Pain at Church & Research

Zachary complained of stomach pain this morning and his back was hurting today at church I gave him a Benedryl and put the TEN's unit on him during sacrament, he used it during the rest of church.
I did some research today to see what I could find that would explain Z's condition or even help it. I'm no doctor, but I have to do something I can't just sit here and wait. Reseaching keeps the helplessness and anxiety at bay. This information is just stuff that we think might be what Z has or things that might help him.  

The surgical treatment of SS depends on early identification of the bleeding source. Surgical excision of the offending lesion (neoplasm or vascular malformation or pseudomeningoceles) and repair of dural defects are logical therapeutic strategies.  http://www.ajnr.org/content/31/1/5.ful

Syringomyelia / Tethered Cord

Post-traumatic syringomyelia and tethered spinal cord can occur following spinal cord injury.   It can occur from two months to many decades after injury.  The results can be devastating,  causing new levels of disability long after a person has had successful rehabilitation.  The  clinical symptoms for syringomyelia and tethered spinal cord are the same and can include  progressive deterioration of the spinal cord, progressive loss of sensation or strength, profuse  sweating, spasticity, pain and autonomic dysreflexia (AD). In post-traumatic syringomyelia (sear-IN-go-my-EE-lia) a cyst or fluid-filled cavity forms within  the cord.  This activity can expand over time, extending two or more spinal segments from the  level of SCI. Tethered spinal cord is a condition where scar tissue forms and tethers, or holds, the spinal  cord to the dura, the soft tissue membrane that surrounds it.  This scar tissue prevents the  normal flow of spinal fluid around the spinal cord and impedes the normal motion of the spinal  cord within the membrane.  Tethering causes cyst formation.  Tethered cord can occur without  evidence of syringomyelia, but post-traumatic cystic formation does not occur without some  degree of cord tethering. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) easily detects cysts in the spinal cord, unless rods, plates  or bullet fragments are present. Post-traumatic tethered cords and syringomyelia are treated surgically.  Untethering involves  a delicate surgery to release the scar tissue around the spinal cord to restore spinal-fluid flow  and the motion of the spinal cord.  In addition, a small graft is placed at the tethering site to  fortify the dural space and decrease the risk of re-scarring.  If a cyst is present, a tube, or  shunt, is placed inside the cavity to drain the fluid from the cyst.  Surgery usually leads to  improved strength and reduced pain; it does not always bring back lost sensory function. In experiments at the University of Florida, people with spinal cord cysts were treated with  injections of fetal tissue.  It is unlikely this technique will find its way to the clinic any time  soon, but the tissue did grow and it filled the cavities preventing further loss of function. Syringomyelia also occurs in people who have congenital abnormality of the brain called a  Chiari malformation – during development of the fetus, the lower part of the cerebellum  protrudes from the back of the head into the cervical portion of the spinal canal.  Symptoms  usually include vomiting, muscle weakness in the head and face, difficulty swallowing, and  varying degrees of mental impairment.  Paralysis of the arms and legs may also occur.   Adults and adolescents with Chiari malformation who previously showed no symptoms may  show signs of progressive impairment, such as involuntary, rapid, downward eye movements.  Other symptoms may include dizziness, headache, double vision, deafness, an impaired ability to coordinate  movement and episodes of acute pain in and around the eyes. Syringomyelia can also be associated with spina bifida, spinal cord tumors, arachnoiditis and  idiopathic  (cause unknown)  syringomyelia.  MRI has significantly increased the number of  diagnoses in the beginning stages of syringomyelia.  Signs of the disorder tend to develop  slowly, although sudden onset may occur with coughing or straining. Surgery results in stabilization or modest improvement in symptoms for most people.  Delay  in treatment may result in irreversible spinal cord injury.  Recurrence of syringomyelia after  surgery may make additional operations necessary; these operations may not be completely  successful over the long-term.  Up to one half of those treated for syringomyelia have  symptoms return within five years. http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.mtKZKgMWKwG/b.4453407/k.DBDF/Syringomyelia __Tethered_Cord.htm Syringomyelia Syrinx Last reviewed: June 16, 2010. Syringomyelia is damage to the spinal cord due to the formation of a fluid-filled area within the cord. Causes, incidence, and risk factors The fluid buildup seen in syringomyelia may be a result of spinal cord trauma, tumors of the spinal cord, or birth defects (specifically, "chiari malformation," in which part of the brain pushes down onto the spinal cord at the base of the skull). The fluid-filled cavity usually begins in the neck area. It expands slowly, putting pressure on the spinal cord and slowly causing damage. Symptoms There may be no symptoms, or symptoms may include: Gradual loss of muscle mass (wasting, atrophy) Headache Muscle function loss, loss of ability to use arms or legs Numbness or decreased sensation Decreased sense of pain or temperature Lessened ability to sense that the skin is being touched Neck, shoulders, upper arms, trunk -- in a cape-like pattern Slowly, but progressively, gets worse Pain down the arms, neck, or into the upper back Weakness (decreased muscle strength, independent of exercise) in the arms or legs Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: Muscle contractions Rashes Spasms in or tightness of the leg muscles Uncoordinated movement Signs and tests A neurologic examination may show loss of sensation or movement caused by compression of the spinal cord. An MRI of the spine confirms syringomyelia and determines the exact location and extent. Often, an MRI of the head will be done to look for associated conditions including hydrocephalus (water on the brain). Rarely, an spinal CT with myelogram may be done. Treatment The goals of treatment are to stop the spinal cord damage from getting worse and to maximize functioning. Surgery to relieve pressure in the spinal cord may be appropriate. Physical therapy may be needed to maximize muscular function. It may be necessary to drain the fluid build up. See: Ventriculoperitoneal shunting Expectations (prognosis) Untreated, the disorder gets worse very slowly, but it eventually causes severe disability. Surgical decompression usually stops the progression of the disorder, with about 50% of people showing significant improvement in neurologic function after surgical decompression. Complications Without treatment, the condition will lead to: Continued or progressive loss of neurologic function Permanent disability Possible complications of surgery include: Postoperative infection and other complications common to all surgeries Calling your health care provider Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of syringomyelia. Prevention There is no known prevention, other than avoiding trauma to the spinal cord. Prompt treatment reduces progression of the disorder. References Feske SK, Cochrane TI. Degenerative and compressive structural disorders. In: Goetz CG, ed. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 29. Golden JA, Bonnemann CG. Etiological categories of neurological diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 28. Because Z's dura is attached to the spinal cord we wondered if a device of some kind or brace could be used to immobilize Z's back for a long enough time for the body to heal itself. We wonder if this would be an option. Injury to the Spinal Cord can occur due to trauma to any part of the spine from the cranium to the upper lumbar region where the spinal cord terminates. Trauma to the spinal cord is commonly associated with damage to the spine itself. Often, a fracture of the spine occurs in relation to the injured central nervous system tissue. The area where the spinal cord is injured dictates the level of function, as dysfunction develops below that specific level. Spinal cord injuries are classified as either incomplete or complete. Incomplete injuries show preservation of some function below the injured level. Complete injuries are characterized by a total lack of both motor and sensory function in motor-sensory and electrical modalities below the level of the injury. Symptoms: Spinal cord injury presents with severe pain, limited mobility, or paralysis after a specific accident or trauma to the spine. Diagnosis: Patients with spinal cord injury need to be thoroughly examined on admission to assess any preservation of function, including peri-anal and rectal examinations and testing of all reflexes and motor and sensory functions. Sematosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) are also a possible adjunctive test. They examine the ability of the spinal cord to transmit impulses by stimulating an area of the leg or arm with a weak electrical current, and determining whether or not this stimulus can be detected over the corresponding part of the brain. Wherever possible, radiographic studies (x-rays, CT scan) need to be performed in a timely manner. An MRI is indicated wherever possible to identify the injured spinal cord and any foreign tissues in the spinal canal, such as a fragment of bone or disc material. Treatment: Surgery to correct a spinal deformity that narrows the spinal canal is often performed but is unlikely to reverse any major spinal cord dysfunction; however, removing bone or disc material from the spinal canal in a timely basis can promote the recovery of an incompletely injured cord. Patients with cervical spinal fractures are often placed in traction to try to realign the spinal canal to relieve any ongoing pressure on the spinal cord. Some spinal injuries that result in spinal cord trauma are stable and do not require surgery. In the cervical spine, fractures are sometimes treated with immobilization devices such as a halo external fixation device. Unstable fractures in the thoraco-lumbar region may require instrumented fusion. http://spinecenter.ucla.edu/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=32&ref=29&oTopID=35&action=detail