Lumbar Plexus neuropathy with numbness and atrophy in legs

[~Stormy~]

HELP!
I just met and did a general massage treatment on a potential client who has been diagnosed with lumbar plexus neuropathy. He's been to three different neurologists, but as yet there is no explanation for the cause.

He has had problems with numbness in his right leg, primarily in the calf area, and recently developed drop-foot on the right side. Additionally, the numbness appears to be moving into his left leg, causing extreme difficulty with mobility.

My first inclination is to say it's more than I know how to handle. But I figured I would post here before tossing up my hands, figuring someone might have some suggestions for an approach to help this poor guy.

He was working with someone before who was doing Bonnie Pruden's techniques, but wasn't happy with the results, which is how I ended up getting the call.

Any and all suggestions (including "Run Away!") would be greatly appreciated.

 

[malibutan]

Has he had an MRI??? on EMG???

Look up Dermatome patterns, it sounds to me like it involves L4-5...

 

[comander bioch]

Is there any possibility that craniosacral work, especially a pelvic diaphragm release, might be of any value here? My inclination would be to do something like that, providing of course there were no counterindications in place, just to try to ease muscular tensions that might be enhancing the neurological symptoms this fellow is having....

just a thought...

 

[Lula Bell Bumpass]

Thank you for the replies.
I haven't talked with him yet, and will have to verify the MRI question. I would assume that one of those three MD's would have insisted on it, but don't know that for fact.
As for contraindications, I have no idea, since I don't really know what the underlying problems are. When I speak with him tomorrow, I will try to get more information.

 

[Magnus]

This is serious business. Please read: http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article2620.html

I had a client experience some of the same symptoms you have described. I asked him several times to get an MRI as soon as possible. It took awhile but he was finally diagnosed with a nerve compression. Surgery soon followed and he is doing well.

 

[Evenstar]

I had a client with similar problems.
Weak quad on one side, weak hamstring and calf on the other.
He had FOUR! laminectomies. L2-5 for multiple herniated discs.

He had been seeing physio for weakness of the muscles, and she was strength training the areas, but the real problem was neural impingment. Naturally, a dangerous situation. Low back was a real mess, and didn't respond to treatment.

Treated the Psoa Major, and after a single treatment, strength increased almost to equal the other side. Very cool. Clean bill of health by the physio (because she cured him, she said) and revisited his MD.

His response was, "Keep doing physio, but stop massage. It's too dangerous."

That was too bad...

 

[Sappho]

His response was, "Keep doing physio, but stop massage. It's too dangerous."

I swear....some doctors are just wacky! I once had one tell a client that massage was nothing more than voodoo and black magic. Obviously he'd never had a massage.
:roll:
I can't imagine why a doctor would tell his patient that massage would be too dangerous???

Angie