From: Peter Longmore
To: Ellis Toussier
Subject: HGH for Serious Neck Injury and Pain
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 20:07:17 +1100
Hello Ellis,
My name is Peter Longmore and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I have used Norditopin now for 3 years 5 months, since August 1997. I am a 44 year old male. I have a daughter 18 years, son 16 years and another son 1 year old. I would like to relate my experience to you in the hope that it may help others with chronic pain.
I have always led an active sporting life and am very competetive by nature. I began snow skiing at 5 years old and this became my sport, my relaxation and my work as I left school at 16 years old and became a ski instructor. Freestyle competition (mogul skiing) was my forte and I thought that one day I would be competing on the world circuit as I had posted good results in world class events held in Australia. This was all about to come to an abrupt halt.
In 1978, at age 22, I had a bad skiing accident and fractured 4 bones in my neck. This involved compression fractures to C5, C6, C7 and C8. At the time of the accident I had temporary paralysis from the neck down but this only lasted about 5 hours. I was told later that one of the fractured vertabrae had shifted and hit the spinal cord which had caused the paralysis but luckily hadn't cut it. I was in a vary bad state indeed. I was told that if I hadn't had broad shoulders I would undoubtedly have been a quadraplegic.
Tongs were inserted into the sides of my head with a weight hanging from it (traction) and I was laid flat for a period of 8 weeks. As I was in a lot of pain morphine injections were my favourite time of day.
After the 8 weeks I was X-rayed again and it was found that the fractures were unstable and there was cord compression at C6 - C7 level so it was decided that I should have a posterior cervical fusion to alleviate the danger of the cord being cut with more movement. This involved fusing C5 - C7 with bone from my hip. This involved another 8 week stint in hospital in a plaster body cast (lower stomach to under the chin)
When I came out of the hospital I weighed 68 kilos (about 150 lbs) and had lost a lot of muscle and was very unfit, but the bones had fused and I was as good as I could be under the circumstances. Obviously I had less neck movement as what was once four bones had been fused into a single mass.
I was told by my Orthapedic surgeon never to ski again, no running, no weight training (no jolting movements) and to be very careful in cars as a whiplash injury could mean paralysis. I listened to his advice, but preferred to listen to my body, and began an excercise routine as soon as I left the hospital.
I trained myself to the stage of exhaustion, which didn't take much in my condition, but I perservered and found that slowly, day by day, I was improving my fitness level.
Since the accident I have had daily pain and for this I took Capadex and Morphalgen (morphine tablet) as well as accupuncture.
Just prior to 1990 I had intermittent symptoms of paralysis which was very dangerous as it would happen very quickly, and while driving home one night I ran off the road, as all of a sudden I had no feeling in my legs.
Again I had X-rays and the Neurosurgeons comments were:
"Intermittent symptoms of parasthesia and weakness of the lower limbs.
Posterior cervical fusion symptoms recur particularly on extension of the neck and involve mainly the C7 and C8 nerve roots.
Significant cord compression at C6 - C7 level and extension of the cervical spine increases the compression of the spinal cord.
Anterior excision of the disc and bony ridge with interbody fusion could afford adequate symptomatic relief and stability.
This procedure is a major surgical, high risk procedure and I recommend Dr Hirabayashi in Tokyo as there is a high incidence of cervical pathology including degenerative stenosis, therfore Japanese doctors have developed skills in the surgical treatment of cervical spine disorders."
These comments didn't inspire me to try my luck at surgery so I put up with the symptoms, took painkillers and tried to train as hard as I could. In 1997 I had another Xray in the hope that the technological advances in the past 7 years would enable the surgery to be done without the high risk factor, but again I was told it was a high risk procedure and that the best solution for the pain was epidural slow release morphine, or to go through with the surgery.
At this stage I was getting desperate as I wasn't getting enough sleep, due to either pain or partial paralysis from sleeping in any position other than on my back. I was getting four to five hours of sleep per night, but this would involve waking four + times within this period and I was getting to the point where self destruction was a real option.
I decided again not to elect to have surgery and, as I was self employed, decided to sell my importing company and to spend some serious time getting information about my neck and how to fix it.
The only respite from the pain was for a period of approximately two - three hours after an excercise session which was I guess an endorphin rush, so I decided that the best way to get pain relief was to train twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.
Great idea, and it worked as I thought it would. But it was
impossible to keep up as I wasn't recovering fast enough.
Injectable Growth Hormone
After spending many hours on the internet investigating the best
drugs/ vitamins etc, etc for recovery I stumbled upon an article
regarding HGH (human growth hormone). I concentrated my efforts then
into reading as much information on HGH as I could find. It seemed
perfect for what I was trying to do. My only reservation was that HGH
promoted bone growth, which in my case could be dangerous.
A doctor referred me to an endocrinologist. I showed him all the
articles I had and asked him if he would get me a blood test to
ascertain my IGF-1 level. This was done. My reading was 0.1 mIU/L,
after excercise. [note: I don't know what this translates to in the
American measurements, but it is "very low" because subsequently it
went up first 300%, then 450%, with 2 i.u.'s of rHGH per day. - Ellis]
note: The endocrinologist I see is:
Dr Walter Plehwe
Suite 3.2, Epworth Medical Centre
62 Erin Street, Richmond
Victoria 3121
Australia
Ph 03 9429 3744
Initially he was very sceptical and only relented to allowing me to
use Norditropin after confirming a very low IGF-1 level. He also said
he would be reluctant to let me use it if I was under 30 years old. I
don't understand his reluctance as surely a low IGF-1 reading in a
younger person is more of a concern.
I began injecting Norditropin in August, 1997 at the rate of 2 units
per day for 6 days, with 1 day off. Within one month I was able to
train twice a day, my sleep had increased to 6 - 7 hours per night,
the pain had lessened considerably and I had a feeling of well being.
My IGF level after this time was 0.3mIU/L.
[note: "Norditropin" is the trademark for somatropin made by Novo
Nordisk. Other brands which should be identical are Humatrope,
Saizen, Genotropin, etc. Note that IGF-1 tripled... - Ellis]
The pain has improved dramatically. Before HGH I was on daily
painkillers, and as stated previously they were very strong indeed.
This affected everything I did, and most importantly my mind set. My
belief is: if you think you're well, you are well. But when you
aren't sleeping properly and the brain is fuzzy with painkillers it's
impossible to have this belief.
Since this time I have experimented somewhat with the dose rate per
day, but in my experience 1 unit x twice daily (2 i.u.'s per day)
every day seems the correct rate for me. My current IGF level is 0.45
mIU/L and I still train twice a day.
[note: IGF-1 went up after several years of using 2 i.u. per day.
First it tripled, now it is 450% higher than at baseline, or 150%
higher than after it tripled. - Ellis]
Training in the morning is 45 minutes of cardiovascular (running,
stepping machine, cross country machine) and at night I lift weights
(1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes ) My weight now is 97 kilos (about 215
lbs) with little body fat. I also ski every winter, practise karate,
and play golf when I have enough time.
I believe that the endorphin rush after excercise is why I'm feeling
so much better. The Hgh is an intregal part of this as it gives me
fast recovery and a sense of wellbeing and as a result of this I'm
able to sleep better.
After the last X-rays were taken the Neurosurgeon told me that at
some time I must have an operation as now the fused bone is growing
small spikes, which are growing inward through the spinal cord. (Much
as arthritis is small spikes growing outwards) I guess this is from
using grafted bone from my hip for the fusion. So from these small
spikes in the spinal cord I get a variety of symptoms including
partial paralysis (usually more like pins and needles which begins
faintly but quickly gets to the point where the limb is unable to be
used) This sensation is much like when your hands or feet get cold to
the point of numbness and then when they warm up you get this painful
unusual feeling.
There has been no improvement in cord compression or compressed
bones, but it hasn't worsened. Initially I was worried that this
might happen, as I thought that GH may promote bone growth in this
area, but this has certainly not happened.
Since taking Hgh I have slept 3 - 4 hours extra per night, take no
painkillers, and am able to excercise twice a day as recovery is much
quicker. My mind set is very positive and I believe I can hold off
this neck operation until technology is advanced enough that I am
comfortable the risk is worthy of the potential benefit.
To sum up, I still get this partial paralysis but I'm learning which
body positions provoke it and I am trying to alleviate them as much
as possible.
My son turned 1 yesterday and I'm looking forward to seeing him grow
up. The way I'm feeling, I definitely will be.
I hope that this long, life story has not bored you and that it may
be of some use to others, especially chronic pain sufferers, and
others who have similar neck and spinal injuries as I mine.
Good health,
Peter Longmore
April, 2004
Ellis,
Regarding the bone spikes forming within Mr.
Longmore's spinal column.
I have a Veteran friend who had the same problem
resulting from similar spinal injuries suffered on
duty as a military test pilot. His spikes grew
throughout the length of his spinal column.
He went through two separate operations to get them
removed. They did his lower spine first and a few
months later did his upper spine. Within two weeks of
each operation he was up and feeling much better.
After the last operation he told me he felt better
than he had in decades and did a little jig to prove
it! This, from a man who could barely shuffle along
six months earlier.
I hope that this fellow from Australia will do as well
when he has his operation.
Gary Kendall
Ellis,
If you have any other Australians that contact you with injury related
needs, you may want to direct them to Dr Gregory Wilcox who practises in
Kogarah, Sydney.
I have several firends who have seen Dr Wilcox (I haven't yet) though I
know he is extremely thorough from their experiences with him. Two of my
bodybuilding firends have torn pectoral muscles and cruciate ligaments,
and after thorough testing, Dr Wilcox assisted them.
NB ***** Please be discreet with his details- I haven't seen him yet and
am recommending him ON REFERRAL ONLY. He is a sports doctor, but he is THOROUGH! If he does not prescribe what your Australian friends require, he is still an extremely invaluable lead for sports related injuries and therapy.
Mike
