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.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!10.0!Douglas.Zachary
Internet: Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.orgDouglas.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."
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!10.0!Douglas.Zachary
Internet: Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.orgJean.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
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!137!10.0!Douglas.Zachary
Internet: Douglas.Zachary@p0.f10.n137.z1.fidonet.orgJay.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
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Jay.Schlink
Internet: Jay.Schlink@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org