2 things

[Guest guest]

Wow, , that's coming up fast. Here's hoping for a flawless operation and

speedy recovery.

2 things

First, for what it's worth, i echo Elissa's paragraph re Skelaxin and

Zanaflex.

Second, I found out yesterday that my insurance has APPROVED the

realignment with Dr Farcy, so my Jan 19 date is on.

No word yet on the disc, which may be a pipe dream, but having the

alignment so i can quit walking tilted forward will be nice, after a

while.

ekm1220 wrote:

> Hi, Jennie:

>

> I'm writing because your post is the first one that mentioned the

> same kind of muscle pain that I have. My skeletal pain from the

> revision is under control with Oxycontin, but hardly anything helps

> the damned constant muscle spasms.

>

> I am currently in the first round of battle with my insurance

> company to get coverage for the botox treatment for the lumbar

> muscles, which they denied. The pain docs consider me a perfect

> candidate for it, since the lidocaine trigger-point injections

> proved that numbing the muscles really does stop the pain.

>

> You're the first person I've heard from who has had the botox for

> muscle spasms in the back. In your post, you said that it wasn't as

> effective as you'd like. Could you please provide more information

> about your experience, such as the kind of relief you got (if any),

> and how long it lasted? I don't imagine that the botox will be as

> great as the trigger point injections, since it doesn't numb the

> muscles--it just paralyzes them. But I had hoped to have some good

> long-lasting relief from it (assuming I win my fight with Blue

> Shield).

>

> Anyway, here's my $.02 from another person whose daily pain is the

> constant distracting muscle problems:

>

> * Muscle relaxants have never really helped me a lot. I found that

> both Baclofen and Skelaxin were relatively non-sedating to me, but

> not particularly effective. I have a scrip for Zaniflex, which is

> the only medicine that I take that has the power to knock me out

> anymore, so I only take it at night. Allegedly, it has a pain-

> blocking component as well as a muscle relaxant, but I've never been

> alert enough when taking it to notice. But, I keep with Skelaxin in

> the day and Zaniflex at night on general principle, in hopes that

> they're doing -something-. I don't hold out a lot of hope for muscle

> relaxants, though--those muscles are so spasmed that I don't see how

> anything could relax them without turning the rest of my muscles

> into jelly.

>

> * Previously, I had good relief with a TENS unit. They are annoying

> as all git-out, with those wires hanging off of you, and dials that

> toddlers may readjust to give you the shock of your life, and it's

> not exactly fun to have a permanent shock in your back (even a

> slight one), but they did a good job " tricking " my brain into not

> processing the pain from the muscles. For several months, the TENS

> unit was really my savior, allowing me to have a much more normal

> life than I had in years, as I could go places and do things without

> constantly grinding my fist into my back, or backing up really hard

> against table ledges, etc. It was the first thing I tried that made

> me feel normal enough to go out to lunchg with my friends for the

> first time in, like, years.

>

> * Deep tissue massage therapy from someone you trust to not mess up

> your fusion or hardware can have some benefit, though it's hard to

> find someone who can go deep enough to be helpful who also

> understands the mess back there. A lot of massage therapists are

> trained just for " relaxing spa work " while others are " sports-

> oriented, " which often means they push hard with no consideration

> for your actual skeleton. I don't know where in Texas you're

> located, but if you're in Houston, I had a great massage therapist

> there in 1999. Lately (post-revision), massage and ultrasound have

> felt good at the time, but they haven't had any long-lasting effects

> like they used to.

>

> * I know I sound like a commercial for Lidoderm, but like you, the

> muscle spasms have been my biggest complaint for a while (as long as

> I have Oxycontin for the skeletal pain). The lidoderm patches--

> slapped all over my lower back--have taken enough of the edge off of

> the pain that I have led a relatively normal life for the past four

> weeks. The pain is still there, but it's dulled considerably. Since

> this is a non-invasive prescription item, it should be relatively

> easy to get someone to prescribe it for you.

>

> Anyway, please know that you're not alone with the distractingly

> miserable muscle spasms, and that a TENS unit or lidocaine patches

> have given some relief to someone in a similar situation. If you

> haven't tried them, they're certainly worth a shot.

>

> Please do let me know about your botox, as I've been holding out

> hope that it will be my silver bullet, and perhaps I should lower my

> expectations.

>

> Best,

> Elissa

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jayson,

When I started MTX all those yrs ago, my feet and toes were the biggest sausage

digits you ever saw. I couldn't even wear a shoe on one foot! (I cant take it

anymore, it made my liver levels go TOO HIGH, so after a year and a half with

it, we took me off). So, the MTX, under the RIGHT rheumy's care, could be your

ticket to kicking you OUT of this flare. And just for a heads up, you might need

more Prednisone than that. I had to have twice the normal amount to kick ME out

of the flaring. Would not be suprised if I need it again. See if I still have

all this pain when I see reg doc April 26, then will beg for a two week regimen

to kick me back to " normal " (whats normal after PA? LOL)

I echo the other list member--go with Mease if you can. PA specialists

are so hard to find and like a pot o gold at the end of a rainbow.

Good luck.

LeAnn Cayer & Furbrats Blossom, Meriko & Merlin with Frosty

Heart Bandits American Eskimo Dog Rescue

Oklahoma Referral Chapter

Railroad Coordinator

www.heartbandits.com

" I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work,

and my God. " Helen Keller

[Guest guest]

Hi Jayson,

See my post to Annette. 4 pills is likely 10mg, the dose I take.

Yes, it is considered a low dose.

I never had any side effects, though some folks do.

It has been an extremely positive drug for me.

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

Thanks LeAnn.. I called Dr. Mease's office today. They just need chart

notes from the old rheum and then they'll call me to set up an

appointment. They were very nice on the phone. I look forward to the

switch. I'll keep you updated on the whole Medrol and MTX thing.

Jayson

On Thursday, March 24, 2005, at 05:03 AM, DeafEskie wrote:

>

> Jayson,

>

> When I started MTX all those yrs ago, my feet and toes were the

> biggest sausage digits you ever saw. I couldn't even wear a shoe on

> one foot! (I cant take it anymore, it made my liver levels go TOO

> HIGH, so after a year and a half with it, we took me off). So, the

> MTX, under the RIGHT rheumy's care, could be your ticket to kicking

> you OUT of this flare. And just for a heads up, you might need more

> Prednisone than that. I had to have twice the normal amount to kick ME

> out of the flaring. Would not be suprised if I need it again. See if I

> still have all this pain when I see reg doc April 26, then will beg

> for a two week regimen to kick me back to " normal " (whats normal after

> PA? LOL)

>

> I echo the other list member--go with Mease if you can. PA

> specialists are so hard to find and like a pot o gold at the end of a

> rainbow.

>

> Good luck.

>

> LeAnn Cayer & Furbrats Blossom, Meriko & Merlin with Frosty

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm somehow hoping that my new

rheum will say that I don't need the MTX, but if I need it, I need it.

I dread the fatigue though....I'm already fatigued enough as it is!

I'll ask about the folic acid/B vitamin.

Jayson

On Thursday, March 24, 2005, at 05:57 AM, Stein wrote:

>

> Jayson,

>

> I started methotrexate (MTX) on 4 pills a week. Each

> pill is 2.5 mg, so the does is 10 mg. My first month,

> I had these terrible bouts of energy and fatigue. When

> I had energy, I had to use it RIGHT THEN. When the

> fatigue hit, I had to find a bed IMMEDIATELY.

> Thankfully, that leveled out after about a month.

>

> Make sure they prescribe a folic acid supplement. Mine

> wasn't strong enough, so he prescribe a super-megadose

> of folic acid w/ B vitamins (Foltx, or Folbee tablets)

>

> I continued to have nagging fatigue with MTX, and the

> doc continued to increase my dosage every few weeks

> until I was at 20 mg/wk. When I continued to flare

> despite the MTX, he added Remicade to the mix and

> backed the MTX down to 15 mg/wk. Together, they work

> well.

>

> Good luck.

>

> -

>

>

[Guest guest]

I say if you did it 2 months ago without any problems then go for it!!!! I

don't highlight my hair but color it with the rinse wash out type and have

never had a problem. When I schedule a haircut I always do it early in the AM

to

avoid anyone having a perm. Other that that I don't have any problems and

still want to look nice. If it really made me sick I wouldn't do it but so far

so good. I even paint my nails without any problems at all.

Sue

Niosk. DUH! to me. I didnt know.

Also, any MCS'ers still getting Highlights is their hair?

I did about 2 months ago with my face in a towel and than sat outside. I'm

going to try this sunday, when no one else is in the shop. What do you all

think?? felice (Vanity, vanity, vanity.)

[Guest guest]

Niosk. DUH! to me. I didnt know.

Also, any MCS'ers still getting Highlights is their hair?

I did about 2 months ago with my face in a towel and than sat outside. I'm

going to try this sunday, when no one else is in the shop. What do you all

think?? felice (Vanity, vanity, vanity.)

[Guest guest]

, while my Spanish is decent, it's not good enough to do that. However, I have several professional translators as close friends and I might be able to ask one of them to do it for us if no one else wants to do it.aFrom: "heather@..." <heather@...>infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Mon, March 29, 2010 5:14:49 PMSubject: 2 things

Hey everyone,

A local network is asking if we have the PSA in Spanish..... ...And, we do

not. Eventually, (hopefully sooner than later) I would like to get the

PSA translated with Spanish subtitles. My spanish is not that good. Is

there anyone out there 100% fluent that would be willing to help?

Also, I cleaned out a few of Livs drawers this wknd and found 3 brand new

small anti-microbial cast/brace shirts. If you want em' shoot me an email

with your addy and I'll toss them in the mail (no charge).

Hope you're having a great Monday!

HRH

[Guest guest]

I spoke to someone at tv station yesterday and they said that the PSA must

be production ready in Spanish (I think Nick/Heidi mentioned this before,

but I forgot)....So, hopefully we can make the next one bi or tri

lingual.....I'll hit you up on that later , thanks!!

Sending the shirts to our brave boy Matson. I'll post again when I find

more as I know we have tons and Im giving Livs room a makeover, since she

is now a tween!!

HRH

>

>

> Hi ,

>

> Spanish is my first language. I can do it. If you send me the texts in

> English I can translate them.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: " heather@... " <heather@...>

> infantile scoliosis treatment

> Sent: Mon, March 29, 2010 5:14:49 PM

> Subject: 2 things

>

>  

> Hey everyone,

> A local network is asking if we have the PSA in Spanish..... ...And, we do

> not. Eventually, (hopefully sooner than later) I would like to get the

> PSA translated with Spanish subtitles. My spanish is not that good. Is

> there anyone out there 100% fluent that would be willing to help?

> Also, I cleaned out a few of Livs drawers this wknd and found 3 brand new

> small anti-microbial cast/brace shirts. If you want em' shoot me an email

> with your addy and I'll toss them in the mail (no charge).

> Hope you're having a great Monday!

> HRH

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________________________

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