Severe pain due to SCI

gedna

Hello,
My name is Edna.
I was injured 25 years ago in my spinalcord (level C4 C5) due to a car accident.
I'm a spatic quadroparesis.
I suffer from orthopaedic pain ( mostly severe low back pain)  ,that according to my pain phisicians get worser over the years , because l have  no spinal inhibition because of my injury.

 Because Israel is a small country with relatively law amount of spinalcord injured patients and experience, my phisicians adviced me to look for a good medical center which specializes in pain treatment for spinalcord injury.

Can you please give me recommendations for such centers? 

Thank you very much!
Edna

gedna

Hi it's me again.
I must add that my pain does not respond to any medication, even the morphin family or medical grass, As well as the lyrica and cimbalta family.
Also I don't respond to steroids.
The only medicine which helps a little is assival because it easys my pasticity 

Thanks again

AskNurseLinda

Hi, Edna, there are some great rehabiliation spinal cord injury centers in the US and Great Britain. Israel has top spinal cord injury centers as well. Have you looked around in your country. Some of the world's best centers are there. Nurse Linda

gedna

Hi nurse Linda,
thank you so much for your answer!

I'm looking for a center which  specializes in treatment of severe pain after sci. 
In Israel there are great rehabilitation centers after sci, but not centers for treating pain after sci 

That is a big different.

The pain specialists phisicians have told me themselves that in concern with pain after sci, in Israel there is not enough experience, so they advised me to look for one in the states.

Can you help me with that please?
Thanks so much again
Edna

AskNurseLinda

Hi, Edna, there are many top rehabiliation facilities in the US with spinal cord injury professionals who are comfortable in the treatment of neuropathic pain. I am going to refer you to the Paralysis Resource Center as they will have the latest information about those with international programs. You can phone this number: 1-800-539-7309 or contact them online through this website. Just search for Contact the Paralysis Resource Center. They make these contacts everyday. I think that will be the quickest way to get the help you need. Nurse Linda

gedna

Dear Linda,
I appreciate your help and guidance so much!!!

Thank you!!

AskNurseLinda

Thank you for the kind words. Nurse Linda

AskNurseLinda

hi, gedna, I just wanted to check in to see how things are going. Hopefully, better, Nurse Linda

AskNurseLinda

Hi, Edna, I hope I can help you to find a location for SCI pain treatment. A physiatrist (rehab specialist), neurologist or pain specialist should be able to help. Finding someone in your area is best as you will need ongoing care. Neuropathic pain can be a challenge to treat. It evolves and changes over time so it is good to see someone in your area for follow up care. Your primary care physician would be the best place to find a referral locally. 
There are many centers in the US for spinal cord treatment. They would have specialist that can treat neuropathic pain but you might have to travel to get to a location. This would be ongoing so it might not be the best option. Some of the major SCI centers are Craig in Denver, Sheppard in Atlanta, Shirly Ryan in Chicago, Baylor in Texas, Ranchos in California. There are also the SCI Model Systems Hospitals around the country. Also, there are many other facilities that provide excellent care.
The best bet is to see someone locally. Remember neuropathic pain is a challenge so a one visit might not answer your issues. Several visits will be needed along with ongoing treatment. The individual physician that provides your treatment will be the key for you. Don't just focus on a center as you will limit your options for ongoing care. Nurse Linda

AskNurseLinda

Hi, Edna, There is another excellent option for pain care, a translational pain program for SCI at Brigham & Women's in Boston. Dr. Christine Sang is in charge there. I hope this might be your answer. Nurse Linda