Acute Paraspinal Compartment Syndrome Related to Use of Proprietary Weight Loss Product, by a Patient with Sodium Channelopathy

Paraspinal compartment syndrome is a rare cause of lower back pain that remains under-recognized and under-treated and which can result in prolonged and debilitating pain. We present the case of a young female with paramyotonia congenita due to sodium chanelopathy, who developed acute paraspinal compartment syndrome after ingestion of an ephedrine containing proprietary weight loss product. We highlight the challenges in diagnosis and management and review potential precipitating factors and mechanisms underlying the clinical features.