Man, who suffered spinal stroke, shares word of caution

When 61-year-old Shyam Pednekar experienced pain in his lower back while travelling from Ratnagiri to Mumbai in a train, he ignored it. However, upon reaching Dadar, Pednekar realised that he could not move his legs and was paralysed from waist down.

"The coolies at the railway station helped me along with my wife. I was first taken to KEM hospital in Parel," said Pednekar. It was a Sunday and the hospital was extremely crowded and no bed was free. The family then moved to an another hospital in Dadar where they were asked to conduct several tests.

Pednekar's condition was diagnosed as a spinal stroke when blood supply to the spinal cord is disrupted, causing tissue damage and blocking nerve impulses from travelling along the spinal cord. Suffering from hypertension, he was taking anti-platelets.

"The condition (Extradural Spinal Hematoma) is relatively rare, but a noteworthy spinal condition. Because its incidence is rare, people are not familiar with the condition and tend to take it somewhat negligently, which can be risky," Dr Sunil Kutty, neuro surgeon at Fortis SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim who conducted a minimally invasive surgical procedure on Pednekar the same day.

The condition affects 1 in 1,000,000 people annually. Alcohol and other forms of intoxication have also been associated with a higher incidence of Extradural Spinal Hematoma.

Pednekar, who was on his feet the very next day after the surgery, has completely recovered now. While there is no preventive measure for a spinal stroke, Dr Kutty has a word of caution. "Do not ignore intense pain in the back when it is followed by a sudden weakness in the legs. See a doctor immediately then," he said.