United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc. • Any New Advances Please Read & Help
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Any New Advances Please Read & Help

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:24 am
by admin
Hello everyone, someday I hope we all will be able to livea day without intense nerve pain, or once do the things we loved again. Its been almost a year sinceI have been on here, I am sorry for that. I have been so involved incollege getting my A.A. & certificates (all in one yr) and completeing my classes for transfer to SDSU or CSULB/CSUF for my B.A. in Business Admin. w/concentration in Mngmt. & Acct. and my M.B.A. I promise to come on at least 6 nights a week now.

A recap on my injury, on Febuary 14 2004 (birthday march 12) in Glamis, CA for presidents day weekend. I rode a 2004 CRF 450 (fastest dirtbike on market). Myfriend and I an hrafter we gotthere Saturday morning were jumping an 90ft gap doing some heelclickers (very dangerous). Decided to head back to camp to getcameras, he stop off at camp I stayed ina wheelie for about half a mile going 50mph and hit a sandrail (like truck, made fully of steel rollcage) head-on, I was launch offbike did a flip hit front rollcage upside down in left-neck area, did another flip hit rear rollcage, then another flip hit the sand (body facing up, head 180 degreesturn into sand). I was unconceious peoplethought I was dead, luckilyafireman on vacation was there and told everyone had to urn my neck to open my airways. He was able to get me breathing and concious right before raners arrive, they thought it was a brokenneck untilmyjersey was cutoff, and heart area starting turning blue. That is when i was takento ranger office and put on a helicopter (where I would flatline for 1.5 min). I was in open heart surgery for nearly 9 hrs and in ICU for 2 weeks where I went through anothersurgery week into it (due to blood around heart). I was in hospital for a month, did not know anything for about a 2 weeks, then learn what hapen. I had rip the auorta artery from my heart, c1-7and t1-5 (i believe) whole trunks tore from spine, broke all left ribs which they believed may have affected the artery and nerves, punture lung, broke every vertebre in neck.Left arm was paralyze and was told I would never ride again.

I had just bought my ownnew house in vegas andhad great job at 19yrs old. Ilost everything and had to move to parents house in santa maria, ca. The dayI got out I started getting terrible phantom limb pains in arm. I was only on a little bit of neurontin, it was terrible. My tolerance for pain is probably one of the biggest,my friends dont know how I do everything. I finally got onmethadone a month later thanks to help on this site. In May 26 2004 I had nerve graphing done from Standford hospital, was only able to connect some nerves frm spine to shoulder anda few to elbownothing past. With the surgery and the methadone the pain level was like a 7 till about november and then the methadone started to induce pain. A study found in young males, not proven yet but there are cases. So pain dr. suggested nerve stimulator implant, but Standfordwanted me to try other pills first. Try for 3 months nothing helpby the time we saw standford again it was a monthanda halfbefore I would turn 21 they could not get mein for surgery intime and I lost my CCS. I had been waiting four monthsfor that surgery thanks to standford. Now since march I have been trying to see a new surgeon at UCLA from other insurance and come to find out new primary dr. dick around fro a month and a half before referral (kept on sayingit wasthe insurance, call them and they said he never gave referral). So I have a consultation in mid July. Now I had nerve repair in May Dr. said I shouldsee some elbow movement within eight months. So far I only have some feeling in spots ofabove elbow andcan do a slight shrug. Not to mention due to nerves neckleans to right side because left muscles do not work. So my life has been horriblesincethatday, only good thing is D.O.R. paying for college.

Please let me know of any new pain medicine, precedures, or comments on stimulator? Also any ideas or surgerys on how to gain movement, straighten neck, what is the muscle implant? And if you know of any surgeons at UCLA, or CA? Also I dont know about other people butI sweat severly and easily, I know its because on one/more of the pills, do you know which on/s, or something i can take to control it? Also I lost 30 pounds 150-120 in hospital both times and now backat 150 but havebad stretch marks on behind and thighs any suggestions on how to fix? Last questions does anyone experience intense dreams, like there real life, so intense you think your going to die?

Fpr all you people who have had recent accidents, there is more out there for you, I know it seems like there isnt. I thought was severly depressed for 3 months thinking my life was ruin because it all revolved around dirtbikes (sold job, race, and fun) extreme sports was my life and hook-up with many girls had own place. Now I was back at home in severe pain, told i never ride again and walk around wearing big arm brace and neck brace. I sawa pyschtrist 3 times because I talk about suicide, but I knew i neverwould do it, and the dr wasnt much help. I just got back out there, decided to go back to school so I could get my degree and make half-mil a yr and be able tobuy all my toys. I miss all my friendsin vegas and dont have many here, but It is best if you canget out anddo stuff. Think positive thereis always something you can do, I was kept alive for a reason. My best friend died a month before my accident trying tohelp me and now iknow he wants me down here to help other people and finish what i am suppose to do here. I am always here to talk to. My acident was one of the worst and I am yung andhad theworst21st bday of all time, I am sure I can relate and help you. Email anytime motoxxxracer_34@yahoo.com

Sorry for theconnected words typing fast with one arm and space bar is not working right.Please answer as many questions as possible, andsorry for such long post, god bless everyone.

Sincerely
Keith Minnicks (BPI 21yr old college student)

Re: Any New Advances Please Read & Help

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 3:54 pm
by motoxxxracer_34
sorry i wasnt log-in when i posted this, now I am login.

Re: Any New Advances Please Read & Help

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:43 pm
by Sandy Tschopp
Hi What an ordeal, I admire your courage.
I have several avulsed nerves and need meds to help manage the pain, but don't share your problem of sweating due to drugs. However, I checked with a web site called www.peoplespharmacy.com. It's not a business, it's sort of a clearing house for information on home remedies (like cold keys dropped down your back can stop a nose bleed!), drug and food interactions, and other useful stuff. Anyway, they say that Certain Dri works well for some folks and is available over the counter. They also mention a couple of prescription options, Xerac AC and Drysol. Hope one of these work for you.
Sandy

Re: Any New Advances Please Read & Help

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 2:26 am
by motoxxxracer_34
how do i find this info, i know the methadne is the cause, its frequent in very high doses. Pharmacist told me, but couldnt think of any pills or other things to stop it.

Re: Any New Advances Please Read & Help

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 6:32 pm
by jennyb
http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespha ... index.html

This link is for the site mentioned in the post above, good advice of mixing meds (or not!)

http://www.crazymeds.org

This one is a great site that tells it like it is, not all meds are featured on here unfortunately. I've found this site very useful.

http://www.tbpi-group.org

This is the UK tbpi site, there are a lot of ex bikers posting on the message boards there, some are still biking despite the bpi. Some had had post traumatic stress disorder and have described vivid and frightening dreams such as yours. Might be worth checking.

Take care
Jen NZ