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Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
What could be causing chronic neurological pain R/S with chronic spasms?
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Syrinx T1-T4 from fall in 2005. S5/S1 microdiscectomy, rhizolysis and foraminotomy Jan 2011. On repair after Scenar Therapy in April 2012 until slipping on dish washing liquid. Now worse than ever. CHRONIC nerve pain down right side from shoulder blade to bottom, burning down r/s of right leg. CHRONIC spasms in head and down to bottom on r/s. Cramps around r/s front tummy, back and right leg. Hospitalised and put on 200 mg/day Celebrex, 3,600 mg Gabapentin. Came home and terribly aggressive with anti-inflammatory and so much Gabapentin. Tears one moment and so aggressive the next. CAN ANY SPECIALIST PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS CHRONIC CONDITION WHICH HAS WORSENED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. How much can a person take. Who do I turn to for help. Have Neurosurgeon but seems there is not a thing working for me. -
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Jodie Krantz
Physiotherapist, Pilates Instructor
As a Physiotherapist for many years, I have a special interest in managing chronic and recurrent pain using exercise. Our small team of Physiotherapists are … View Profile
Hi there,
Firstly, I really feel for you. Chronic pain, especially that horrible neurological pain, is so hard to live with and affects your moods, relationships, ability to work, financial situation - your whole life.
Anyone telling you the cause of your pain is making, at best, an educated guess. Even scans like an MRI are helpful in working out a possible diagnosis, but are only a reflection of the way your body is organised at one moment in time (usually with you lying down). They don't show the way in which you move or function and how this affects your pain.
The science of pain is still very young. One great book which explains how we end up with chronic pain is “Explain Pain” by Butler and Moseley. Pictures and diagrams make complex concepts easier to understand for lay people as well as medical professionals.
In my opinion Doctors, Specialists, Neurosurgeons, Physios, Chiropractors etc have only part of the answer to your problems, albeit an important part. The other part has to come from you. Regardless of what medical treatments you opt for, what you need to do sooner or later (preferably sooner!) is find a way to learn to move more safely and easily again. You need to learn how you can free yourself from the excessive levels of muscle tension, which inevitably develop as a result of chronic pain. Unfortunately it's not just a matter of going to the gym or getting a personal trainer. You need to work with someone who really understands how to guide you through the minefield of neuro-muscular rehabilitation. And there is no quick fix.
I would like to suggest that you do some research on the Feldenkrais Method and look for a Physiotherapist in your area who is a qualified Feldenkrais Practitioner, ideally with extensive experience in the area of chronic pain. In Australia try www.feldenkrais.org.au (site of the Australian Feldenkrais Guild.)
This safe and gentle method helps you learn how to reduce excess muscular tension and spasm. You discover how to re-distribute the workload involved in everyday movements (such as getting up from the floor or a chair or reaching out for something). And how to hold yourself up against gravity (ie in sitting, standing and walking) in a way that minimises your pain so you can improve your postural support and endurance. Feldenkrais helps you learn how to reduce the load on over-worked parts of your body, by improving your body awareness and bio-mechanical efficiency of movement. Practitioners of this method work to assist people to self-manage painful conditions, reducing dependency on the medical system. Feldenkrais is relaxing and for the most part really enjoyable. It would be best to start on a one-to-one basis with view to progressing to either classes or a home programme supported by audio-lessons which you can download or buy on CD.
Other forms of exercise you may like to consider are hydrotherapy or Clinical Pilates (with a qualified Physiotherapist). You may even like to just try some gentle walking in a warm swimming pool. The key to recovery is finding a balance between rest and exercise. Too much of either is not usually good. I have found that Feldenkrais is often better tolerated in the early stages or recovery.
I really hope this helps and gives you a few ideas. Please note that I am not recommending this as a replacement for medical diagnosis and treatment but as an essential adjunct.
Kind regards
Jodie
PS please forgive any typos - this programme doesnt' seem to have a spellcheck :)Report this post
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HealthShare Member
Dear Jodie….
Standing up writing this as I have extreme pain. I want to say thank you so much for your advice and I have booked in with Wendy Leewood (on 7 February) who teaches Feldenkrais down here in Hobart (the only one I believe)…
I will get back to you when I am feeling better than I am at present…
Once again thank you ever so much…
Kind Regards…
Cheryl StevensReport this post
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Jodie Krantz
Physiotherapist, Pilates Instructor
As a Physiotherapist for many years, I have a special interest in managing chronic and recurrent pain using exercise. Our small team of Physiotherapists are … View Profile
Dear Cheryl,
I'm so glad to hear. It's not an easy journey but at least you have a starting point. You can still seek advice from medical specialists. Perhaps a pain management specialist would be able to help you get the right balance with medications. It may take a bit of trial and error to find a regime that helps without having intolerable side effects. Pharmacists are a good source of information about medications as they are usually very knowledgeable and may be happy to talk with you about the various options, which you could then discuss with your doctor.
Do keep in touch Cheryl.
Kind rgards
JodieReport this post
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