Neuropathic Pain

I find it very interesting to see the pain managed so successfully with non-narcotic drugs. I’ve been in pain for years supposedly from my arthritis although my case is quite complicated. But isn’t everyone’s case different and complicated in other ways?

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) helped the pain but this was far from complete. And these types of drugs are not meant to be taken forever. The ideal case is that you get an acute inflammation from something eg spraining your ankle and you go on the NSAIDs for 10 days to aid with the healing.  Arthritis, however, is not an acute situation but rather is chronic. People go on the NSAIDs because of the pain and the drugs help to different degrees.Unless the patient is persistent about their level of pain, it often stops here. And the patients’ don’t know what is “normal” pain from arthritis. The one thing that they do know is they can’t manage many “normal” daily tasks and this can impact their quality of life (QOL) to varying degrees.

Update August 21, 2009

Well, I can hardly believe the difference between now and the last post. Let me start off by saying that the pain is well under control. In fact, most of the time during the past week I have not had any pain. That’s a show stopper.

Two weeks ago, I had to stop taking my Arthrotec (an antiinflammatory) because I was having the steroid injection into the piriformis muscle. I began taking Cymbalta several weeks prior to that. I’ve had to stop the NSAIDS before and couldn’t wait until the time I could start them again because of the increase in pain. Believe it or not, I didn’t even notice the difference. I was stunned. After a couple of days I thought the inflammation would come back and the pain would get worse. Nada. And now it’s been two weeks and I haven’t taken a single antiinflammatory.

Around and Around We Go

Well, there is no shortage of changes, no shortage of frustrations and sometimes no shortage of hope. The most recent news is difficult to get through. The physicians are getting risky with their suggested treatments and I’m really having to decide just how much I am willing to gamble. I feel, after the hyperthermia trial in Holland, that I am done with the experiments.

Now I am at steroid injections and am stopping that unless they are done radiographically. I was a neurologist’s office last week and she gave me 6 injections trying to hit the piriformis muscle. I feel terrible now and over the last week it’s been hell. I was supposed to go today for a shot into my neck and begged off. She’s made an appointment to do a repeat one radiographically but this being Canada I have to wait a couple of months…She wants to do botox injections into the muscles. I am totally uncomfortable with that and want a second opinion.

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz in Queretaro, Mexico

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz is located in the Hospital Angeles de Queretaro.

I got in to see him in about one week. The visit was 800 pesos. He never once made me feel like I should leave. He chatted and asked me all kinds of questions.

Once you make the appointment send some info to him by email. Then phone to see if they got it.

I sent him reports and the hospital had a bit of a computer issue on that day but no one knew where it was.

The receptionists are nice. If you call they may tell you it is his personal email (which it is), so they can’t tell you whether the doctor has received or not.

Tell them to ask him or you’ll waste some time. You might have to phone back but it’s a much better way to get the most from your visit.

For sure, if you have had MRI’s done, bring the CDs.

And just so you know what he looks like I’ve attached a little picture. He is an absolute doll. And his English as good as mine.

Let me know if you need help or info.

Cuidate mucho (take care)

Darlene

Dr. Fernando Barinagarrementeria Aldatz

fbarinaga@infosel.net.mx – Personal

01 442 192 3041 – Cell

442.192-3006 – Work

442.215-9977 – Móvil

Blvd B Quintana No. 141, Loma Dorada
Hospital Angeles de Queretaro
Queretaro, 76060 GTO
Mexico

Otra – Mapa

Nicest and Best Neurologist in Queretaro, Mexico

Walking, Reformer and Yoga Going Well

Click on the link to see the video: http://www.viddler.com/darmorrow/videos/40/

Things are going well. Did a 15 minute walk, 45 minutes of the Yoga for Scoliosis DVD and also worked on the Reformer. All on different days.

Going on the elliptical now for 30 minutes. Feeling pretty good.

Starting a New Video Group at Viddler

I’ve started a video group on Viddler. If you have webcam and microphone, please come on over and share your experiences. Viddler is free, it actually works and it’s a great way to share info and to put a face with a name.

Please come join us at darmorrow | http://www.viddler.com/groups/backsurgery

Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain

The complete article is free. It’s well worth visiting the link because there is also a 12 minute video explaining what the Alexander Technique is. I’ve posted the abstract below.

 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/aug19_2/a884

Published 19 August 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a884
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a884

God Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Change

Life is a constantly changing canvas. We either adapt to the chances or we stay where we are. I’ve seen people that are bitter and angry. They can’t get past it and they put themselves into that scenario every single day. Not realizing that some changes have to come from within…

I had a support group back when the hospitals were notifying people that they had hepatitis C from the blood transfusion they had during surgery…I understand the anger- it was a part of me, too. But if you don’t let it go, you live and steep in that anger. It eats you up. No joy. So many other things to be thankful for. Children. Grandchildren. Life. Even in that moment of giving support, I met people that became lifelong friends. Special people I never would have met. I’m not saying that the anger has no place – it’s just not the place you want to stay.

For ten years, I suffered from hepatitis C. I choose the word suffered carefully. Everyday was a trial. Getting out bed was hard in the morning and sometimes wondered why I was getting up. I kept fighting. I was in clinical trials and spent three years taking drugs that may well have caused some of the problems I’m dealing with today. Nothing worked. Then I went to Holland and was accepted into a clincal study. It was a 7 hour surgery where a machine was used to heat your blood to exactly 41.8C. It caused the proteins in the immune system to unfold (from the heat) and then on the cooling refold back into their natural shape. The hypothesis was that the immune system was defunct. It no longer recognized the hepatitis C as an infection. After the surgery, it sure recognized it. And then I underwent high doses of chemotherapeutic drugs for 52 weeks. I needed blood transfusions (ironic, huh) and had to take shots to build my neutrophils- part of your white blood cells. I still have to take those shots. It was the worst year of my life. But I persisted where my family had doubts. I knew this might be my last chance to rid myself of this terrible disease.

Well it worked. That was in 2004. The hepatitis C is till undetectable. The odds on it returning now are very small. Every day is a good day compared to when I had the hepatitis C. But no one knows what caused my spinal degeneration. Advanced disc disease. Spinal Stenosis. Foraminal stenosis. Secondary scoliosis. Was the drugs? Was it the hyperthermia? Those are questions that can’t be answered…But I had MRIs from 2001 that showed normal degenerative changes for age. Now they read like a book. I have the spine of an 80 year old and the mind of 23 year old. I wouldn’t change anything. That’s how bad the hepatitis C was.

Now I sit before you having had three back surgeries. Being told that I move like a young person and my mind and body are not in sync. I’m used to fighting. Where does acceptance come into play? Do I accept this for my reality or do I continue to think that all will be normal one day? Am I keeping myself in this place the same way that the people did with hepatitis C? I don’t know the answer.

Maybe it’s a half way in between. I was born to fight. I was a blue baby back in 1954. Do learn to stop and accept the changes? I don’ t know….I just don’t know. God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Survey

Lucky is Relative

A video update following my visit Spine Clinic physiotherapist