Injurytalk.com - Brought to you by Parker Waichman Alonso Mark, LLP

I have had many problems that I feel are a direct results to Enbrel. I was on Enbrel for 2 1/2 years (off for 1 1/2 years now)  It started with an ER visit for celulitis and since continued with a form of  a rare neurological movement disorder that cannot be completely diognosed.  This has consumed my life to the point of at the age of just 30, I am confined to my home, barely working, and hoping for some resolution.......any information is much appreciated....

I too was on ENBREL for roughly 2 years for psoriatic arthritis after being on NSAIDs for over 10 years.  In July of 05, I noticed a tingling in my legs and by the first week in August, I could no longer stand on my toes and was losing my balance.  I spent 6 months working with 5 different doctors until finally my primary care physician threw up her hands and suggested that I see a specialist at NY Presbyterian.  I went to a neurologist in their peripheral neurology department and within a month, he had narrowed it down to one of two things...  He then referred me to the Myeloma Center to try and either confirm or rule out one of the possibilities.

At the Myeloma Center, they ruled out CIDP which is a simple demyelinating condition.  I've been diagnosed with a rare form of Myeloma known as POEMS Syndrome.  Since there are less than 1000 cases of this worldwide, my wife and I flew out to the Mayo Clinic in MN to meet with the US expert on this disease and the diagnosis was confirmed.  She has made treatment recommendations to my NY physician and now we'll be meeting with him next week to plan out the treatment phase. 

I'm on disability now and have been told that it could be a year or more before any treatment gives me my legs back.

So far, I have had MRI's of my pelvis, abdomen and chest.  I've had a skeletal survey.  I've had more blood and urine tests than I could count.  I've had a bone scan.  I've had a spinal tap and two bone marrow biopsies.  I've had nerve and musle biopsies.  I've had 4 EMG's and nerve conduction tests.  I've had neuro- opthamalogical exams.  I've had a CT scan and a PET scan.  I've had a biopsy taken from my spine based on the PET scan results.

Some test results came back looking like multiple sclerosis and even state it from the lab - but in the end the diagnosis was for a different malignancy.

I would recommend that anyone who isn't getting satisfactory answers from their doctors - to make that leap to a major medical center and see some real specialists.  Yes - its not as easy as going to your local hospital, but I got more answers in 6 weeks than I got in 6 months prior.

My health is my first concern...  But if anyone knows a good lawyer with ENBREL experience...