Expert: John Quackenbush DC - 1/12/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I am a 40 year old physician (radiologist) that knows for sure that I have Meraglia Paresthetica in my right leg.  I have the typical symptoms and location.  Presently it is pesistent numbness, with hyperesthesia to pain only, and rarely some stabbing pain.  It has gotten progressively worse since medical school in my mid 20's when it started out as numbness after standing too long, but would then go on its own.  At that time I was 10-15 lbs overweight, although now I am probably 40 lbs overweight.  10 years prior to the initial onset I received direct trauma to the mid thigh, but nowhere near the ASIS or inguinal ligament.  It started getting significantly worse about 4-5 years ago, when I was first diagnosed by a neurologist (and was rediagnosed by another neurologist after that). At that time, I had a completely normal lumbar spine MRI. Twice it has become severely exacerbated (the classic stabbing pains)in the last 3 years, once after a 12 hour flight, when I fell asleep on my affected leg, and once after general anaesthesia for shoulder surgery, where I suspect I was placed in a bad position (from the MP point of view, my shoulder is OK).  I have taken Cymbalta and Ixel in the past to help with the neuropathic pain, but have no more desire for meds.  I have been to neurologists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists and Rolfers, none of whom have been able to help, although my local chiropractor seemed quite enthusiastic to learn any additional specific technique (I have read about , but do not understand, The Grayson Method and Transverse Friction method).  My accupuncturist also says they have dedicated MP protocols at his school in China but I have found nothing in the English language literature.  Suffice to say that I am willing to travel to get treatment, including China.  Yes, I am exercising and dieting, and attempting to lose weight, but I do not know if that will help, so I am looking for non-allopathic methods of treatment.  It is fairly debilitating, even without the stabbing pain, and has been with me for too many years already.

ANSWER: Ken,

I am happy to make some suggestions in your case. First and foremost you definitely will need to lose that 40lbs and that really goes without saying. I suggest looking into ISAGENIX which is a system of detoxification and release of weight. This will be "killing two birds with one stone" whereas you will release any excess fat from your omentum that is protecting your body from toxins. I prescribe this on a daily basis in my practice and if you need this we could order it here and somehow get it to you.

Have you been assessed for parasites? This is a good possibility.Sometimes it is just better to do a parasite cleanse as the testing usually is more expensive than the cleanse.

Have you been tested for heavy metal toxification? Another must have?

What is your blood work picture? Can you send me your blood work? Do you have Thyroid problems? Have you heard of functional blood chemistries? That is the type of blood work I utilize in my practice.

Did you know the side effects of the medications you are taking cause neuropathy type symptoms?

Is there any calcification or scar tissue where you had the tigh trauma? A ultra sound might pick this up.

Obviously the inguinal ligament has got to be involved. Have you ever had a hernia? Do you have one now? How is your general health? Do you have any rashes anywhere on your body? Do you have any arthritic symptoms? Are you diabetic? Are you insulin resistant? What is your diet. Do you drink uncontaminated water? Do you filter your water. Have you had your drinking, cooking and bathing water tested for heavy metals, chlorine etc., etc.,

Please follow through with these questions and I may be able to make some other suggestions

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Dr. Quackenbush,

Here is some background/followup.  I have lived a fairly nomadic existence for the last 20 years, living in multiple states and countries (all highly developed), and would be shocked if I had heavy metal toxification or some other environmental exposure. I actually took Vermex, an anti-parasitic drug, about 4 years ago, for an unrelated issue, and there was no change in my MP before and after.  I have always noted a slight deformity in my mid thigh (vastus lateralis muscle) since my accident at age 13, and suspect there could be some scarring but that is at least 18 inches south of my inguinal ligament and ASIS.  I did consider that scarring of the lateral femoral nerve was a possibility and one of the reasons I went to a Rolfer (at the recommendation of my local chiropractor), but that did not help at all (although it did help with some chronic neck pain related to a disk herniation).  My blood work has only been notable for elevated cholestereol (usually around 220) and elevated triglcerides, which were then normal a few months back.  Nothing unexpected given my weight.  Thyroid tests are always normal.  

I do not know what functional blood chemistries or ISAGENIX are.  Not taking any meds that could lead to peripheral neuropahty (I have had  MP since my mid-20's when it was rare for me to take any meds at all). No rashes, diabetes, arthritis (normal hip MRI also, about 4 years into the symptoms).  I drink filtered water.  

What really attracted to me this website was a google search on MP, where one of your colleagues said that he had great success with MP, and there was no follow up chat to see what was done with the patient/questioner.  That is one reason I brought up the topic of Transverse Frictional and Grayson Methods.  My web searches have led me to multiple chat rooms where no one really seems to have the answer (most people are suffering worse than myself and taking the heavy duty meds, or undergoing neurolysis, which I clearly do not want) and many people discuss how the MP did not go away after they successly lost weight.  

I am obviously trying to lose the weight, for many reasons, but I really don't know if that will help, and it would certainly take a long time to get to optimum weight (I have lost about 7 lbs recently , out of maybe 45 that needed to be lost, am eating quite healthily, as overseen by my vegetarian wife, and exercising reasonably well, but not as much as I would like).  

I am really looking for some sort of mechanical manipulation/therapy that might work (Rolfing did not help, so far chiropractic did not help, and neither has acupuncture).

Any additional specific recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Ken

Answer
Ken,

Isagenix is a nutritional company that bases it's weight release on detoxification try www.isagenix.com. This will help you to lose the weight that you want to release. This system helps you to detoxify and therefore release weight. Anyone can be toxic with heavy metals in todays world and the same goes for parasites. This may not not be the problem but keeping up with a good tox release and parasite release every 6 months is still a good idea.

The grayson technique is one I am not familiar with personally but i have only heard good things about.

To explain functional/metabolic practice is one that does not accept that you are normal if you are just inside the parameters of the specific chemistry or test but rather the individual be more in the mid range of medically accepted values.

I really wish I could be more helpful but the only next step I could suggest is that you try different disciplines within chiropractic Thompson Terminal point, Proadjuster and or Gonstead technique. My hope here is that if the pelvis is normalized then the inguinal ligament would relax.

I am definately willing to help you assess this situation and if I can be of any help please do not hesitate to contact me.

John Quackenbush