WiserRanter
@wiserranter
@wiserranter
Posts: 30
Joined: Jan 29, 2018
Camptocormia
I have been diagnosed with Camptocormia ( bent back syndrome ) recently and having a hard time doing what I used to do caring around a rollator and a cane. Finding information and people besides medical terms has been difficult if not impossible. Only found two people and neither one will talk about it. I have a mild case of CP but that has never really been an issue until now and it gets in the way since being diagnosed with Camptocormia. I also have venous statious in my legs and have to be careful not to even brush them up against anything. Add to that being diabetic also with a weight problem because of inactivity. I am looking for solutions to the Camptocormia as meds have not worked and trying the botox injections again coming up in a few weeks with a new Doctor. Also looking or starting to look for some kind of brace that might hold me up if the botox doesn’t work or does not work fully. Found a brace support system but they have not found a producer for the manufacture of them yet so hanging in there for that to happen. Suggestions or comments welcome……….
sadnancy
@sadnancy
@sadnancy
Posts: 34
Joined: Oct 12, 2019
rjmcb
@rjmcb
@rjmcb
Posts: 12
Joined: Aug 13, 2018
Thank you for sharing your story. I'll be seeing my movement disorder doc on Tuesday. I don't have back issues. The muscle spasms occur in the front. I wonder if there are subgroups of Camptocormia? Or maybe it's like PD – every pt experiences it differently.
One thing I would like to point out to those searching for a diagnosis for their bent over posture. When viewing the MRI/X-RAY from a back view, while facing forward, the rear view of the vertebrae should show two black dots at the point where the vertebrae merges with and forms the spine. The black dots are muscles, two per vertebrae. With Camptocormia these small muscles atrophy and are individually replaced with white dots, which is fat/adipose tissue. The cause of this unknown, even among those who study and are familiar with Camptocormia. No known pharmacological response. Best assistance is through walks, throughout the day, which prevents atrophy of other major muscle groups, and gets us out, thus my search for the best walker, and brace, when needed.
sadnancy
@sadnancy
@sadnancy
Posts: 34
Joined: Oct 12, 2019
One thing I would like to point out to those searching for a diagnosis for their bent over posture. When viewing the MRI/X-RAY from a back view, while facing forward, the rear view of the vertebrae should show two black dots at the point where the vertebrae merges with and forms the spine. The black dots are muscles, two per vertebrae. With Camptocormia these small muscles atrophy and are individually replaced with white dots, which is fat/adipose tissue. The cause of this unknown, even among those who study and are familiar with Camptocormia. No known pharmacological response. Best assistance is through walks, throughout the day, which prevents atrophy of other major muscle groups, and gets us out, thus my search for the best walker, and brace, when needed.
Thank you for that information. Very helpful.
John, Volunteer Mentor
@johnbishop
@johnbishop
Posts: 5196
Joined: Mar 22, 2016
This “lower back fatigue”, as I referred to it was the best description I could come up with, came on rather suddenly while out on a daily walk of about 3 miles. We were a group of employees who walked during lunch. Nearing the end of the walk I suddenly felt the need to sit on a big rock to “recover”. I was 62 at the time. This was the beginning of a 15 year journey that wound through numerous medical specialists and tests: epidurals, facet blocks, neurostimulator implant(4 years, then removed), laminectomy, chiropractors, acupuncturist, neurosurgeon, neurologists, Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville, FL, X-ray, MRI, CScans, numerous blood tests. The one common opinion shared by just about all was: “You have signs of arthritis in your back but not more than someone your age should have”. I was at the point where I felt like I had tried every avenue and just accepted it. My 4 year older sister had been walking bent over for at least 4 years before me. She never seriously investigated the symptoms and refused to go in public with a walker, choosing to move from handhold to handhold. Now when she is in the kitchen the breakfast bar prevents seeking her. Point is: don’t let pride interfere in your lifestyle. I was finally referred to a neurologist in Savannah, GA Dr. Victor Rosenfeld (912)691-4100, 1326 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406, and on August 3, 2017 I had an appointment, meeting first with the nurse who performed a few neurological tests and asked for my symptoms. I have found the best analogy is to say that it is like carrying a food tray with arms fully extended and a light weight and walking. After a number of yards you feel fatigue (not real pain) in your lower back causing you to feel the need to sit down and rest before continuing. After her exam, Dr. Rosenfeld came in and also asked for my symptoms. Again I described it as before. He said that I had Camptocormia. This took all of 1 1/2 minutes, and 15 previous years of failures. He printed out a computer search for Camptocormia and it fully describes my conditions. He said that I would find that 99% of doctors, nurses and clinics would have never heard of it. So true. I have been checked for Parkinson’s and I don’t have that, thank God, nor does my sister. There are some indications that it can be inherited in some (I think my father showed some symptoms, much less than my sister and me). Please explore the back brace with Hangar. I have a great walker called The Drive, available through Walmart and Amazon and they make a model that has raised handles that are designed for walking with your forearms resting in arm brackets. Look it up on Google. Keep on looking, there’s too much life left, and things for us to do.
Bob
Hi Bob @rjmcb, Thank you for sharing this post. Your description of your diagnosis of Camptocormia almost perfectly describes how I've been walking for the past 2 or 3 years. I'm in my mid 70s now but my wife has told me that I walk like an old man since I was in my 50s. Thanks to your post and a private message from my friend @artscaping I now have some information I can use at my next doctors appointment which is scheduled in the Spring but I may move up if possible. Thanks again…John
Liked by Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor
@wiserranter
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