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Anyone have any experience with Gullain-Barre Syndrome? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter T J
- Start date
AAABatteries
Footballguy
My wife had this as a child (5 years old I think). She lost the ability to walk and had to learn again. I don't remember too many other symptoms because that one is just so severe. She has no lasting side effects - the only thing is she cannot get a flu shot.
ETA - good luck to your son, I hope he has a full recovery
ETA - good luck to your son, I hope he has a full recovery
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SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
TJ, I really don't have any information and I'm sorry that I can't really provide any advice or help.... but, yes, I have heard of this. My friend's father suddenly was diagnosed with this after a stay in the hospital. This was a while back. But I have heard of it.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I've had two experiences with it - my dad when he was in his late 60's, and an adult friend in her 20's. Both were laid up for a while, difficulty walking, etc. Years later, my dad would say he still has some lingering effects, but he's in his 80's now. Our friend (now in her 40s) is completely recovered, symptom free and has been for years. I also had a co-worker several years ago who's dad had it - woke up one morning and couldn't walk, could hardly move. He recovered over a couple weeks as if nothing had happened. It seems like a very strange condition, that affects different people quite differently depending on age and other factors. Good luck - in my experience it is not a permanent thing, but does involve a period of inactivity followed by hard work in rehab.
Ditkaless Wonders
Footballguy
Yes. Miller Fisher variety of GB.
The Dreaded Marco
Footballguy
Sorry to hear that TJ. I've treated a few kids over the years with GB, and all recovered completely without chronic concerns. Hopefully your son will too. Good luck.
T J
Footballguy
My son was fine one day, then the next, after working on a treadmill in gym class experienced a good bit of pain behind both knees. Still walking ok though and we thought it was a strain or something. Three weeks pass and we see kind of a drop foot and still the pain, though mainly behind right knee only now. So we take him to a walk-in ortho place and they do X-rays of his knee and ligament tests and determine it was probably a strained hamstring but did no neurological types of easy tests - such as testing reflexes with the little mallet, and asking him to stand on his tip toes and heels.
So thinking it was a hammy, they prescribed stretching, ice, and Tylenol. Three weeks later, no change so we take him to see an ortho doctor (the previous was a a nurse practitioner) and he basically comes up with the same result.
At this point, we're not convinced and through a friend of a friend, got in to see a sports medicine guy this past Tuesday. This guy did do a battery of field neurological tests and saw he had no reflexes in his achilles or knees, could not stand on his tip toes, or in his heels - all signs of something neurological. He suggested that we see a neurologist ASAP and made arrangements for us to go to a local ER where a pediatric neurologist would see us there.
The neurologist examined him and detected the same things and said we were being admitted to the hospital. First thing they did was a spinal tap to primarily test for a certain protein finding which would confirm the diagnosis. The protein was normal so that has thrown them a bit. Nonetheless, they did the IV they do for this which basically is immunoglobulins that is supposed to help stop the progression of GBS. It's a virus so there's no specific cure. They did an MRI of his spine and CT scan of his right leg.
Finally got of the hospital Thursday night with the diagnosis of Gullain Barre Syndrome and treatment plan of physical therapy. The feeling is that since he's an otherwise healthy 14yr old athletic kid, that he'll recover. But he does have nerve damage and the body heals itself on it's own schedule.
We'll see. There's a chance it's not even that, but only time will tell.
So thinking it was a hammy, they prescribed stretching, ice, and Tylenol. Three weeks later, no change so we take him to see an ortho doctor (the previous was a a nurse practitioner) and he basically comes up with the same result.
At this point, we're not convinced and through a friend of a friend, got in to see a sports medicine guy this past Tuesday. This guy did do a battery of field neurological tests and saw he had no reflexes in his achilles or knees, could not stand on his tip toes, or in his heels - all signs of something neurological. He suggested that we see a neurologist ASAP and made arrangements for us to go to a local ER where a pediatric neurologist would see us there.
The neurologist examined him and detected the same things and said we were being admitted to the hospital. First thing they did was a spinal tap to primarily test for a certain protein finding which would confirm the diagnosis. The protein was normal so that has thrown them a bit. Nonetheless, they did the IV they do for this which basically is immunoglobulins that is supposed to help stop the progression of GBS. It's a virus so there's no specific cure. They did an MRI of his spine and CT scan of his right leg.
Finally got of the hospital Thursday night with the diagnosis of Gullain Barre Syndrome and treatment plan of physical therapy. The feeling is that since he's an otherwise healthy 14yr old athletic kid, that he'll recover. But he does have nerve damage and the body heals itself on it's own schedule.
We'll see. There's a chance it's not even that, but only time will tell.
Johnny Rock
Footballguy
Sounds like you're on top of it doing everything you can do. I hope he progresses well.
