Re: spasticity

Posted By CCF neuro MD MM on October 03, 1998 at 13:01:11:

In Reply to: Re: spasticity posted by CCF neurology MD MM on October 03, 1998 at 12:49:18:






My mother was diagnosed with spasticity.  In 1994 she had a
laminectomy at c5 to correct a slight dragging of the right leg.  
Since that time she has progressed from using a cane, to a walker
and now a wheelchair, having to be assisted in every move.  She
tried Intrathecal Bacloflen Therapy, this has not worked, has
caused her to have double vision, more spasticity in the leg,
severe.  She has been evaluated by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and
at the U. of Wash.  She does not have Parkinsons, MS, ALS, Brain
Tumor, Cancer.  She has been on all kinds of medicine.  She has has
MRI's, Blood tests, Her cureent Neurologist feels that the problem
is in her brain not the spinal column.  She is very depressed
and quite hopeless.  What about alternative medicines?  I need
someone to save her.



=
Spasticity is a symptom which is caused when the nerve supply to a muscle is
damaged with the damage origionating high in the spinal cord or in the
  brain itself.It is not a diagnosis in itself but  a symptom which can present
itself in a wide range of diseases including the one you listed in your posting.
It is quite possible therefore that the process does origionate in her brain.
There are two approaches to this problem, the first is to find the underlying process
which is causing damage to motor nerves leading to spasticity, the other is
to treat the symptoms themselves in isolation.
unfortunately our current state of knowlege of the brain and its functions is such
that it is not always possible to pinpoint the underlying disease in some cases,
even with the best diagnostic tests available.
As regards alternative medicines, by definition we do not have any
involvement or knowlege in this area so cannot suggest anything. I suspect
however that all avenues may not have been explored at this point, you mention that
intrathecal therapy was tried, did this include the implanted intrathecal
baclofen pump which we use here at the Cleveland Clinic to help patients
with disabling spasticity,if you would like to explore this option the intrathecal
baclofen pump option can be explored by seeing Dr Kinkel or Dr Cohen at the Mellen
Center here in the clinic, Appointents number [phone]