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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NikkiT2 on May 31, 2006, at 14:58:58
So.. I saw the pain consultant again tonight (I paid.. I couldn't wait any longer).
Long story, but the plan of action is to get an MRI to check for a cervical vertebre (any ideas on that one people?), which will be on the NHS so about a 4 month wait.. and in the mean time, botox injections in the painful areas.
I have heard about botox being used for pain, but don't actually know anyone that has had them.. Does anyone have any experience with this?
In the very short term, I've been using DBT mindfulness techniques.. A colleague gave me a led meditation (Body Scan) that was designed for people with chronic pain, and also a book called "Full Catastrophe Living".. I also got a CD of shorter mindfulness for pain meditations as the body scan is an hour.. Its proving useful so far.. definately helping me rest better.
But any info you have on botox and cervical vertebre would be really useful..
Thanks everyone
Nikki x
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 2, 2006, at 10:00:51
In reply to botox for pain anyone?, posted by NikkiT2 on May 31, 2006, at 14:58:58
> So.. I saw the pain consultant again tonight (I paid.. I couldn't wait any longer).
I'm sorry, Nik. They shouldn't let you feel that pain. It makes recovery slower.
Can you not obtain sufficient opiate analgesia to carry you through until they know how to treat the underlying causative factors?
If not, I am so sorry. The war on drugs. Right.
> Long story, but the plan of action is to get an MRI to check for a cervical vertebre (any ideas on that one people?), which will be on the NHS so about a 4 month wait.. and in the mean time, botox injections in the painful areas.
>
> I have heard about botox being used for pain, but don't actually know anyone that has had them.. Does anyone have any experience with this?No, I haven't. That's why I waited to answer. I don't have experience with it.
The MRI is to rule out pinching of the nerve at its root. Nothing more than that. Rule out mechanical defects which would continually reinjure the nerve. It is a proper part of differential diagnosis. The guy is doing his job.
> In the very short term, I've been using DBT mindfulness techniques.. A colleague gave me a led meditation (Body Scan) that was designed for people with chronic pain, and also a book called "Full Catastrophe Living".. I also got a CD of shorter mindfulness for pain meditations as the body scan is an hour.. Its proving useful so far.. definately helping me rest better.I'm very glad for that. State of mind is definitely an important factor in chronic pain.
> But any info you have on botox and cervical vertebre would be really useful..
>
> Thanks everyone
>
> Nikki xNik, the botox thing seems to be a reasonable option. It has risks, of course. You need to follow your heart, I guess. Do you trust the doctors who are looking after you? Do you feel that they understand their art? Their craft?
Botox can give miraculous relief.
What the doctors don't yet know is which specific sites would be the optimal sites for injection. That's the art, putting the botox in the right places. They need to inject enough sites that they won't have overlooked any key places where the botox is needed. It needs to be an umbrella of effect. All the sites that need injecting, all injected at the same time.
Your doctors sound like they are on the cutting edge of comprehension of neuropathic pain.
The rest is art. Are they the artists for you?
I pray they are.
Lar
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 2, 2006, at 14:13:47
In reply to Re: botox for pain anyone? » NikkiT2, posted by Larry Hoover on June 2, 2006, at 10:00:51
hey sweetie,
I guess I am just angry that its 13 years since I first went to the doc with this, and only NOW they're doing an MRI? And its the same doc I was seeing on the NHS, so I guess I am a little annoyed at the difference in care.
My gut is telling me to try the botox.. the doctor is one of the leading guys, and spends 3 months in the US every year practising. He said he has seen very miraculous results with the botox.. but he did also admit that he's only done it twice himself, but both times were very succesful.
I'll keep you updated.. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but also trying to stay really positive about it.
Thanks, your reply meant alot. It feels like you're the only person that really understands what I am going through at the moment.
Nikki xx
Posted by Phillipa on June 2, 2006, at 21:54:31
In reply to Re: botox for pain anyone? » Larry Hoover, posted by NikkiT2 on June 2, 2006, at 14:13:47
Nikki I just had an MRI of the cervical vertabae. I'm now awaiting results of the neurosurgeon the neurologist sent me to as he said there was pressure on the nerve to my back and if in a car wreck I could become paralyzed. The neurosurgeon did muscle condutive tests of my right arm and my right leg. Waiting for the results . I don't want surgery especially at my age. And I also have vertabae in my neck that fused by itself . So my bones are bad. Love Phillipa I say try the botox.
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 3, 2006, at 3:37:45
In reply to Re: botox for pain anyone? » NikkiT2, posted by Phillipa on June 2, 2006, at 21:54:31
I've had the condutuction tests done alot..
I would try *anything*, even surgery every month if it meant a reduction in my pain levels.. I guess have I have crossed the line between being able to live with the level of pain, and the pain increasing to a point where I would do *anything* to reduce it.
The doctor I saw yesterday said my pain levels are comparable to a dislocated shoulder and broken elbow.. not that anyone believes me when I say that *shakes head*
Nikki
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 3, 2006, at 11:10:40
In reply to Re: botox for pain anyone? » Phillipa, posted by NikkiT2 on June 3, 2006, at 3:37:45
> I've had the condutuction tests done alot..
Me, I would never allow them to do another on me. The last one had me hallucinating, the pain was so bad. I was out of body.
> I would try *anything*, even surgery every month if it meant a reduction in my pain levels.. I guess have I have crossed the line between being able to live with the level of pain, and the pain increasing to a point where I would do *anything* to reduce it.
Cannabis got me out of that precise symptom.
My cannabis chocolate. Just as with opiates, when used for pain, there is a "no-psychoactive", yet therapeutic, dose.
I have never been so ill, in my life, as I was up until mid-January of this year. I can tell you to the minute, when that changed. And how it changed. And why it changed.
> The doctor I saw yesterday said my pain levels are comparable to a dislocated shoulder and broken elbow.. not that anyone believes me when I say that *shakes head*
>
> NikkiI liken it to a toothache. A bad one. I have a toothache in my arm.
My arm rings with it. Like a bell, you hear the resonance. Like tinnitus, it will not be ignored. Only the resonance is pain.
I have a tinnitus toothache in my arm. I wish it would go live in some other place. Preferably beyond the orbit of Pluto. On a tiny mote. A speck of ice. That's where it should go.
Lar
Posted by Phillipa on June 3, 2006, at 12:03:12
In reply to Re: botox for pain anyone? » NikkiT2, posted by Larry Hoover on June 3, 2006, at 11:10:40
How strange. I have a broken elbow and no pain? Does this mean there is nerve damage to my arm from the pressure on the nerve in the vertabrae in my neck? So the conduction tests will tell if the signals to my arm are working properly? How come I never feel pain well not bad pain? Love Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 3, 2006, at 12:07:11
In reply to Re: botox for pain anyone?, posted by Phillipa on June 3, 2006, at 12:03:12
> How strange. I have a broken elbow and no pain? Does this mean there is nerve damage to my arm from the pressure on the nerve in the vertabrae in my neck? So the conduction tests will tell if the signals to my arm are working properly? How come I never feel pain well not bad pain? Love Phillipa
Bless you, that you have no pain from your fall.
But, you have other symptoms, P.
Something is amiss.
They are looking for it.
That something.
Lar
Posted by ClearSkies on June 13, 2006, at 17:35:53
In reply to botox for pain anyone?, posted by NikkiT2 on May 31, 2006, at 14:58:58
Has there been any change in how you're feeling?
ClearSKies
This is the end of the thread.
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