Brown Sequad Syndrome

judyangel · 03-13-2002, 02:14 PM

I am a c2-3 neck break since 1982. I have right side paralysis and loss of sensation on my left side which is called Brown Sequad Syndrome. Last March I somehow hurt my left arm and have had severe pain since. I have been to over 10 doctors with still no diagnosis of the problem. Between my wrist and my elbow it feels as though it is on fire deep within the arm. I have had some diagnosis's that just haven't fit the bill. I can tell it is some type of nerve damage. I think I may have hurt it lifting weights in the gym and because I couldn't feel the pain intially I continued with my normal everyday activities. Eventually I was forced to discontinue because the pain became unbearable. I hope I can get some answers. Some of the SUGGESTIONS I have received from doctors are tennis elbow, tendonitis, nerve transmitter problem from the spinal cord injury. I would appreciate it if anyway can give me some answers. I was wondering if maybe a specialist can help me with this problem.

Thank you

Judy

JD

Wise Young · 03-13-2002, 06:15 PM

JudyD, the pain that you describe may be either a result of a peripheral nerve injury or to your original spinal cord injury, or both. Let me explain. The burning pain that you describe sounds very much like neuropathic pain which develops when the spinal cord or peripheral nerve is damaged. The pain results from overactivity of pain neurons in your spinal cord that have lost their sensory input. Your spinal cord injury occurred 20 years ago and involved your left side. A minor injury to your left arm may have initiated the pain.

On the other hand, it is possible that this is a pain from tendinitis and the other diagnoses that you received. One of the ways in which one can tell that that this is coming from the arm instead of the spinal cord is to do a nerve block. A doctor can do this by injecting some local anesthesia and perhaps some steroid close to the nerve that may be affected. If this stops the pain, this would suggest that the pain sensations are coming from the nerve and that you may not have neuropathic pain.

What treatments have you received for the pain? The standard therapies for neuropathic pain differ from those used to treat peripheral sensory pain. Also, the usual pain therapies (such as codeine, COX-2 blockers, etc.) may not be effective for neuropathic pain.

Wise.

SCI-Nurse · 03-14-2002, 09:04 AM

Do you also have color and temperature changes in your left arm (splotchness, redness, etc.)? It could be RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). I hope not as this is a difficult problem to resolve, but you might want to get evaluated for this by a neurologist who is a specialist in RSD (some physiatrists also manage this problem).

KLD

judyangel · 03-15-2002, 04:33 AM

Thank you for your reply. I have be seeing a neurologist who is baffled by my description of my pain so it has been a very frustrating year to say the least. He had me on neurotin for two months to no avail and I then had to suffer all of the side affects. I am going for an arm MRI to see if he can locate the problem. He did do a EMG but remember I have no sensory on that side so the test was normal. I will show him what you suggested hopefully he can help. To tell you the truth I am not thrilled with this doctor. I was wondering if you can suggest anyone else who may specialize with Brown Sequad.

Thank you

Judy

JD

Wise Young · 03-15-2002, 07:05 AM

I agree with KLD. You should be finding a neurologist who is an expert on pain. Wise.

03-13-2002, 02:14 PM	#1
judyangel Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flemington, NJ, America Posts: 3	Brown Sequad Syndrome I am a c2-3 neck break since 1982. I have right side paralysis and loss of sensation on my left side which is called Brown Sequad Syndrome. Last March I somehow hurt my left arm and have had severe pain since. I have been to over 10 doctors with still no diagnosis of the problem. Between my wrist and my elbow it feels as though it is on fire deep within the arm. I have had some diagnosis's that just haven't fit the bill. I can tell it is some type of nerve damage. I think I may have hurt it lifting weights in the gym and because I couldn't feel the pain intially I continued with my normal everyday activities. Eventually I was forced to discontinue because the pain became unbearable. I hope I can get some answers. Some of the SUGGESTIONS I have received from doctors are tennis elbow, tendonitis, nerve transmitter problem from the spinal cord injury. I would appreciate it if anyway can give me some answers. I was wondering if maybe a specialist can help me with this problem. Thank you Judy JD

03-14-2002, 09:04 AM	#3
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,515	Another possibility Do you also have color and temperature changes in your left arm (splotchness, redness, etc.)? It could be RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). I hope not as this is a difficult problem to resolve, but you might want to get evaluated for this by a neurologist who is a specialist in RSD (some physiatrists also manage this problem). KLD

03-15-2002, 04:33 AM	#4
judyangel Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flemington, NJ, America Posts: 3	Brown Sequad Syndrome Thank you for your reply. I have be seeing a neurologist who is baffled by my description of my pain so it has been a very frustrating year to say the least. He had me on neurotin for two months to no avail and I then had to suffer all of the side affects. I am going for an arm MRI to see if he can locate the problem. He did do a EMG but remember I have no sensory on that side so the test was normal. I will show him what you suggested hopefully he can help. To tell you the truth I am not thrilled with this doctor. I was wondering if you can suggest anyone else who may specialize with Brown Sequad. Thank you Judy JD

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-13-2002, 06:15 PM	#2
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,988	JudyD, the pain that you describe may be either a result of a peripheral nerve injury or to your original spinal cord injury, or both. Let me explain. The burning pain that you describe sounds very much like neuropathic pain which develops when the spinal cord or peripheral nerve is damaged. The pain results from overactivity of pain neurons in your spinal cord that have lost their sensory input. Your spinal cord injury occurred 20 years ago and involved your left side. A minor injury to your left arm may have initiated the pain. On the other hand, it is possible that this is a pain from tendinitis and the other diagnoses that you received. One of the ways in which one can tell that that this is coming from the arm instead of the spinal cord is to do a nerve block. A doctor can do this by injecting some local anesthesia and perhaps some steroid close to the nerve that may be affected. If this stops the pain, this would suggest that the pain sensations are coming from the nerve and that you may not have neuropathic pain. What treatments have you received for the pain? The standard therapies for neuropathic pain differ from those used to treat peripheral sensory pain. Also, the usual pain therapies (such as codeine, COX-2 blockers, etc.) may not be effective for neuropathic pain. Wise.

03-15-2002, 07:05 AM	#5
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,988	I agree with KLD. You should be finding a neurologist who is an expert on pain. Wise.