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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] >