difficulty walking

[BigDog]

Originally Posted by alinch

I applaud your parents for giving you the wonderful outlook. I just hope that I can help to make my son as confident as you are when he is an adult, and go from the gusto.
Thank you
What a great insperation.

Thanks, but I really don't consider myself an inspiration. My parents really were a driving force - and I'm sure it was hard on them when I was younger. But without that determination to make me independent and self-sufficient, who knows what I might have become.
What may seem hard-hearted as a parent really will pay huge dividends in your child's development - trust me! Be strong, and make them strong. I thought my parents were heartless at times - driving me to do things when I felt tired or incapable of doing them (within reason), but you would be surprised what the human mind and body are capable of when challenged.

Thanks - and good luck with helping your son be all he can be. GEEZ - that sounded like an ARMY commercial!

BigDog

[musicmaker650]

Originally Posted by BigDog

Have any of you tried accupuncture for pain relief? I am 60 years old, have had "mild" CP for the first 25-30 years, and as I grow older, my body is in rebellion!
I have accepted using a cane for walking, and use a mobility scooter around the office (gets me to the rest room faster!) but am functioning pretty well.

The problem giving me the most problem now is disc compression in my lower back, plus upper and lower arthritis in the back. I have been taking a pain medication for a couple of years now (Lortab) which gives surprising relief with no bad side effects. I've also had steriodal injections in the lower back, without much relef. Accupunture seems to give some relief, but I'm only on the 4th session, so the jury is still out.

What the heck - you take what life brings you, and deal with it! But my goal is to stay OUT of a wheelchair if possible.

Good luck!

Hey BigDog,
do you think a 60 year old AB is in any better shape than you are? CP certainly is tough, but should we really blame it for all of our ageing ills? Talk to a few older AB's without CP. You'll find that they are suffering too. If you've been able to stay out of a wheelchair till now, you're doing damn good! I don't like the streroidal injections... they will aid the bones of the spine to disintegrate at a faster rate if given too often. I use the injections in the first joint of my right thumb for an osteo-arthritis treatment. I get one a year. Have you considered surgery for your back. With the disc compression, I would think surgical intervention now before it gets any worse, would be a better course of action. Activity is the best remedy for the Arthritis pain. A little activity is better than no activity. I take 100Mg's of Diclofenac daily for my Arthritis pain. I use a UBE (Upper Body Exerciser) for my daily workout. You can see one at [url]www.scifit.com[/url]. Please watch the use of prescription pain killers including Lortab. It's been good for 2 years... This will change, and then you'll go to something stronger, then... Believe me I know!

Good luck to you! Us old gimps must stick together...

[BigDog]

Originally Posted by musicmaker650

Hey BigDog,
do you think a 60 year old AB is in any better shape than you are? CP certainly is tough, but should we really blame it for all of our ageing ills? Talk to a few older AB's without CP. You'll find that they are suffering too. If you've been able to stay out of a wheelchair till now, you're doing damn good! I don't like the streroidal injections... they will aid the bones of the spine to disintegrate at a faster rate if given too often. I use the injections in the first joint of my right thumb for an osteo-arthritis treatment. I get one a year. Have you considered surgery for your back. With the disc compression, I would think surgical intervention now before it gets any worse, would be a better course of action. Activity is the best remedy for the Arthritis pain. A little activity is better than no activity. I take 100Mg's of Diclofenac daily for my Arthritis pain. I use a UBE (Upper Body Exerciser) for my daily workout. You can see one at [url]www.scifit.com[/url]. Please watch the use of prescription pain killers including Lortab. It's been good for 2 years... This will change, and then you'll go to something stronger, then... Believe me I know!

Good luck to you! Us old gimps must stick together...

Musicmaker 650 - thanks for your reply.

Sorry, but I don't know what an 'AB' is? And I don't blame CP for all of my aging ills either. As a matter of fact, I really don't complain about ANYTHING in life. I learned as a child that it really changes nothing, so why bother. You know the old cliches - play the hand you're dealt, etc. Well, I guess I just practice it.

If the Lortab becomes something that stops giving relief or requires a higher daily dose, you can bet I'd do something else. But so far I am sustaining a minimum level (3 a day) in combination with exercise and Arthrotec 75 mg for my arthritis. Using a treadmill daily, watching my diet, and adequate rest seem to work for me. I won't consider surgery for the compressed disc - my doc advises against it, as by the gait I have - it may increase the pain, etc. or decrease my mobility.
And I gave up after two steroidal injections - not enough relief. Same for accupuncture. No long-term benefits

Thanks....and have a good day!
BigDog

[musicmaker650]

Originally Posted by BigDog

Musicmaker 650 - thanks for your reply.

Sorry, but I don't know what an 'AB' is? And I don't blame CP for all of my aging ills either. As a matter of fact, I really don't complain about ANYTHING in life. I learned as a child that it really changes nothing, so why bother. You know the old cliches - play the hand you're dealt, etc. Well, I guess I just practice it.

If the Lortab becomes something that stops giving relief or requires a higher daily dose, you can bet I'd do something else. But so far I am sustaining a minimum level (3 a day) in combination with exercise and Arthrotec 75 mg for my arthritis. Using a treadmill daily, watching my diet, and adequate rest seem to work for me. I won't consider surgery for the compressed disc - my doc advises against it, as by the gait I have - it may increase the pain, etc. or decrease my mobility.
And I gave up after two steroidal injections - not enough relief. Same for accupuncture. No long-term benefits

Thanks....and have a good day!
BigDog

Hey BigDog,
it does sound like you know what you're doing. An "AB" (Able Body) is one of the "other people" that don't know what its like to walk with a cane or use a wheelchair... Does your doctor expect your compressed disc to heal itself? I had serious painful back pain at 30, that did heal with exercise and thearpy, but 30 is 30 and 60...

Have a great day!

[BigDog]

Originally Posted by musicmaker650

Hey BigDog,
it does sound like you know what you're doing. An "AB" (Able Body) is one of the "other people" that don't know what its like to walk with a cane or use a wheelchair... Does your doctor expect your compressed disc to heal itself? I had serious painful back pain at 30, that did heal with exercise and thearpy, but 30 is 30 and 60...

Have a great day!

Thanks - one never knows if what they're doing is right or wrong for sure, but I'm comfortable with my decisions.
And thanks for letting me know what an 'AB' is - I should have guessed!

No, the disc compression will not "heal" itself. My doctor is concerned that disc fusion will make my gait - which you might describe as a "controlled fall" might suffer or be made worse by spinal fusion. He called it the surgery of last resort - only if the pain were not manageable. Right now, it is.

And by the way - Montana IS beautiful - I was snowmobiling in West Yellowstone a few years ago, and it was really nice!!

BigDog