Long-term use of anticoagulants should be alert to hand numbness and back pain

Woke up to find that I couldn’t move. Recently, the Department of Orthopedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine has received and consulted a number of patients who were suddenly “paralyzed”.

Recalling what happened before, 63-year-old Aunt Chen still has lingering fears. A few days ago, Aunt Chen felt a little numb in her hands and feet, but it happened to be cold weather, thinking it was caused by cold weather. Unexpectedly, in the early morning of the next day, Aunt Chen felt severe back pain, unable to exert strength in her legs, and no strength in her hands. The whole person seemed to be paralyzed. After inspection by the local hospital, Aunt Chen was almost paralyzed in both lower limbs. Aunt Chen and her family rushed to the emergency department of the First Hospital of Zhejiang University for treatment. After examination, the doctor found that Aunt Chen’s cervical spinal canal was occupying the back of the spinal cord. By asking her medical history, she learned that Aunt Chen had undergone coronary stent surgery due to myocardial infarction 5 years ago, and she had been taking anticoagulant aspirin for a long time after surgery. Cervical spinal epidural hematoma.

Coincidentally, the Department of Orthopedics of the First Hospital of Zhejiang University has recently received and consulted four or five patients with spinal epidural hematoma. One of them was a 70-year-old patient who suffered from hand numbness, back pain, and weakness in both legs. It attracted attention and continued to “fight the Quartet” at the mahjong table, which eventually led to complete paralysis.

Professor Hu Yihe, director of the Department of Orthopedics at the hospital, introduced that intraspinal epidural hematoma is a type of epidural hematoma of unknown etiology. A disease that causes limb numbness, weakness, and even paralysis. The incidence of spinal epidural hematoma is not high, about one in a million, but most patients have a long-term history of taking anticoagulants. There is no direct conclusion, but according to clinical experience, such patients must pay more attention.

Patients with coagulation disorders such as hemophilia and idiopathic purpuric thrombocytopenia may also develop spinal epidural hematoma due to coagulation disorders. In most patients, the disease progresses very rapidly, the hematoma continues to grow, and severe neurological dysfunction can occur within hours or days. The only solution is emergency surgery. Without surgery, it may lead to spinal cord compression and hemiplegia, numbness or Possibility of complete paralysis.

Experts remind that patients who have been taking anticoagulants for a long time must follow the doctor’s instructions for regular follow-up and check-ups on time. They must not think that taking the medicine is enough and not follow-up. At the same time, if the person taking the medicine has symptoms such as hand numbness, back pain, and weakness in the limbs, they must be vigilant, seek medical screening in time, and early detection and early intervention. According to the official WeChat account of the First Academy of Zhejiang University