[misc.handicap] Spasm reduction

Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.org (Douglas Zachary) (12/21/90)

Index Number: 12555

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

                            BACLOFEN PUMP
 
   Spasms can be more disabling than the disability itself as many of 
us have found out the hard way.  At times the spasms affect the parts 
of the body that are still mobile and are brought on by movement or 
touch.  Other times the spasms affect the lower extremities with 
enough force to throw the person from the chair or cause injury to 
the lower legs and feet.  Spasms can be strong enough to resist range 
of motion, cause embarrassment, disconnect urinary drainage systems 
and cause major depression. 
   Until recently there were very few remedies for this problem.  
Lioresal (Baclofen) is probably the most prescribed drug for neuro 
spasms but many people get no relief or experience drowsiness, 
weakness and lethargy from the drug.  Dantrium is another drug used 
to counter spasms but carries almost two pages of side affects and 
possible organ damage.  Valium is sometimes used but has similar side 
affects to Baclofen.  Rhizotomy is a surgical procedure in which 
nerve rootlets which control abnormal motor responses are severed.  
Rhizotomy is irreversible.  Other surgical methods of dealing with 
spasticity have included tendon cutting and amputation, also quite 
irreversible. 
   When Baclofen is taken orally it is estimated that only 15% of the 
drug reaches the point where it is needed with an equal portion going 
to the brain.  The SynchroMed Infusion System from Medtronic, Inc. is 
the world's first implantable, programmable system.  This system may 
be just what many spasm suffering people with Cerebral Palsy, head 
injury, spinal injury and MS need. 
   The pump is connected to a catheter in the spine and implanted 
beneath the skin where its reservoir can be filled with a needle 
every two or three months.  The amount of Baclofen administered by 
the pump can be changed with the use of a computer and radio waves so 
it only needs to be removed to change the battery.  The pump costs 
about $6,000 but hospital stay and other costs can drive the price up 
to $20,000.  They say that most private insurers will pay for the 
treatment. 
   Clinical testing is now taking place in 12 locations across the 
country.  While spinal baclofen has been available overseas for 
years, the FDA requires a certain number of patients to have this, 
with documented results, before releasing it for general use. 
 

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!10.0!Douglas.Zachary
Internet: Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.org

Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.org (Douglas Zachary) (12/21/90)

Index Number: 12556

                   OTHER SPASM-REDUCERS DISCOVERED 
   
   New research has indicated that injections of a toxin that causes 
food poisoning may help to control spasticity. 
   According to information in "Newsday", some doctors are injecting 
patients with botulinum toxin to treat diagnoses such as wryneck, 
writers cramp and spasms of the vocal cords, neck and face.  The data 
says some 75% of those treated for local spasms have experienced 
temporary improvement of their conditions without having surgery. 
   In the meantime, researchers in Vancouver, Canada, have conducted 
a study with multiple sclerosis patients.  They successfully used the 
toxin to treat eight MS patients who had experienced severe 
spasticity in their legs. 
   According to the article, the botulinum toxin proved successful 
when injected into the affected muscles.  Researchers involved in 
using it believe it chemically blocks the connection between the 
nerve and the muscle, allowing patients to move more freely.  
Injections must be repeated every three to five months to be 
effective. 
   The FDA has approved the drug for use in treating adult 
strabismus, otherwise known as crosseye, and blepharospasm, a 
condition in which an individual will experience a tightening of the 
eyelid muscles and, in some cases, become functionally blind. 
   The information was recently reported in "Reader's Digest."

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!10.0!Douglas.Zachary
Internet: Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.org

Jean.Prophet@f33.n371.z1.fidonet.org (Jean Prophet) (12/21/90)

Index Number: 12561

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 >                             BACLOFEN PUMP
 >
 >    Clinical testing is now taking place in 12 locations across the
 > country.  While spinal baclofen has been available overseas for
 > years, the FDA requires a certain number of patients to have this,
 > with documented results, before releasing it for general use.

      Very interesting (I didn't quote your whole message as it was rather 
lengthy ..... Do you know where they are testing this at??  This sounds 
like an interesting thing to look into.

      Buddy takes 20mg of Baclofen 2 times a day ---- more if the spazms 
get worse at times .... This sounds like something we might look into.

                                    Jean

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!371!33!Jean.Prophet
Internet: Jean.Prophet@f33.n371.z1.fidonet.org

Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.org (Douglas Zachary) (12/21/90)

Index Number: 12574

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

DZ>                           BACLOFEN PUMP
DZ>
DZ>  Clinical testing is now taking place in 12 locations across the
DZ> country.  While spinal baclofen has been available overseas for
DZ> years, the FDA requires a certain number of patients to have this,
DZ> with documented results, before releasing it for general use.
 
JP>  Very interesting (I didn't quote your whole message as it was 
JP> rather lengthy ..... Do you know where they are testing this at?? 
JP> This sounds like an interesting thing to look into.
 
   I am not sure where but I will dig up the company's address and 
they should be able to tell you.
 
JP>   Buddy takes 20mg of Baclofen 2 times a day ---- more if the 
JP> spazms get worse at times .... This sounds like something we might
JP> look into.
 
JP>                                 Jean
    
   I hope this is something of help.  Be careful with taking more
of the Baclofen, it is supposed to be taken in steady amounts and
incresed or decresed by increments with a maximum recommended dosage
of 80mg a day.
                                   Zack

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!10.0!Douglas.Zachary
Internet: Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.org

Jay.Schlink@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Jay Schlink) (01/09/91)

Index Number: 12751

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

Jean,

        This may be old news now but I thought I'd list a few of the centers 
that I know of that are testing the baclofen pump.  They are:

Dr. David Cahill, Tamp, Florida
Dr. Robert Coffee, Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. Robert Levy, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
Dr. Paul Loubser, TIRR, Houston, TX
Dr. Joseph Ordia, Boston University, Boston, MA
Dr. Richard Penn, Rush Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Dr. Andrew Shetter, and Dr. Richard Herman, Good Samaritan Medical Center, 
PHoenix, AZ
Dr. WIlliam Steers, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

I found these names in the October 1989 edition of the Spinal Cord Society 
newsletter.

Jay

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Jay.Schlink
Internet: Jay.Schlink@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org