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From: Jean.Prophet@f33.n371.z1.fidonet.org (Jean Prophet)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: CERVICAL DISCOGENIC DISEASE
Message-ID: <18869@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 19 Apr 91 20:08:12 GMT
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Index Number: 15039

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 >      About a year and a half ago I developed lower back pain on
 > the
 > right side. Several months later I developed apain that feels
 > like a nail in the ball of my foot.I also have a bad right hip
 > now.

      First of all - you're not crazy - that pain is really there
(as you already know <grin>).  Buddy (my other half) has a
C3-C4-C5-C6 incomplete spinal injury (little background for ya').  His
original injury was in 1981.  He walks (how I don't know how and
neither do the doctors) - some days are better than others.  His
spazms are terrible - they come and go seemingly at will - some days
are better than other days.

 >      I have had every test and procedure in the book to
 > alleviate
 > this problem with no success. I have seen no less than 20
 > doctors in both Cleveland and Phoenix where I now live. I have
 > had 3 Mr
 > MRIs, 2 IVPs, an EMG (?),a bone scan, seen a chiropracter, seen

      Last year he fell down our back steps due to a muscle spazm
'catching' him off guard.  At that point, he suffered severe neck pain
(again) and a few days later he discovered he had MUCHO pain in his
lower back (left side).  I took him to the doctor and he was
immediately put into the hospital .... like you said happened to you
-- they did every test imaginable.  NOTHING showed up but the pain IS
there and it IS real ... The doctor could only tell us that Buddy's
condition is detiorating and will get worse with time (nice thought,
huh ??).

 > a kinisiologist, goner to pain mgmt., been on as much as 200 mg.
 > baclofen daily, taken pain pills, tegretol, had injections of
 > facet joints twice, foot twice, and hip once with cortisone, had
 > cortisone nerve blocks and a morphine block. I am currently
 > having muscle stretching done. Nothing has helped. I have been
 > told to accept it by doctors who do not live with the pain. It

      NOW, he has terrible pain in his left knee.  It swells and he
says it feels like it's going to explode at times.  It can hardly hold
his weight and gives out on him more often than not.  The doctor has
injected him (his low back, neck and hip) with Cortizone and Xylocane
(sp).  It doesn't help.  Now Buddy has a VERY HIGH pain tolerance and
when HE says he is in pain, I believe him - it HAS to be bad !!
He was taking Baclofen but his new doctor told him that he didn't like
that drug and put him on Robflex - the Robflex did NOT work and he is
not back on the Baclofen.  The pain medication the doctor gave him
(Tylonel #3, 30 mlgms) don't help.  The sleeping pills don't work
either ....

 >      I really enjoy this communication with others in the same
 > boat.
 > This computer may have been a lifesaver (literally) for me.
 >                                              Desperate but
 >                                              hangin in there,

      Please keep hanging in there ... Buddy said to tell you that you
are not alone ... just keep going !!!  Buddy also said for you to
please let us know if you do the Baclofen pump thing and how it works
- we are seriously considering same.

                                    Jean

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