Also known as: Chronic leg pain
Jeff presents with chronic pain throughout his body for three years with no previous diagnosis. The pain is so severe he has made multiple suicide attempts. The team eventually discovers the pain is caused by temporal lobe epilepsy that has rewired his pain neurons, a condition known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia exacerbated by deep brain seizures.
Also known as: TLE
House ultimately diagnoses Jeff with epilepsy originating deep in the brain (temporal lobe area controlling testicular muscles) that spread to sensory regions, rewiring pain neurons and causing chronic widespread pain. This condition did not show on standard EEGs because the seizures occurred too deep in the brain.
Also known as: Blood clot in lung
Jeff develops a pulmonary embolism during hospitalization, initially thought to be related to his underlying condition but later revealed to be caused by air bubbles he intentionally introduced into his IV line during a suicide attempt.
Also known as: Air bubbles in blood vessels
Jeff deliberately blows air into his IV tube in another suicide attempt, causing air bubbles in his blood vessels (evidenced by teeth marks on the IV tube). This leads to pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest.
Also known as: Rubbing alcohol poisoning
Jeff ingests a bottle of isopropyl alcohol in yet another suicide attempt while hospitalized, requiring emergency dialysis treatment.
Also known as: Pain caused by painkillers
House theorizes that Jeff's chronic opioid use has altered his brain chemistry to the point where pain receptors interpret painkillers as causing pain rather than relieving it. This is a component of his overall pain syndrome.
Also known as: Huntington's disease
Thirteen is participating in a drug trial for Huntington's disease. Her colleague Janice shows improvement in symptoms (improved basal ganglia volume, reduced tremor). However, it's revealed Thirteen is on placebo when a nurse notes she doesn't smell the medication during IV bag changes.
Also known as: Depression
Jeff shows symptoms of depression secondary to his chronic pain condition, though the team debates whether the depression is causing the pain (psychosomatic) or the pain is causing the depression. Pain profiling suggests significant psychological distress.