Medical Must-See: Nangs mangle man’s spinal cord 
Inhaling 50-100 nitrous oxide canisters a day left this 44-year-old with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
In a cautionary tale for patients who use ‘nangs’, several months of heavy nitrous oxide use left an American man unable to stand up.
The 44-year-old was flying from Florida to New York when he realised he was unable to get out of his seat and required assistance from flight staff.
He presented to a New York ED, where he reported burning, numbness and rigidity in his extremities; an unsteady gait; and numbness in his lower abdomen.
He told doctors that, for several months, he had been using 50-100 ‘nangs’ a day — canisters of nitrous oxide used for whipping cream, which cause a brief rush of euphoria when inhaled.
