My Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone:

My name is Janet and I am new to your group. Here is my story of how I got

to be in chronic pain every day for almost ten years.

My problems began about nine and one half years ago. I had severe muscle

spasms, my right leg kept turning inward thus making me trip on my foot,

fatigue, heat intolerant and writers cramp. I went through a barrage of

neurological tests, everything from A-Z. The only thing that showed up was a

high

protein count in my spinal fluid. That, I was told, is a signal of a

neurological

disorder of some type. My neurologist clinically diagnosed me with MS. I

couldn't get proper treatment because there were no lesions showing up on my

brain after numerous MRI's. I started to keep a diary of my symptoms as they

worsened. My neuro then suggested I go to a Dystonia Clinic in one of the

largest

hospitals. It was there I was diagnosed with Hemidystonia (right side).

After trying almost every neuro medication there was, including oral baclofen,

it

was suggested I go for the trial for the baclofen pump. I was relieved in a

way that there was a name for what was wrong with me, but it was bittersweet.

I had seen many doctors in the course of that first two years thinking that

one may stumble onto something. Of course I went for the trial and it was a

success. My pump was implanted on 01-11-01 and I've had it ever since. It

does help me in keeping the spasms down and less frequent. I still have days

where I literally scream from the pain, but I think about how bad it would be

without the pump.

Time went on and I finally had to give up my career as a Pharmacy

Technician. I was just making matters worse. After finding a " new " life, I

finally

accepted it and went about doing what I could. Then a second bombshell was

dropped. My first pump doctor and my second both felt I had MS. I was so

tired

of MRI's as I hate being in closed spaces. I finally, in mid 2005, went for

one. Sure enough, there were two lesions on the brain. So now I have to give

myself an injection once a week of a drug called Avonex. I'm one of the

luckier people with MS, if you can look at it that way. I have been in

remittance

with no major symptoms. My prognosis is pretty good as far as the MS goes. My

Dystonia has been slowly progressing on to the left side of my body. With

Dystonia I suffer from pain every day. There are some days that are better

than others. I take oral pain medication. I cannot find a pump doctor in my

area and within my insurance that will mix the baclofen with a pain med.

On a personal note, I'm 49, have a daughter and son, just barely adults and

married for the second time. I also have three beagles who now fill the

empty nest syndrome. I work on my arts and crafts and teach Sunday School.

Plus

I love to cook Italian dinners.

Thank you for reading this and your interest in getting to know me.

Janet