Yea,, you're right Bobber!

Walmart would be a more welcoming place if more of us had an 'iProd'!

Come to think of it, that would make places like public shows (music, etc.), things that we don't do any longer, more "accessible"....

pete

Hi Pete,
I agree with you that it would make things better if we could all have a "prod" with us---people might be a little more careful of where they are "walking"----if you know what I mean. Its pretty bad when the "employee's are the worst ones at doing it. I would think that they would atleast say that they are sorry---but nope--they just back up & go around. Atleast now the rain is gone & Im back to the "normal" pain that I have. Isnt it bad to say that Im back to the "normal" pain--if there is any such thing as this pain being "normal". Had a new home health agency come out to the house today & they are sending someone tomorrow to give me a bath---Im looking forward to it.
Well thats about all I know for now. Hope that you had a "pain free" day---or atleast as close as we can get to a pain free day.
Janet

Hi everyone,
I had the hope of being able to get into a new pain clinic but I found out today that they dont take any new patients that have my insurance, so I guess that Im stuck seeing this moronic idiot that has no clue the kind of pain that I live with every single minute of every single day. I just get so tired of getting my hopes up---only to have them SMASHED down. It gets tiring---if you know what I mean.
I get so tired of having to minimize (sp) my pain just so I dont have to have that bloody SCS surgery, that I really dont know how much longer I can take it. I really thought that a pain doctor would have some sympathy for his patients that he sees but all he wants is the money that he can make from the SCS surgery. Sorry but Im just having a really bad day. I dont feel well on top of this pain & its really getting to me. Hope that someone is having a "pain free" day or as close to it as we can get.
Janet

Hello again everyone,
Just thought that I would post a quick note saying that Ive been doing some research on google to see if there are any other pain doctors around here that I might be able to see & there are alot of them----I just dont know if they take my insurance or not. I was going to have my nurse case manager look into them for me but its rained here all day long so I havent felt like talking on the phone but she is the first phone that Im going to make on monday.
Hopefully she will be able to find one that takes my insurance & is taking new patients----I just want to get away from the idiot that Im seeing now. I havent even seen him---I see his staff & they arent very helpful at all.
I hope that ya'll are having dry weather---its supposed to rain here until sunday afternoon. We were even under a tornado warning earlier but its passed---sure am glad of that. Hope that someone is having a pain free day or atleast as close as we can get to that.
Thats about all I know for now, so I will end for now, but hope to hear from ya'll soon.
Janet

Evening everyone,
I know that this has nothing to do with what this topic is about & Im sorry about that. Its been a very very sad day here today. Our beloved Smokey died this morning & it just doesnt seem the same without him around. It just feels so empty here. He was the very best friend that a person could hope for or have. Its all I can do to be in the house now because it has the smell of death. Hubby steamed clean the carpet but the smell still isnt gone, its not as strong as it was this morning but it still lingers.
A friend of ours came over & helped dig the grave---which we really appreciated. Im not even sure why Im telling you all this---I just needed something to occupy my mind right now. I want to thank you for letting me say my piece, it really means alot to me.
I hope that someone is having good warm weather---I think that we're heading into winter----neither one of us wants it to be here yet. Here's hoping that there are better days ahead. Thanks again. I really dont have anyone else that I can talk to.
Janet

(The following was directed to me. I don't know how to make it appear ghosted so that readers know it is a quote. Sorry. My answer is below.)

__________________________________________________ ____________
His machine is FDA approved for the treatment of pain.

He has conducted some small studies, some that he funded himself. Those are described in the book. He has been published in medical journals:
1. Podiatry Today, November 2000, "RSDS, disgnosis and successful treatment" and
2. in the American Journal of Pain Management, 2002 Jan; 12(1):31-34, "Effects of Sympathetic Therapy on Chronic Pain in Peripheral Neuropathy Subjects."
In addition, he has spoken at many seminars.

Large scale, double-blind studies require a lot of money, and it usually goes to institutions, not to lone doctors with a non-profit organization to accept the funds. He does have grant writers looking for funds.

Patients usually arrive with a diagnosis from other doctors they have seen in their efforts to find out what is causing their pain. He bases his treatment claims on his small studies and on the thousands of patients he has treated for the last 17 years. He never says "cure." He says "remission."

* "electromagentic stimulation of the nervous system" or variations thereof can lead you to all types of info about the efficacy of this kind of treatment for various nerve conditions. There are all types of small scale studies that I found and one lengthy discussion released by a university in the form of journal article about using this type of treatment and the positive results. However, it apparently has not been followed up by those who did those small studies.

I hope this answers your questions.

(Below the line, I respond to the following comment.)

__________________________________________________ ______________

The tests check for circulation, the lack of which causes pain. You can almost instantly check this out yourself. Wrap a rubber band around your finger so it cuts off the blood supply, and your finger will turn purple and hurt. Lack of blood and oxygen cause pain.

Tests include:

--standing on a black thermopad that registers the warmth of the soles of your feet. If, after you step off, the pad is still black, your feet are too cold to have proper circulation. If the pad turns lighter colors, your feet registered circulation.

--taking the temperature of the pads of both thumbs and the bottom of both big toes. Research shows that the body's left and right plantar temperature should be within one degree of each other and should be in a specific range, just as the internal body temperature should be within a certain range. If the readings are off, you have a problem.

--testing your nerve conduction by placing electrodes on each toe of each foot, running a mild electrical charge through the electrodes, and noting the intensity of the frequency before you feel any tingling. High numbers mean your nerves are malfunctioning, which causes nerve pain.

--taking your blood pressure on each arm and each ankle to determine the difference in the readings. If your ankle readings are different from the expected difference between the arm and ankle, then you may have a blockage that makes your feet too cold. If not, then foot pain is most likely caused by nerve problems.

--taking x-rays of the feet to look for subchrondal cysts. These are cysts that result from lack of proper circulation that eats away at bone. Bone needs a good blood/oxygen supply to stay healthy. If you have these cysts in your feet, you have them in other places in your body.

These tests add up to a clear picture of whether you have chronic pain. When the body begins to heal, and that can take time, the above readings begin to change. Periodic retests indicate whether the treatment is working, sometimes even before the patient's subjective pain level drops. When it begins to drop, the above tests become even more normal.

Yes, the goal is to reach millions of people. There is something in the works that is a step in that direction. Everything takes time and research and development money. As I said before, grant writers are busy trying to find those funds.

I am so sorry to hear about your Smokey. Losing a pet is so hard on us. Bill's dog died about a year after he did. We had a hard time dealing with it. The kids had gotten him the dog so my Grandson's had a really hard time with it. Devin had Scooby's picture on his cellphone for a longtime. They are part of the family.

As far as the chair, I am so glad you got it. I do want to mention that when you go outside, make sure you have your phone or cellphone with you. My daughter takes care of a friend with MS and she went outside in her chair, got hung up in a big ditch and sat there for over 3 hours until Susan got there to find her. They don't always go where people might think they will.

As far as Drs. I have seen more then my share too. I donot like PM Drs. at all. I realize some people have good luck with them but I sure didn't and won't go to another one.

As far as my timezone. I think I am an hour behind Tennessee. I talk to Carrie and she told me that. Ky. is 2 hours ahead so I thought it was different that Tennessee is only 1.

It's cold here girl. We are breaking some records. It is suppose to warm up to the 60's here in the next few days though.

Don't give up on trying to get the help you need. You will finally find that right Dr.

I did want to say too about the SCS. Don't let a Dr. tell you that you have to have the SCS if you don't want it. Don't hold back on your pain level just to keep him from pushing it. I would just sit down with him and say, this is how it is, I don't want the SCS even though my pain is through the roof. There are other things out there that I am sure he hasn't tried yet. There are too many Drs. out there to have one push something on you that you don't want.

Ada

Hi Ada,
I really want to thank you for your kind words about my Smokey---it really means alot. My grandsons would lay their heads on him when they would come over. Its just like loosing a family member---he's been here so long that there isnt a time when he wasnt here. This is really hard.
He was sick for a couple of days, & he had arthritis really bad, but the strange thing is that he looked so peaceful when he went---like his suffering was over & he could run again. Im happy that hes not hurting anymore---& I know what Im going to say sounds selfish but I want him back. I hated to see him hurt, but he was our "baby" & it just doesnt seem right ---him not being here to eat with us---if you know what I mean.
It took me a long time to find a pcp that actually cared about you as a person, but I found one that is really great, I just wish that she was able to give me the meds that I need for the pain. I did find another doctor thats in Knoxville so hopefully they take my isurance & I can get away from the one that Im seeing now. I havent actually seen the "doc" ---its been his staff & I really dont think that they know what they are doing. I had to see their shrink about the SCS surgery & I showed him all the information that I had gathered & no matter how hard Ive tried to show it to the doc---he doesnt give me the time to do that. Ive even had it on the table & he just ignores it.
He doesnt want to hear about my pain---he wants that 30,000---thats all he wants to hear---thats why Im trying to see someone else.
Ky is one hour ahead of us---thats the eastern part--I dont know about the rest of Ky. Im in central time. Carrie is the one that is trying to get her doc to see me, so Im praying that shes able to do that. But if not---then Im going to see about the one in Knoxville. I just want a doc that is going to listen to me. I dont want the pain meds for the high---I just want a life where I dont hurt like this.
Ive only gone down my driveway with the chair but hubby normally goes with me---Ive only gone down twice by myself but there are people near by in case I get stuck.
Thanks again for your kind words---they mean so much.
Janet

Physicians, no matter their education or lack of do not have patience for CRPS patients. Its easier for them to write an RX. Too bad they cannot be honest & say, "hey, let me research who would be the best pain management physician for your condition". It's maddening & undeserved.