CRPS

[NS'Creter]

I'll bet yer lookin' at the title and tryin' to relate it to 'crete. ;D Heh,heh. Well, to the best of my knowledge it has nuthin' to do with 'crete, so don't waste yer brain power on it. I had an appointment yesterday with another specialist for my back. This was at the "Pain Clinic"...I had no idea what to expect. The doc is apparantly world famous for what he does. It's hard to believe that he's at the most easterly point in little ol' Nova Scotia huh?

Anyway, I thought I'd give ya a quick summary of what went on. Maybe you've heard of some of it? So he started out askin' a buncha the regular questions...reflex test...poke-poke...lift yer legs...yada, yada, yada. Then we go into another room, a very cool (temp) room with a wild lookin' camera set up. This camera is the only one east of Montreal. It's some sorta infrared diagnostic imaging rig...kinda like what firefighters use to find hot spots or like insulation contractors use to find heat loss. So they took some pics with it and that was enough for the doc to make a diagnosis. My right side was 1.25 degrees cooler than my left. Big deal I figured...well he sez that it is a big deal...0.25 would be the limit of acceptability according to him. This and the other info he has about me tells him that I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrom (CRPS). It was caused by my original injury that the dog left me with. He's got a few ways to treat this...one in particular has a better success rate and is also the least intrusive. It is a series of laser treatments done over 3-4 days. He sez there's a 60% chance that it will work for me. If successful, it will take the pain away but it does not fix any physical issues. His opinion is that if I am pain free physio should be more successful. Further surgery is not out of the question either...he feels that there are still issues in there but hopes that his treatment and phyio fixes it without surgery...too soon to say though. If the laser thing works, there is a 93% chance that I will need intermittant treatments forever. If the laser thing doesn't work he has a coupla other options that are more intrusive but haven't been as successful. There is also a big possibility that none of those treatments work and he will come up with a combination of meds to make things more tolerable.
I don't know where these dudes get their percentages The odds aren't great, but not terrible either. There are no negative side effects from the laser thing so all I have to lose is the expense of a 4 day trip and the cost of treatment. Our medical covers most of the treatment expense but I will need to pay $30.00 per treatment....so about $240.00 over the 4 days. I've never heard of any of the stuff he talked about but I'd say it's worth a shot...especially since there's no side effects.
Anybody ever hear of this stuff? Any opinions?

[alexwright]

At this point what can you lose if theres no side effects. Yeah you'll lose a couple of bucks but your health is at stake if you will. Let's hope and pray it works and you'll zap the pain. Pardon the pun.

[aynet]

I'm praying you are a part of the 60%, friend. I agree that you should go for it at this point. When would you start your treatments if you decide to do it?

[NS'Creter]

Thanx folks...I'm of the same opinion. I've got nuthin' to lose. I'm not certain exactly when this will all take place but I am gonna go for it.

"Zap the pain"...good one Alex. ;D

[NS'Creter]

I've got a little more info for anybody who may be interested. This Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS or CRAPS as I call it has also been called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome. According to the McGill Pain Index; Arthritis pain is rated at 18, a fracture at 19, cancer at 26, chronic back pain at 27 and this CRAPS is at 42. Doesn't that blow yer mind? Not much wonder I'm hurtin' huh? I was just readin' that in the info the doc gave me. He says that even if this laser thing works I'll be a repeat customer for the rest of my life. That much he's certain of, the frequency of those visits remains to be seen. Gotta hang in there I guess.

[aynet]

Well, I guess you can look at it as anyone who has a life-long ailment or disease. If you have arthritis, you treat it. If you have high blood presurre, you treat it. You have to treat this so that your quality of life (overall) will improve, just like any other ailment. Unfortunately, yours was caused, not by your body itself, buy by an external force which caused trauma to your body. Anyway... can't change that now ... you have to do what is necessary in order to make your life livable. I think this option is certainly favorable to extreme medications, which cause their own set of problems. I really do wish you all the best!
By the way, where does childbirth rate on that pain scale? Just wondering... that would give me a really good idea what you're dealing with.

[NS'Creter]

Ya know what? When I read that info I also wondered about childbirth. I'm gonna ask next time I see the doc. And you're exactly right, gotta treat it with what's available and carry on. That's the plan.

[NS'Creter]

I decided to Google that childbirth thing and got an answer. I'm not certain how these ratings are determined but the McGill Pain Index is the recognized scale. They have varying degrees of childbirth with the highest rating being 35. I should also point out that the cancer that's rated at 26 is non terminal cancer.

[NS'Creter]

As you may know, or I may have already mentioned, this CRPS is what they call a progressive condition. Basically, that means that it can continue to get worse. It has also been known to go into an unexplained remission. Unfortunately, mine has gotten notably worse...at times simply walking is beyond me. All from getting knocked down by a dog...unbelievable huh? Some new symptoms have become evident also; a lot of soreness in my mouth (tongue, roof, gums), a lot of confusion and bad memory and a lot more tremors and shakes (Josh called me jackhammer legs :.
So, I won't be trying to run the biz this summer. Obviously, I can't do it and the last 2 summers were fiascos. I turned down more work than we completed too. There is also the financial aspect, I'm so broke now I can't afford to pay attention. I hope that my physical and financial conditions will improve enough in the future for me to take another run at it. I love this biz.
So Trevor the truck driver and Trevor the concrete guy are gone. Trevor the useless couch potato has arrived! I just hope and pray that this is a temporary situation 'cause it's been 2 friggin' years now...too much.
I will be keeping this forum so that we can keep in touch.

[alexwright]

Thanks for keeping the forum open for us. We all hope and pray you get better soon. I'll be in touch later.

[Lindy]

Trevor, you have fought your personal, mental, and business battles gallantly over the past couple of year, so hold your head high. All anyone can do in life is our best when it comes to the challenges we face at the dawn of each new day.

Your have always had a creative talent, which many in this industry are lacking ... maybe you could put this to work. IMO... having had my finger on the pulse of the industry for 30 years due to my experience; as well as serving as a Decorative Concrete Forum associate for 12 years www.decorativeconcretforums.com associate for 12 years... a vast number of contractors that are true professionals at applying decorative concrete/materials; however, don't have the artistic talent to draw out, or create a stencil to do, various logos, custom artwork, design, etc.

You could put your design talent to work for you, build a website that highlights this, then blitz the industry through various ways/means of marketing (many of them free) to get the world out that your are offering your new "unique concrete design service," having the additional plus factor of having a wide range of hands-on professional knowledge gained during the time that you were designing and applying prior to an injury that curtailed you being able to physically do so. This way you could stay "tapped in" with little to no expense, simply your time, which you have plenty of due to your condition.

Instead of thought of as a "competitor" (with contractors in your area or elsewhere in Canada, USA, or abroad ... you would be perceived to be an ally; "custom design and layout specialist," who would be able to provide artistically challenged contractors with designs, pattern/stencil, etc. which they could just go out to a job and use (building their unique/one of a kind decorative concrete portfolio without their needing any artistic talent, since you providing them with layout/stencil to do so).

Of course, you could take this a step further, in offering "decorative concrete designer" service to interior/exterior "designers & architects" who specialize in either residential/commercial construction or remodeling. Upon your doing so, they could incorporate it in their plans, which they in turn could present to their clients. The decorative concrete contractor performing the work would then be using the custom design you created to do the job (making it easier for him/her as well). decorative concrete contractor (you could even write the spec.

The above could all, if marketed property, be a worth while, needed, creative way for you to remain in the business "while sitting on your couch with a laptop and a phone." You don't necessarily have to be out walking/bending/crawling around on concrete to make your lasting image in the custom designed decorative concrete industry ... you just might need to look at it form a different angle as to how you can stay in it, while drawing a recognition for you "designer service" and the money that could be derived from it.

Please keep in touch. I, and other's really care about you.

Lindy A.

[NS'Creter]

First of all; thank you so much Lindy.

Secondly; your idea for the design service is interesting. Very interesting. That is something that I could work at as I am able. It would keep me somewhat involved. Hmmmm. I haven't the foggiest idea of how to get started though. I'm very open to any suggestions on what steps to take and how to get started. Thank you so much, this is really somethig to think about.

[Lindy]

First, you would need to create a new website that focuses on your professonal "high-definition decorative concrete designer skills." Your artistic talents, combined with wide range of material/application knowledge, must be up-front and center ... lots of artwork, with concrete being the media, showcased.

The website must clearly state that after years as a professional architectural concrete contractor/applicator that you are focusing on "decorative concrete designs." You want to make the point that you are not competing with contractors, instead you are providng them with custom designs, stencils, etc. needed to enhance their work and build their reputation for creative/decorative concrete designs (as I stated, IMO, a great many contractors are skilled in the application of materials and tools/equipment of the trade, but they have no artistic talent as to creation of unique/custom designed concrete, with dreaming up design that would compliment their potential customers home or business (based on the customers interests, motiefs, decorative style). If you acquired "depiction software" you could easily design and print out images of custom designs you create for your clients ... keeping in mind that many contractors are not only artistically/creatively challenged, but they also don't have the computer knowledge/literacy to use this type of software.

As for marketing of your "high definicition decorative concrete designer services" there are two avenues as it see it ...

(1) write a letter of introduction, sending it with a 1 page flyer that has bullet points as to the "designer services your offer;" to architects (being those design homes and commercial buildings of various types; both interior and exterior surfaces). Through the use of "depiction software" you could design "one of a kind surfaces" that go hand in hand and compliment their (architects)professional architectural features, along with write the specification for materials/process to be used that the contractor who obtains the work will follow (being use of your designs and stencil/lays). Of course in the body of letter and on flyer, you would "invite them to visit your website to learn more." Suggest to get ideas on webstie lay out you do your homework by googling the websites of "architects, interior & exterior designers of homes/landscapers/etc." (you can gain a great deal of insight as to how they lay their websites out and wording/images they include).

(2) you can "harvest" the company names/contact/general information, of decorative concrete contractors from numerous websites (www.thebluebook.com), and a great number of others. Write up a short, but detailed, announcement, sending it out to them.

More later, got to go.

Lindy

[Lindy]

Okay... I'm back.

You could really "unlimit yourself." If you think about it, look how many different types of "designers" there are ... there is a reason for this; being that it takes "artistic talent," basic design layout insight, knowledge in relation to materials utilized, etc. to create any architectural enhancing feature.

Any (or maybe I should say majority) of decorative contractors can lay out and cut a simple boarder, allowing th customer to select colors; however, a majority of customers want a decorative concrete contractor to be a creative designer as well, leading them in the direction that will enhance their home and compliment their sense of style.

"Interior or exterior designers" visit the properties of their prospective clients, they take photos of the area, then tell the client that they will go back to their office to create a design concept that would uniquely one-of-a-kind. This is where you come in ... the contractor would email you photos of the area, notes on the colors they prefer, and clues as to their interests/style of home furnishings/fixtures (such as do they like modern or country, animals/birds/nature or abstract art). You then, just like any other "designer" create a couple of different options, charging them accordingly for your time and creative talent ... setting up a "paypal" account for payment; that way you can take credit/debit card payments; at a very nominal fee, with "paypal" accounts only taking moments for you to set up under your business name (if you don't already have one, you will find that you can provide your customers with an invoice and secure payment with EASE).

Working with custom home builders, architects, interior designers (home, business/commercial), high end landscape designers, etc. would work in much the same way as above.

Again, you could incorporate the use of "depiction software," which you could then email attach a basic "design concept" to your client (1/2" down); after payment is secured in full, sending a scale image (transfer stencil) enabling the contractor carrying out the work to create the design using your artistic rendition.

On another note, you might be able to start out by joining forces with an "interior designer" or "landscape designer" in your area; with your creating works of art for them to incorporate on their jobs (this makes them really shine in the eyes of their clients, which would be quite beneficial for both of you as to "curb appealing" custom designed surfacing and/or the enhancement of the interior of homes/businesses/municipal projects/etc.

Lindy A.



Lindy

[NS'Creter]

So they told me that this CRPS condition can be progressive. Meaning that it can continue to get worse. Well, since I tend to be an "over achiever" I am experiencing just that. The other night was quite rough and my wife stuffed me into a meat wagon and shipped me off to the hospital. That really ticked me off, but she was lookin' out for me and it was required. They shot me up with a buncha junk, I signed myself out and went home. What a friggin' cycle huh?