djbds1

About Me

I WILL BE UPDATING MY PROFILE OVER THE WEEKEND (June 27-28)!! I am a 27 year old chronic pain sufferer of the past 4 years. For the past 12 years, I worked in the restaurant industry, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2002, and privately catered for a number of years. As a result of some extreme physical demands on the job in 2004, I developed two severe inguinal hernias (right...then 3 months later, left). They were both repaired, however, I developed inguinal neuropathy (in the groin) subsequently in the three inguinal nerves; ilio-inguinal, ilio-hypogatric, and genitofemoral. In early 2006, I underwent the surgical removal of those nerves called an inguinal neurectomy. That procedure was meant to make my condition improve, however; my condition got worse...A LOT WORSE. Post-traummatic/post-surgical neuropathy is my current diagnosis. The symptoms are pain signals in the groin, a bit of my right lower back just out to the side/hip, front of the hips, front and inner right thigh, inner left thigh, lower abdominals, and genitals...the pain; shooting, stabbing, burning, radiating, tingling, wrenching, pricking, scraping...and so on. Since 2006, I have undergone 5 MORE MAJOR operations in attempts to corect and/or improve the condition. I have underwent bi-lateral ilio-inguinal nerve blocks, taken around 35-40 different meds (out of which, about 4 are useful...Lyrica, Methadone, Wellbutrin, Ritalin...all for PAIN), TENS, phys therapy, bio-feedback, MRI and radio-imaging, and Spinal Cord Stimulation. I had my first stimulator implant performed in 2007...rather than having the leads implanted into the spinal area (epidural space), they were implanted DIRECTLY into my inguinal region...this is called Peripheral Nerve Stimulation or PNS. My first implant had many complications, and subsequently, I developed a staff infection 6 weeks later...the entire unit was removed and I ended up with a 6 inch wide incision with a giant inner pocket...packing it with gauze twice a day for three months until it closed on its own. I was confident in my current pain specialist to perform a second implant. It was successful and has been useful in my pain treatment ever since. My career as a chef has been put on a serious hold as the medical condition has severely disabled me. I do teach cooking classes occasionally as a guest chef at Whole Foods Market in Sacramento...minimally satisfying! My girlfriend Ami, my father, my mother, and my close friends have been there every step of the way. I love them all... View MEDIA COVERAGE of my medical situation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1t2g4nLL5U&feature=channel_page

I WILL BE UPDATING MY PROFILE OVER THE WEEKEND (June 27-28)!! I am a 27 year old chronic pain sufferer of the past 4 years. For the past 12 years, I worked in the restaurant industry, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2002, and privately catered for a number of years. As a result of some extreme physical demands on the job in 2004, I developed two severe inguinal hernias (right...then 3 months later, left). They were both repaired, however, I developed inguinal neuropathy (in the

Website

http://www.poweroveryourpain.com/sb/do...

Interests

Things I can still do: Cooking, DJ'ing (not while standing though), music production, school (yes, I said school is an interest!!), loving my girl, seeing my baby girl Skyler smile, hanging with friends (even though I do not have many anymore...some people just don't want to be your friend when you are in a time of need...and especially when you are a chronic pain sufferer!!)... Things I wish I could still do: Skiing, sailing, hiking, biking, basketball, soccer, football, running, DJ'ing (an entire set while standing...even all night!!), long day at the beach, cooking in a kitchen all day every day, walking for more than 30 minutes, etc...

Things I can still do: Cooking, DJ'ing (not while standing though), music production, school (yes, I