Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Alan.Hess From: Alan.Hess@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Alan Hess) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Spinal Stimulator Message-ID: <16009@handicap.news> Date: 7 Jun 91 15:20:23 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Alan.Hess@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:261/1000 - Nerve Center, Pikesville MD Lines: 47 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 16009 [This is from the Chronic Pain Conference] In a message of Ron Shaw (1:374/7@fidonet) writes to All: RS> Got a call from my Doc last night saying something about putting RS> a spinal stimulator in my spine?? RS> AnyOne familiar with this? if so, what exactally does it involve. I had it done, and had the stimulator position revised three times, and it did me no good at all (despite the quack's GUARANTEE of success, my pain actually got worse). However, I am spinal cord injured (C5), which may have prevented the device from working as it should. Mine involved a wire inserted epidurally from a unit implanted in my lower left side, on which the stimulator rested. This was done under general anesthesia; the revisions were done under local. RS> My major problem is constant pain in my legs, (along with sever RS> backaches, an spasms all over) my legs never stop hurting & they RS> seem to have a few different types of pains. Sometimes stabbing RS> pains like needled, sometimes shooting pains inside starting from RS> the bottom of my feet to above the knees, other times searing RS> burning or acheing pains. This has been going on for about 20 RS> years now (Post polio mylositis) along with arthiritis in the RS> knees (they ache like hell too). The past 18 - 20 years Ive been RS> on your regular run of the mill drugs with no relief unless its RS> something that knocks me completely out (morphone - scares the RS> hell out of me & I refuse to take it). Marijuana seens to quell RS> the spasmz & numb the pain (although it's still there), Tens unit RS> helped the spasms & pain for a while but I guess I got use to it. RS> I finally have a good doctor who is trying to learn as much about RS> this post polio stuff as he can but DEA has hindered him from RS> getting the pot for my spasms therfore I am still on narcotics RS> (trying not to become addicted) What a crock!. Any relief is a RS> pleasure. Yeah, I got adbominal pains, back pains, hand pains, and leg pains, which have gotten continually more intense since my injury in 1981. Drugs don't work, nor does anything else. Marijuana does stop the spasms, but does nothing for the pains. *adh* -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Alan.Hess Internet: Alan.Hess@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org