ABSTRACT
Phenol is a drug that, if expertly injected into our spine, damages motor nerves and relieves persistent spasticity, spasms and pain in our legs. This can make our legs easier to position and more comfortable when people are sitting or lying down. The assessment and measures enable the team to give people clear guidance on how they think the intrathecal phenol may help people. Together with the team, people will identify a goal that is amenable to treatment with intrathecal phenol that would have an impact on our daily life. Intrathecal phenol may change our bladder or bowel control. If these functions are already affected (e.g. if people use an indwelling catheter or regularly use suppositories or enemas), the injection is unlikely to cause any extra problems. The effects of intrathecal phenol can be permanent and there is no method of reversing the procedure, but sometimes the effect wears off over time.
