Here is George's response to my post the other day about PD related back
pain.  It was a much appreciated private post to me and I am taking a chance
he will be POed a me for posting it to the List, but there are many
interlocking issues here that may be of interest to others.  My response is
at the bottom.

>From: George J. Lussier <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: OH? SO YOU HAVE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERY THING?
>
>>    DEAR SMART A--,
>>   SO YOU HAVE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERY THING AND NOTHING WORKS.HAVE YOU
>TRIED ROLFING OR FELDENKRAIS OR DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE OR HYDROTHERAPY OR
>WALKING BACKWARDS OR HAS ANY THERAPIST EVER TAPED YOUR BACK SO YOU COULDN'T
>WALK INCORRECTLY OR HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THAT THE SOURCE OF YOUR PAIN
IS
>NOT IN YOUR BACK BUT IN YOUR FEET [REFLEXOLOGY] OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A
>CHIROPRACTOR OR HAVE YOU TRIED A SIMPLE STRETCHING PROGRAM OR HOW ABOUT A
>SIMPLE STRENGTHENING PROGRAM UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PERSONAL TRAINER OR
>OR OR. CHANCES YOU HAVE JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE.
>>    THERE ARE NO INSTANT CURES FOR CHRONIC BACK PAIN BUT A MULTIPLE-INPUT
>PROGRAM THAT YOU STICK TO LIKE SUPER GLUE MIGHT WELL HELP.EVER THINK ABOUT
>EXCHANGING NOTES WITH SOMEONE ELSE WHO USES AN ACUPUNCTURIST? THAT THE
>PROBLEM MAY NOT BE THE TECHNIQUE BUT THE THERAPIST.[WRITE DOWN A D E T A I
L
>E D LIST OF YOUR SYMPTOMS AND THE POINTS YOUR ACUPUNCTURIST NEEDLES AND
SEND
>TO ME AND I'LL ASK MY ACUPUNCTURIST. WHEN I SAY ALL YOUR SYMPTOMS I MEAN
>THEM ALL, NOT JUST THOSE RELATED TO YOUR BACK.]
>>    OH, YA. WELCOMED BACK TO THE LIST. YOU HAVE BEEN MISSED
>>               GEORGE
>>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bruce Anderson <[log in to unmask]>
>To: George J. Lussier <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 12:19 PM
>Subject: Re: OH? SO YOU HAVE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERY THING?
>
>
>>Whew!  George it took me all day yesterday to recover from your post.  You
>>are, of course, freaking right. I haven't tried nothing yet!  In fairness
>to
>>me, though, I had and have no intention of giving up and "living" with the
>>pain for the rest of my life.  What I was hoping  for was what I got:
ideas
>>of where to go from here.  What I didn't expect was the laundry list from
>>you along with the you-dumb-arse-get-on-with-it accompanying words from
you
>>[the caps was a nice touch too, really!]
>>
>>First the acupuncture.  You wanted a list of all my Symptoms to show your
>>acupuncturist - all of 'em.  They are, in order of importance to me:
>>
>>1.Difficulty Walking - momentary freezes, stumbling, falling [about once a
>>day but I'm good at it - no broken bones], poor sense of balance, walk
>>hunched over [90 degrees feels right, feel like I have giant rubber bands
>>attached to my knees & my chest pulling me over.  I can resist this
>>sensation for about 2 steps, 3-4 if I first push myself upright by placing
>>my back against a wall - feels great too], use a cane 100% of the time,
>lean
>>on it a lot, now causing elbow & arm muscle pain.
>>Perhaps the Tasmar I'm going on shortly will help this whole mess
>>
>>janet p. asked how did the posture get this way - Very strange - don't
>know.
>>Just laziness, and at first, with little pain, I didn't notice.  Could
have
>>started with too much computer time. Like now - just started to hurt.  The
>>whole thing just snuck up on me.
>>
>>2.Pain - back pain about 60-70% of my waking hours.  Emanates from my
lower
>>back right along the spin down to the lower butt - no pain in legs, I
think
>>it has to be related to my posture described above. MRI showed mild
>stenosis
>>[HANS!] but neurosurgeon said would not be the cause of pain & no  surgery
>>indicated. Had steroid shots to no effect, also.
>>
>>3.Muscle Weakness - in legs, arms & hands. Contributes to # 1 above I am
>>sure.  Pain in triceps.  Pain in hands makes typing a chore.
>>
>>4. Swollen, discolored shins.   The MDS neuro I went to last week said it
>>was NOT med related!
>>He wants to send me to a vascular doctor after I first try 10 min., 3x/
day
>>on the treadmill for 3 weeks.
>>Said it looks to him like too little activity, too much computer!
>>
>>5.Speech - therapy had improved it but I let it go - didn't practice
>because
>>of pain - just started again.
>>
>>6. Fatigue - only thing about that really bothers me is involunatry
closing
>>of my eyes for a couple of seconds at a time, even when I am [trying to]
>>talk to someone.
>>
>>Acupuncture points - a bunch of them right over the lower spine where the
>>pain is, some on the top of my head and one behind each knee.  I am having
>>an alternate acupuncturist today so I'll see if there is continuity.
>George,
>>I would like to hear what your person has to say.  The  place I go to
seems
>>to have all the credentials, but....?
>>
>>As for all the other stuff, I will bring your post to my physical
>therapist,
>>who is excellent and has taken an interest in getting me back as much as
>>possible.
>>
>>THANK YOU,  George
>>
>>B. Bruce Anderson (52, 4)
>>Schooley's Mtn., NJ
>>[log in to unmask]
>