I apparently also have spinal stenosis and I can assure you it is worse than
PD at the stage I am in at least.  I had my second steroid shot yesterday
(is this the same as cortisone?), but the doctor as the pain management
center was unenthusiastic about success when I told him that the first one
didn't have any positive effect.  And I am also limited as to painkillers
because of a stomach prone to bleeding.  All I can take is Percocet, which
is a narcotic and doesn't work so well anyway.  Along with the other 3 list
members who recently asked for suggestions, if anyone knows anything about
it, or about non-aspirin based alternative painkillers,  please post.
Thanks.
Bruce Anderson (52, 3.5+)

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Clark <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, June 28, 1998 3:03 PM
Subject: spinal stenosis & parkinsons


>Hi all. I am posting this message in the hope that someone can offer
>some advice for my father. He was diagnosed with Parkinsons in late
>1992. The last couple years have been especially bad and he has had to
>retire from his church where he was a Minister for 30 years. It was a
>shame because it was only a few years ago when I didn't think anything
>could stop him. The problem is that he not only has to deal with the
>Parkinson's symptoms and everything else that comes with it but he was
>recently diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing
>of the central spinal canal or the areas of the spine where the nerve
>roots exit. He had been suffering for quite some time from agonizing
>pain in his legs and had been told that this was not due to the
>Parkinsons. In terms of the physical pain that he has had to deal with
>over the last year this has been the worst. He has done the cortizone
>shots with no success. They cannot perform surgery due to previous
>surgery he had on his spine in the early 80's. I am at a loss. I hate to
>say it but life would be so much better if it was "just" the Parkinson's
>he had to deal with. Never thought I would ever say that.
>Anyone out there aware of a parkinsonian who has had spinal stenosis? We
>have been informed that there is no relationship. Symptoms of spinal
>stenosis are low back pain, buttocks pain, leg pain (usually above the
>knee) and/or numbness in the above areas. It is common for patients with
>the spinal stenosis to develop pain in the buttocks or legs while
>walking. Patients with severe stenosis often are limited to less than
>one city block before they must stop. Often patients with spinal
>stenosis feel relief when bending forward.
>Thanks.
>Steve Clark
>[log in to unmask]
>p.s. Has there been any discussion or thought about making this
>listserve a newsgroup? A newsgroup would allow people to view the
>messages via a new reader or within a web browser. A newsgroup does not
>require downloading messages into mailbox. It is possible to have both.
>There are newsgroups that can also be subscribed to for e-mail. The
>reason I mention this is that the incredible volume of e-mail this group
>generates prohibits my father, and I assume others, from subscribing. It
>is not realistic for him to logon every couple days and wait for 100's
>of messages to download. The alternative DIGEST format is not realistic
>either. It is far too difficult to read. A newsgroup would really make
>sense. Thoughts?