advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-26-2017, 03:18 AM #1
Starznight Starznight is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 970
8 yr Member
Starznight Starznight is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 970
8 yr Member
Default Baclofen Pump

So I just had my first trial on my way to getting a baclofen pump placed in my spine and actually feeling super excited . Though it was a bit strange, I had to lie on my back for an hour after receiving the injection, which wasn't too bad other than my legs went to sleep on me and I tend to feel a bit dizzy when lying on my back. After the hour was up, I was nearly ready to cry as my legs were still spasming only halfway numb and spasming.

Then about 20 minutes later the spasms really slowed down, and within 30 minutes were finally gone! I mean completely! Nothing! Still had some pain in the joints themselves, but everything loosened up and I no longer could hear my joints snapping and popping with each movement. I could freely move... actually freely move my joints in a way I have never been able to in my life! I've thought that they've been "relaxed" before but I just can't even begin to describe what it was like for my legs to feel "normal", or a fair impression of it at least, hard to say because never in my recollective lifetime have I felt such a sensation. I could still move them, control the muscles, but no tension, no spasms, no jumping, just legs.

I had to walk up and down a flight of stairs, and was able to do so without problems...but even more so then without problems... it was 'easy' I mean I don't know quite how to describe it... because there's still some unstability in my joints from tons of tears to a whole host of tendons and ligaments, and yet even with that it didn't feel like I had to fight to keep the joints moving as they should even with the muscles relaxed. It felt like the joints were floating, but not like they were being pulled in one awkward direction or another.

Then about 1 and half hours into it... good feelings kind of waned a bit... it started with a sharp pain to the back a ways up from the injection sight, sort of a line in the sand drawn between where the medication was reaching and where it wasn't... and right where it stopped the muscles I guess finally had enough and sharp pain ensued. From there the legs got extremely rubbery (whether from over exersion or not I don't know) but I was then stuck in the wheelchair as it became clear any further attempts to walk around were going to leave me on the ground.

Then 5 hours into the whole thing, and back at home, the medication was wearing off and all good feelings were gone... my whole back felt bruised, I couldn't sit, couldn't touch my back, my legs returned to their familiar ache, muscles first started jumping and twitching a bit, then tightening and cramping and all back to the usual and slightly more pronounced mostly because my back was soooo painful and I was left feeling miserable in body, but sooo excited still.

It may sound incredibly weird that for what an hour or so of my muscles feeling normal, followed by hours and hours of not fun stuff afterwards, that I'm still excited even after being tossed into the height of pain and misery. But completely worth it for that hour. During that hour my legs didn't look like a was some kind of professional sprinter, they only moved when I told them too, they didn't yank my joints in all different and unnatural directions. And my shoes even felt a little small... not because my feet were swollen, but because my toes weren't all curled up inside them, but actually laying stretched out (thank goodness for always having wiggle room in my shoes or they would have been too small for the extra toe length)

And the neurologist, concurred, they'll certainly do their best to ensure that it is programmed well and will give me the ultimate relief with the least amount of side effects, but very much so a clear benefit and well worth proceeding on to the surgery!

Though initially it will start with a much lower dose, so it won't be anything like getting it all at once like I did yesterday, but over the following months afterwards they'll slowly increase my dose by no more than 10 mg per day for 4 weeks at a time, but I should be able to get everything sorted it out dose and timing wise within the first 6 months or so, and begin to feel more and more normalcy as they work on that. I might even be able to start PT once they get it fine tuned a bit... I certainly would then become a candidate for corrective surgery on my various affected joints, so that's a huge thing. That not only should I be able to know what it's like for my legs to not be all bunched up like I'm ready to take off sprinting when I'm simply sitting in a chair, but that I could finally do something about my injuries resulting from endless years of that! Wow is my insurance company going to hate me over the next couple of years .

Now I just have to make it through on more consult for surgery with the actual surgeon and then, wait for an open slot in the OR, and then it's just a matter of how long until everything is settled before I can then learn about going through the body and getting it repaired... a bunch of tendons in the ankles need looked at again, ligaments in the knees, more tendons in the hips, disks in the back that are bulging and herniated along with a few vertebrae that might need some work done on them. A bit of cart before the horse going on, but for once I have insurmountable hope!

The world today is pain-filled but still sunshine and lollipops, I'm sure by tomorrow the familiar dirge will be softly playing behind the twittering birds and dancing flowers, but for today at least I'm going to enjoy Disney 'trip' and believe in happily ever afters .
__________________
Side Effects: may cause dizziness, drowsiness, bleeding from the brain, heart explosions, alternate realities, brain spasms, and in rare cases temporary symptoms of death may occur.
Starznight is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 07-26-2017, 03:46 AM #2
Starznight Starznight is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 970
8 yr Member
Starznight Starznight is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 970
8 yr Member
Default

And just a side note... what is with locals for needles to the spine? Poor doctor was shocked that I refused anything (had to remind her allergic ) but still was highly concerned for my comfort while she did what really didn't phase me in the slightest. It's just a fine tiny needle that it's honestly nothing and really far less painful than getting jabbed even with a copaxone needle, which is comparable in gauge to a local... so.. why? Why bother poking twice when the second time poking someone isn't even going to be comparable to the first poke, and really feels closer to a mosquito bite than "needle".

Just something to think about next time you need your spine poked with a needle... maybe save yourself some discomfort and forgo the extra poke that's going to numb what you're already really not especially going to feel anyways. Sure the doctors might think you're crazy, but you honestly can't really feel it anyways, I imagine getting the local will hurt far more than the procedure itself, allergy or no.
__________________
Side Effects: may cause dizziness, drowsiness, bleeding from the brain, heart explosions, alternate realities, brain spasms, and in rare cases temporary symptoms of death may occur.
Starznight is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 07-27-2017, 11:38 PM #3
Starznight Starznight is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 970
8 yr Member
Starznight Starznight is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 970
8 yr Member
Default

Oye the spinal tap migraine (day long persistent headache unless laying down then perfectly fine). Why oh why didn't I drink more water?!? I should have know better when they did my lumbar puncture looking for o-bands I drank well over a gallon of water that day and felt fine the next.... Didn't stop to think about it this time Needles going into spines no matter the reason "DRINK WATER" Lots and lots of water till your eyes float, it'll save you a major pain in the head later.
__________________
Side Effects: may cause dizziness, drowsiness, bleeding from the brain, heart explosions, alternate realities, brain spasms, and in rare cases temporary symptoms of death may occur.
Starznight is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bit, hour, joints, legs, muscles

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Intrathecal Baclofen Pump ali12 Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD and CRPS) 2 07-01-2010 03:16 PM
Baclofen Pump- anyone? ykonstan Multiple Sclerosis 2 04-19-2010 12:04 PM
Baclofen Pump? Phyxius Multiple Sclerosis 7 01-13-2010 02:45 PM
Baclofen Pump? Phyxius Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 0 01-02-2010 09:44 PM
Baclofen Pump spoons Multiple Sclerosis 8 10-16-2006 05:53 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:31 AM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.