Keppra

[Guest guest]

I was put on Keppra after Neurontin and Topomax caused so many side effects that

I just could not take either one of them. I was not ever put on any of these

drugs because of Chiari; I was put on them because of burning pain from RSD. For

those who do not know what RSD is, it is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. The

nerves no longer know how to react normally to any kind of stimulus and these

drugs do help with the burning that makes your limbs feel like they are on fire

on the inside but yet ice cold to the touch and blue/red coloration or very pale

skin.

The best way that I have found to explain RSD is like this. Take for example you

walk up to me and pat me on the back or touch my arm or my legs, to a normal

person this feels just what it is, a pat or a touch. To a person with RSD it is

like the nerves send a signal to the brain that you just slugged me with a

baseball bat. A hug can put me on the floor if caught off guard. As long as I

see it coming I can brace for it, most times my kids will intercept the person

about to hug me before they get the chance to do severe damage to me.

Now add the pain and other symptoms of Chiari to the mix and well you have a

very miserable person. I do what I can to stay positive and more often than not

I find more things to smile about in my life than I do to frown about. I cannot

let pain, RSD, Chiari, TCS, DDD, and spondylosis get to me, I cannot and will

not allow any of these to rule my life. I am in control, not the things wrong

with me. I can always draw on my memories of healthier times to bring me up.

Praying for the day when I can get back to TCI and get things going on all I

need done.

Keppra as I was saying, has helped immensely with pain that is burning in

nature, I can't say that it has done much for Chiari, nor can I say that it has

eased the headaces, but it does work very well for what it was prescribed.

Marilyn in Arkansas