As the fit person around here I have followed the progress of AA, so am commenting on observations rather than direct experience, and as readers of this site know, every case of AA is specific to the individual. However, St. was diagnosed some years ago as a result of progressive numbness from the feet upwards and had an MRI that showed a blockage that had opened up a syrinx within the spine, described as syringomyelia. In order to get the SF moving St. had a shunt (tube) inserted to bypass the blockage and get the SF down to the lumbar region. As AA was the underlying cause, a second syrinx opened that was drained (another tube) into a chest space rather than shunted. Although drastic, recent MRIs suggest things have stabilised for now, but all the other AA symptoms continue. This was a last resort as St. has advanced AA, but had things been dealt with sooner, I suspect that many of the symptoms could have been reduced or delayed in their onset. Don't get scared, this is a real worst case and probably unique.