[Eddie7]

Hi, This is my 1st time on. I'm Ed
I am a t-4 para. Was hit by car at age 3 1/2. I am 43 now. Just recently i have had bad sweating on back butt and chest, besides the normal armpit area, but only when in a sitting position. So weird. Been changing clothes 4 x a day. More with shirts. Also developed spasms in stomach butt and thighs. This gets especially bad at night and it's been keeping me up. Doc gave me Zanaflex which is doing nothing. I had Botox for arm tremors for a few years but due to insurance problems I can't get it now. Been off for 6months. Arm tremors are not bad now tho. My sister, a nurse thinks maybe I need a new cushion in my chair. I also have a harrington Rod in my back since age 16. Any insite anyone can give would be most appreciated. Ed Ebmeyer

[DaveP]

I had something similar (sweating in lower back, lightning of tummy muscles etc) and other "pain related" issues. It took me ages to work it out, but when I eventually had my back looked at for posture whilst seated and made some adjustments so my lower back has more support in the arch, the problems went away immediately. I tried laying on my back with a pillow in the arch of my back, and after a few days this helped too.

Maybe you've got a sore back too. Check it out and see what positions improve your situation, before you opt for popping pills. A simple test is to take a certain type of pain killer (ie if you suspect a certain type of pain) and see if the symptoms go away. If it does, it's a strong clue that you have that pain. There are different types of pain killers for different types of pain - bones, muscle, nerve etc...

[Apparelyzed]

Hi Eddie,

Sounds like an autonimic dysreflexia response to pain.

When was the last time you had your rods checked? It maybe worth getting a checkup to make sure nothing has shifted, although it's unlikely.

A more common source of sweating and abdominal spasms would be the following little list:

Bladder (most common) - from overstretch or irritation of bladder wall
Urinary tract infection
Urinary retention
Blocked catheter

Bowel - over distention or irritation
Constipation / impaction
Distention during bowel program (digital stimulation)
Hemorrhoids or anal fissures
Infection or irritation (eg. appendicitis)

Skin-related Disorders
Any direct irritant below the level of injury (eg. - prolonged pressure by object in shoe or chair, cut, bruise, abrasion)
Pressure sores (decubitus ulcer)
Ingrown toenails
Burns (eg. - sunburn, burns from using hot water)
Tight or restrictive clothing or pressure to skin from sitting on wrinkled clothing

Heterotopic ossification ("Myositis ossificans", "Heterotopic bone")
Acute abdominal conditions (gastric ulcer, colitis, peritonitis)
Skeletal fractures

Just work your way through the list and see if anything seems likely to be causing your problems.

Regards

Simon.