5 replies to this topic

[Glyn]

This is my first post...so be gentle with me!!
I am T5 and can walk a little with a zimmer frame. I get terrible pains in the left side of my stomach and down my left leg. The pain often feels like it is just under the rib cage. It mainly feels like a constant dull ache, but intensifies if I eat or am constipated. Sometimes my left leg feels like it will explode with the pressure. I occasionally get palpitations, as well. When I went to my doctor, he said it was to do with the Vagus Nerve, and has given me Imipramine (an anti depressant/muscle relaxant) to try and calm it down. It worked for a short while, but it is now back with avengeance. The pain has caused severe spasticity in my left side and now my left leg is shorter than my right (ho hum!). The doc has suggested I up the dose of Imapramine, but as I'm already on Gabapentin, Dantrolene and Fentanyl patches, I'm worried about becoming a zombie!! I've tried Movicol,Sodium Docusate, Senna. Nothing seems to help. Any advice?

[airart1]

welcome to world of SCI, at least your dr. believes u, most of them just think we are after drugs, and won't try to help u at all.......good luck, phantom pain is what my dr. tells me, just deal with it, i told that one to frick off.....

[pinkcloud]

[quote name='Glyn' timestamp='1284129782' post='182147']

Hi Glyn

I get pain in left groin, sciatica type pain running down the leg but at the front and heavy leg. This means I need to go to the toilet or comes at me monthly times. I also get stabbing in the bottom of me foot when real full bladder and it wakes me up.

Doctors looked at me gone out at first. Neurology nurse at a big charity explained its something aggrevating the nerves - nothing gets rid of it - for me anyhows. Except to go toilet.

Sorry I have no news - I just get used to it now and expect nothing else but like everything I have - hold hope one day it may fade or go away.

[Tetracyclone]

Glyn-

What you describe can be quite debilitating over time because the spasms are distorting your posture and causing your hip to draw up, making it appear that one leg is shorter. The more posture is distorted the more coordination and even muscle function can be shut off.

What you describe may be similar to something I experienced. For me the pain in the abdomen was related to digestion. Over time it has nearly gone away as a result of any or all of these things: I pay acute attention to my diet, and use excellent probiotics. My gut ecology was destroyed by a month of intravenous antibiotics after my accident and it has been a long road to reestablish a balance in there so food moves along without pain nor inordinate amounts of gas. Stool softener has been necessary as well. Lots of veggies, brown rice, and quinoa for me. Occasional ice cream so I don't feel deprived.

Just any probiotic would not do. I had to search around until I found some that I knew were right for me because I immediately felt better. When I started threelac the bloating in my gut was gone in two days. No more quad gut, just like that! Plus I had more energy from improved absorbtion.

My Dr. referred me to a PT who trained at a place called Postural Restoration Institute and the guy has given me exercises that SLOWLY have me standing straight again although there is still a lot of tension trying to twist me up. At least when I sit my knees come to the same place! I've been practicing the work for 6 months but it has only started to really "take" since I devoted myself to it full time. You have to exhaust yourself physically and mentally every day to correct posture, but without that in ten years I would be so twisted up i would not ever want to, or maybe be able to stand up. PTs in rehab had no clue how to help with this, they just said it would go away in time. Read: "I dunno".

Your problem is severe, but if it starts with digestion then it can be unwound by normalizing digestion.

may you find solutions.

[Glyn]

Thank you, Tetracyclone. Your description of the symptoms are spot on. For the past 2 years I have been on a daily dose of antibiotics, to prevent urinary infections. I haven't had a UTI since I started the course, but you're right, I think that's when my stomach and spasm trouble started. I've dabbled with probiotics, but only the ones they advertise on TV. They didn't do much good. I looked up threelac and was amazed that many of the symptoms of candida are similar to the ones I suffer from...I never realised sinisitus could be associated with candida. I'll try threelac and see if that helps. Sounds like I need to improve my diet, as well. I've never been very good at the whole brown rice thing, but the ice cream sounds good!!

I looked up the Postural Restoration Clinic, and realised that you are in USA. Unfortunately, we are not that advanced in Devon,UK. Physios are reserved for people with hip replacements and dodgy knees. Anyone with long term needs, has to go private or do without. I will do some reasearch to see if the PRC have any contacts in the UK. In the meantime, do you have any excercises you could recommend?

You've given me a real light at the end of the tunnel. Many, many thanks. I let you know the outcome.

[quote name='airart1' timestamp='1284130152' post='182148']
welcome to world of SCI, at least your dr. believes u, most of them just think we are after drugs, and won't try to help u at all.......good luck, phantom pain is what my dr. tells me, just deal with it, i told that one to frick off.....
[/quote]

Have a look at Tetracyclone's suggestions...they may help you.

[quote name='pinkcloud' timestamp='1284202229' post='182240']
[quote name='Glyn' timestamp='1284129782' post='182147']

Hi Glyn

I get pain in left groin, sciatica type pain running down the leg but at the front and heavy leg. This means I need to go to the toilet or comes at me monthly times. I also get stabbing in the bottom of me foot when real full bladder and it wakes me up.

Thank you, Pinkcloud. Yes, I get the same feeling in my leg when I need to go to the loo. I'm going to try Tetracyclone's suggestion of probiotics, to help with the stomach pain.

[pinkcloud]

Glyn, forgot to mention the top of my abdomen goes into a kind of spasm and you can see if pulsing like mad. A few others of t-spiners have it too - and yeap tet's advice is great - I already use that and the abdomen spasms are much much less. Let us know how you get on