Case 24-1977

Presentation of CaseA 50-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of a neurologic disorder.She was well until 2 1/2 years earlier, when she sat down, heard a snapping sound and experienced the abrupt onset of low-back pain that was aggravated by walking and was excruciating when seated. Several times daily she had sharp, shooting pains that radiated down one or both legs to the toes. She stayed in bed for four weeks, with slight improvement. Six months later x-ray films and scans of the bones and lungs were reported to be normal. Fifteen months before admission she . . .