Re: news on my arm

Good grief. Do you access to a lab? -- it sounds lie some pretty serious stuff you're mixing up.

Lou Figueroa
hates taking pills


Michael Richardson wrote:
No, steroids don't do anything for this particular problem.
This is why I sound like I have a bad case of laryngitis all the time. I take pain killers for the pain that accompanies the problem but I have to watch how much of that I do.
For most people to take, say for instance, 80mg of morphine a day would knock them to the floor. For me, it just kills the pain and lets me be functional as a human being. I have to switch meds around all the time so that one doesn't loose it's effectiveness. In mid August I'm going to try a new drug called Lyrica, supposedly it has a direct effect on the nerve pathways. I'm not sure what the mechanisms are for this drug but I'm hoping that it will be better than just treating the symtoms. Sometimes when I play pool my arm feels like if you had run a gas powered weed eater all day, arm is numb and aching to the point I have to drive with one hand home. All in all, I'm a positive person and have had to overcome worse things in life and this is just one of those things Iwas lucky in that I had a doctor who recognized from my injury and fanily histrionics that surgury was not going to help the problem and probably would only serve to aggrevate an already 'unnerving' problem. Now, what does work for me? Taking vitamins in a cocktail that I compound myself similar to the 5 hour energy drink, but with some added ingredients. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone that doesn't have pharmaceutical formulary experience since some of the ingredients I have to extract from nature, the passion fruit seeds for one. Using a soxhlet with diethyl ether isn't safe for most to do either because of the flammablity/explosivity and needs to be done under rigorous controlled laboratory standards. Also, being able to do the chromatography on the finished product is daunting for anyone that hasn't the experience in analytic instrumental chemistry. I'm hoping that the Lyrica can accomplish what I need so that I can just get on with life, otherwise I'm stuck with a problem that is going to follow me the rest of my life and that life may be cut short by the drugs that I take since they affect the body in ways that are never good. I feel good now but at any point during a day that can change for the worse and last a long period of time. I sympathize with anyone who has the type of problem that I do since I understand what they have to put up with. Don't get me wrong, life is good and I intend on not letting a prognosis get in the way of my fufilling what it is I want to do, I just can't climb mountains or hammer nails all day like I was when I was 20yo.
When people post about how their game has changed due to age I listen and think of the things that I can do to better my game in lieu of my condition. I can beat most of the guys around here and intend on doing that still.

Mike R.

"lfigueroa" <lfigueroa@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:A77gk.125031$102.62817@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Good grief! An epidemic.

So steroids help?

Lou Figueroa


Michael Richardson wrote:
I also have a Brachial Plexus problem in my right shoulder, It is extremely aggrevating and there isn't anything that can be done. I was shot in the throat 29 years ago and the bullet travelling down into my Brachial Plexus. I'm told that I may have a mild case of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and I'm hoping that doesn't progress. I have a brother snd a sister that have RSD and they both are in bad shape so I suspect that it runs in the family. it really affects my ability to play pool and I've noticed this in the last 5 years, I try to compensate for the nerve degeneration but I can only do so much, still can beat most of the local players and if I played more often I would not be as bad as I feel I am today. I just don't feel up to playing because of the problem tho. The best I can describe the problem is like having an elecrtical brownout in my arm all the way to my neck, I'm sure you would concur. Best of luck and keep up whatever makes the problem less of an issue, I have to exercise that arm and it really is painful.
Mike R
"tdodge" <a3617f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:7de6l5xu73.ln2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
just to put a period on things. The partial paralysis of my right arm and
hand has
been mentioned in past months..here's whats going on:
The problem is an extremely rare condition involving the brachial plexus,
a group of nerves near the shoulder. It's often mis-diagnosed as a
cervical spine
issue. I went through a nasty surgery with no results. I was pissed!!
I got sent off to a hospital in Rochester, NY, with advanced neuro people,
where the diagnosis was made.
Recovery can take 1 to 3 years. There is no treatment, other than pain
control.
Now, some good news..pool is good therapy! (wonder if health insurance
will
cover tourney fees?) I've worked on playing left handed, and won a few
games
that way...problem there is I can't really form a bridge with my right
hand.
I'm not totally out of the game..constant playing at home, and a few
exercises
has kept my bicep and wrist usefull to some degree. ***..I can play
almost as
good as most of my opponents, even crippled! One silver lining is the
necessity
of maintaining high concentration while executing a stroke, just to move
my arm.
That will turn out to be a benefit. Can't hit hard, can't shoot jacked up,
and can't jump. Gettin' really good at kick shots, though!
Now, I'll just tell the wife I'm going to therapy, and it's off to the
pool hall!
/several RSBers asked how it is going, so I thought a post would be
appropriate.
using recgroups now, thanks to our latest nitwit NY Governor

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