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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?