could cause additional neurological signs to gradually appear over some time.  Maybe this is what is happening. Again, a frank conversation with the physicians directly in contact with your son would be the best source of information on his case, what is happening, and what their plans are for dealing with the problem. Neurological injuries are often perplexing to the doctors and unpredictable. Doctors are often not the best of communicators, so the patient and family members need to have a list of questions that they can ask. Don't be deterred by a seemingly grumpy or short answer. Keep asking until you are satisfied with your understanding of what is going on.

I hope that your son recovers fully and that he regains all leg function. Good luck with your neurologists and their treatments. If this was a traumatic injury, he is in the right place. Medical neurologists are learning more and more and are able to provide better care all the time to nerve injury patients.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Not a question, just more info. My son was laid low with the Coxsackie virus to the extent that he spent time in the High care heart ward in Durban. The lumber patch was a procedure done before the virus was isolated. It was part of the investigation as to the cause of his atrial flutter which was the initial problem.

Your attention and detailed answer is greatly appreciated. I will follow up on your advice re. consulting the neuro. many thanks again.

regards

Richard Payn.
Durban

Answer
Mr. Payn,

I hope that your son is showing signs of improvement. Here are a couple of links that talk about your son's infection:  http://www.medicinenet.com/coxsackie_virus/article.htm   and   http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/215241-overview

Polio is part of the family of coxsackie viruses.  It is possible that his paralysis is related to the infection and NOT Lyrica...  These viruses can attack the nervous system and cause meningitis or encephalitis.  

Good luck with the treatment of your son.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com