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From: Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.org (Douglas Zachary)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Spasm reducers
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Date: 14 Dec 90 04:37:41 GMT
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Index Number: 12490

                            BACLOFEN PUMP
 
   Spasms can be more disabling than the disability itself as many of 
us have found out the hard way.  At times the spasms affect the parts 
of the body that are still mobile and are brought on by movement or 
touch.  Other times the spasms affect the lower extremities with 
enough force to throw the person from the chair or cause injury to 
the lower legs and feet.  Spasms can be strong enough to resist range 
of motion, cause embarrassment, disconnect urinary drainage systems 
and cause major depression. 
   Until recently there were very few remedies for this problem.  
Lioresal (Baclofen) is probably the most prescribed drug for neuro 
spasms but many people get no relief or experience drowsiness, 
weakness and lethargy from the drug.  Dantrium is another drug used 
to counter spasms but carries almost two pages of side affects and 
possible organ damage.  Valium is sometimes used but has similar side 
affects to Baclofen.  Rhizotomy is a surgical procedure in which 
nerve rootlets which control abnormal motor responses are severed.  
Rhizotomy is irreversible.  Other surgical methods of dealing with 
spasticity have included tendon cutting and amputation, also quite 
irreversible. 
   When Baclofen is taken orally it is estimated that only 15% of the 
drug reaches the point where it is needed with an equal portion going 
to the brain.  The SynchroMed Infusion System from Medtronic, Inc. is 
the world's first implantable, programmable system.  This system may 
be just what many spasm suffering people with Cerebral Palsy, head 
injury, spinal injury and MS need. 
   The pump is connected to a catheter in the spine and implanted 
beneath the skin where its reservoir can be filled with a needle 
every two or three months.  The amount of Baclofen administered by 
the pump can be changed with the use of a computer and radio waves so 
it only needs to be removed to change the battery.  The pump costs 
about $6,000 but hospital stay and other costs can drive the price up 
to $20,000.  They say that most private insurers will pay for the 
treatment. 
   Clinical testing is now taking place in 12 locations across the 
country.  While spinal baclofen has been available overseas for 
years, the FDA requires a certain number of patients to have this, 
with documented results, before releasing it for general use. 

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