United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hey I've been trying to respond to all the kind replys I got to "the End" but the kids new computer won't act right so I'm posting(on my trusty old emachine) to say THANKYOU to all "my people" who gave me hope and encouragmentduring a really BAD time. I'm back on methadone as of this morning and feeling better by the hour. Thanx Courtney. Liz, Sue, Paulo. Henry....EVERYBODY. Most important: WHAT IS THIS "DREZ" I'm hearing about?PLEASE clue me in.If anybody got screwy mail from ronin or ronin2 it's because of that damn new computer.It's basically a big useless video game for my girlfriends kids.(I didn't buy it)Back in my day Mamma gave us a stick and a rock & said "go outside and play" But I digress.
I just feel 90% better and it's so GOOD to be (relatively) pain-free. By the way- has anybody tried something called Zonegran? I'm s'posed to start it tonight at bed-time and I'm SCARED of new meds due to sh*t like topomax and trileptal I've tried in the past. Topomax put me in the E.R. one night-I thought I was dying-turns out Topomax is toxic to me or some such.Trileptal gave me basically all the symptoms of the flu. Anyway this site and all you wonderfull people have made my life just a little easier to deal with. Instead of scrambling my brains with a hammer I can send out a desperate post and know that somebody who CARES will read it. I especially thank Nancy Birk who introduced me to all of you and gave me the best gift I've gotten in ten years of misery--Ms Birk gave me Hope. And she let me know that I am NOT alone.
Love and thanks to ALL OF YOU-- Ronin

Ronin- As you said in reply to my silly question, the holes in the spine do relay messages back to the brain, that keep repling "error, error", and thus pain. The DREZ procedure basically cauterizes the nerve endings in hope that it stops the eternal relay of error reports. The procedure is risky because where the nerves travel down the spinal cord is such a intricate and closely adjacent space. I think it's your right side that's affected. the nerves that run down to your right leg are right next to the nerves for your arm. The risk is when cauterizing the brachial nerves, they may damage nerves to your right leg. In most cases, it is sensation problems, but it could result in paralyzation of your right leg. As I understand, right after a successful operation, people are pain free. After time though, some pain may come back and could go back to the same condition as before. This is due probably because the nerves are constantly growing to find the pathway that was lost in the avulsion. I am not a doctor, but as I said before, my doc, Dr. Belzburg is a specialist in nerve avulsion pain. I wrote his offices phone number in your the end post. Call Jade and see if she can give you some more info. Take care and glad to hear that you made it thru!
THANX LOVE SUSAN

Ronin, glad to hear you have not given up the fight! You are a great guy and need to keep with us! As for DREZ I think Susan explained it pretty well. I have not looked into it much as my pain is very minimal these days! Hang in there mate! We are all here for you!
All my love,
COurtney!

Ronin - I'm so glad to hear that you have some relief!
Thank God!
-francine

So very glad that you are still with us!

Nice to know you have friends all over the world, huh?

Nancy

Hey Eric...good to see you're back and doin better...! and I'm over the moon for ya that you have found something that helps at last...:0) :0)

Questions about DREZ: Have a look at this thread on the TBPI Group messageboards;

http://pub28.ezboard.com/fadultswithbra ... =689.topic

You will find a lot of answers to your questions there...you can read all sorts of medical websites about this procedure, but I always reckon it's far better to hear about it, warts and all, from the people who have actually been thru it. Hope this helps mate..as for taking something new, my advice is, if you are beginning to feel a whole lot better on the meth, why rock the boat? Give your body a chance to get used to this...my opinion anyway, although I'm no way a Dr of any kind.

Talk to you later my friend..take care...
Lizzy B :0)