The "Theory versus Reality"

In theory, this was supposed to be a good idea. If you had a ruptured disc, which at the time I had 2 of them, L4-L5 and L5-S1 (lower back or lumbar), then they would just inject this Chymopapain into the disc and it would just disolve the disc rupture. In my case it disolved the whole damn disc withen a 8 month period. As if that wasn't bad enough, many Neurosuergons expert on the subject say that the inadvertant injection of the enzyme into the spinal nerves or subarachnoid area of the spinal cord can have devastating and permenant nerve damage. I have a photo of my back showing two large needle marks in the area of L4-L5 and L5-S1. When you look at a MRI of my lumbar spine it is very evident that the injection meant for L5-S1 totally missed its mark. Where did it go? Right into the very place it wasn't supposed to. All over the nerve tissue and subarochnoid area of my spine. Keep in mind, these so-called surgeons had a 1 day training course on injecting a chemical that was used in "Adolphs meat tenderizer into the most sensative areas of the human body. The doctor that performed this procedure on me in 1984 had two lines. Patients waiting to get the procedure and the ones like me who had already had the procedure waiting for their prescriptions for powerful drug medication to help counter the devistating pain. He said it would get better in a few weeks. That was 23 years ago and I am still waiting.

"Falling Into Disuse"

I would first like to start with what started my downward spiral into the "hellish life of chronic pain". On November 10th 1983 a procedure was approved by the FDA in the United States called the Chymopapain injection or Chemonucleolysis as it was also referred to. By the way this was also the active ingredient in "Adolfs meat tenderizer". Even though I am not a physician, I have spent the last 18 years of my life researching this and ever kind of surgical procedure that has been performed in the last 50 years. I also have been the one on the receiveing end of the scalpel and numerous injections for the last 23 years. Even though Chymopapain was first used in Canada starting in the 1970's, Only a small number of Canadian orthopedists and neurosurgeons practiced Chemonuleoysis and they were expert at it. It was one of the most media hyped procedures in USA medical history according to Dr. Charles Burton a well known Neurosurgeon with a list of accomplishments that most surgeons only dream of having and someone I deeply respect for his continued stance on this and other practices. As soon as it was approved in the USA, approximately 7,000 American surgeons rushed to Canada and after a 1 day training course pronounced themselves fully qualified to perform these procedures at local hospitals. At first the hospitals objected to the short training period but eventually gave in to what I feel is a rediculous practice. Dr. Burton is probably the leading expert on this and many other kinds of surgeries. I urge you to read his report at http://www.burtonreport.com/. There is a popular term used in medical circles that the patient never hears about and that is to "fall into disuse". By allowing these drugs, procedures and medical devices to quitely fall into use, people like you and me never know the reasons why or the potential problems that one may face in the future from having one of these procedures. Even though the Chymopapain injections were performed from the early to late 1980's, today when I mention it to doctors they look at me like I am crazy. Most nurses and pain management centers say they have never heard of the procedure. So where in the hell does that leave not only me, but thousands of other people who lined up to get this new much hyped medical miracle. Very simple, the medical community made millions of dollars from it and also created a bunch of "chronic pain patients", but they don't want to talk about it now. This was my first medical procedure and one that I would live to regret. More on this later. I am in to much pain to continue, tonight.

The hopeless world of chronic pain

You hardly ever here the words "chronic pain" mentioned especially in the medical field. It is called the "silent epidemic" because so many people suffer in silence. Chronic pain differs from Acute pain because normally acute pain is associated with an injury, a fall, broken arm, etc. Usually you get a lot of attention especially from your family because you were in pain for a while but now you are better. Not so with chronic pain. It never gets better. It is with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It never stops, its always there, unrelenting. Pretty soon even your family stops calling. It can be for a number of reasons. They feel helpless, don't know what to do to help, they get tired of seeing you the same way every time they come around. They don't understand why you don't get better.

I am one of those people. I have lived this way for 23 years and don't think it can't happen to you. Chronic pain knows no age, nationality, or race. Much of it is caused by the very profession that we look to for help. The medical profession!!