On April 13, 2009, I was admitted into the hospital to have my baby. The hospital induced me because I was preeclampsia. I also decided to have the epidural at the time. By April 15, 2009, I still didn't have her. The doctor decided to do a c-section. When I got back to the OR they found the epidural was not placed right. They were in and out of my room increasing pain meds and didn't understand why until they realized it was not placed right. They doctor told me since the epidural did not take, I had to get a spinal block or I was going to fill every cut and incision they made on me. So, like any terrified mom would do, I got the spinal block. The spinal block was placed in the wrong spot; I quit breathing and had to be incubated.

From then on out, while in the hospital, I had a severe headache, trouble breathing with oxygen, and severe back pain. I told the nurse and they also called the doctors in and nothing was ever done about it.
I came home from the hospital on April 21, 2009 and fell trying to get my baby out of the swing. It felt like my back locked up on me and my legs gave out. I was still having severe back pain. A couple of days later I fell again trying to pick her up.

Concerned, my husband and I decided to try and get an x-ray or and MRI to see what was going on. I went to one doctor and I was told there was nothing wrong with me and I just needed to lose weight. He refused to do an x-ray. I went to another doctor and I was told I just wasn't use to the lifting and bending mothers do. This doctor refused to do the x-ray as well. I went to another doctor and was accused of wanting pain meds. I finally had enough and raised hell until this doctor decided to do the MRI. It took 3 weeks for it to be done but I finally got it. He told me it showed two herniated disc. The pain is constantly in the middle of my back and in the middle of my lower back. He referred me to an orthopedic and that doctor told me I possibly needed surgery and I needed to go see neurosurgery. By this time, I had been in the hospital 1 or 2 times due to the severity of the pain and it started going down both of my legs. Neurosurgery refused to see me twice. They wouldn't even make a consultation appointment. They looked at my records and told me I just needed to lose weight.

I decided to have the lap-band done to prove everyone. I knew it wasn't a weight issue. I have lost over 100 pounds and the pain is worse than ever. After being released from the hospital for the 3rd time, they wanted me to try the mayo clinic. The mayo clinic told me there was absolutely nothing wrong with my back and I had fibromyalgia. I know there is something wrong with my back! After going through 6 months of severe pain, I threw my hands up and finally started taking the pain meds I had been refusing the whole time. The mayo clinic told me they wanted me to go through rehab to get off the meds and learn to live with my pain.
My husband and I was very angry! By this time, I started getting numbness in my arms, fingers, legs, toes, my back, and my butt when I sit. My doctor decided to get a full MRI without contrast due to neurological changes and send me to a neurologist to get their opinion.

The new MRI showed I had degenerated disc in the cervical area, also in the thoracic area, along with that in the thoracic area I had: fused vertebrae and herniated disc. I have a cyst or mass growing (last seen 5.3mm) in the lumbar region. The doctor who read the scan said it was due to the epidural. And I have bone spurs throughout my spine.

I went and seen the neurologist the following business day. I have never seen her before. She told me and my husband she thought I might have NF1 and wanted to test me for it. She also said she wanted another MRI with contrast done and she felt like my pain and numbness was from everything that showed up in the MRI. My husband and I was so happy! We finally was getting answers and felt hopeful my problems was going to get fixed! I stressed to her I wanted the problems fixed so I could get back to work and school. She told us she was going to call us later in the week to let us know what she was going to do.

My primary care doctor sent me an e-mail and told me Neurology was not very convincing. She put in my chart that I had gone to several clinics for abdominal pain and turned out to be normal. I had also gone to several clinics for ear pain and it turned out to be normal and she could not find any findings for the cause of my pain and numbness! This is all false! First, I went to the ER for ear pain one time and they made me and emergent appointment for the next day with ENT. I had to have surgery for osteomyelitis. So, no, I had not gone to several clinics for ear pain, I only went to one and they did surgery! Also, I went for abdominal pain when I had a miscarriage and had to go back a week later because I still had tissue lodged in my cervix and my ob doctor for abdominal pain and found I had cysts on my left ovary! Also, she had an MRI in front of her! So, for her to say she could not find any findings for the cause of my pain and numbness is crazy! Everything she said to me and my husband was not in the chart. She also said she felt like it was all in my head and testing had been significantly exhausted!

Does it sound like I have a lawsuit? Does the statues of limitation start when the injury occurred or when it is finally diagnosed? I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon on the 28th but I can't transfer any records because they will see the note from the neurologist and not take me serious! Please! I need some advice! I am losing hope that there are honest doctors any more.

Sorry, but there is way too much here to wade through. You are citing several different incidents not all related.

I suggest you consult a malpractice attorney who can better advise you if you have a case. Generally they will give you an initial consult for free.

I agree with Scott, however, I do want to state here that the epidural is typically done in the area of the lumbar spine, and sometimes in the lower thoracic spine.

I note above that you mention you had degenerated disc in the cervical area. Please note that the epidural is NEVER given in the cervical spine. So that portion would not be related to the epidural.

What I need to know is how long ago was the MRI that showed these results and how long ago were you told that it was due to the epidural?

The statute of limitations is typically from the date of discovery, which means it's not from the date of the actual injury, but rather when you were told what caused the injury. The statute is usually one to two years from discovery. Every state has their own statute, so your's may be a little different.

I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon on the 28th but I can't transfer any records because they will see the note from the neurologist and not take me serious! Please! I need some advice! I am losing hope that there are honest doctors any more.Hello d:

That ain't going to work... Cause if your case EVER gets to court, that diagnosis WILL come out, and if it looks like you were trying to HIDE it, which you are, it won't help your case...

Look. You have my sympathy, but you're going to need a doctor to tell you, AND a court, that some other doctor committed malpractice on you, and so far you CAN'T fine one... That's either because you DON'T have a case, or the doctors are dishonest...

I vote for, you don't have a case..

excon

First off, how old are you? Have you ever been in any kind of accident where you hurt your neck and back?

The symptoms you describe are generally from a trauma to your spine. The pain down the legs is from nerves being pinched in your back. The pain in your arms and hands comes from the nerves being pinched in your neck area.

You do not get spurs on your spine unless there is some kind of trauma to your back. Most times spurs just happen on their own if the area did not sustain any injury. They could have formed due to you being overweight having to carry that extra weight around.

What country are you in? You need to see a good doctor. Go back to the one who did the MRI and found the herniated discs.