Just need to talk, so to speak

[texron]

Hey guys,
A few years ago I fell off a ladder and THOUGHT I pinched a nerve, MRI said as much. Fast forward to Thanksgiving this year and I do some work around the house, jumping from 3 feet high a BUNCH of times. Well, that old pain in my left trap muscle comes back, took 3 predinsone packs to get it to normal. Again fast forward to Christmas and I start getting tingling in my legs and left hand. I go get an MRI and have an appt. with an ortho surg. He has me scheduled for a Myelogram this Wednesday.I don't have my MRI diagnosis in fromt of me but C2-C7 all have SOME issues. Only C5 had a bulge and was called "moderate.Cervical Canal Stenosis was the gist of it. My Surg seemed to give me the impression that he "thinks" the MRI doesn't jive with my symptoms. It seems I'm getting worse everday, My legs feel so heavy and week, I'm restless, my right arm feels week. The surg did a grip test and pushed and pulled on my arms, everything was great except the test when he taps your knees, ect. with that little hammer, I only jerked once out of 10 different places he tapped.
This sucks, thanks for letting me vent. I'm a little scared. My legs are really freaking me out. Any comments would be MORE THAN WELCOMED:o
Thanks again
Ron

[texron]

hmm the silence is deafening

[Mark N]

Sorry I wasn't around yesterday to see your post as I spent the whole day sleeping. It is no wonder you are worried with the deadening feelings you are getting. That indicates compression of your spinal cord so I can see why your dr didn't think the MRI matched your symptoms if it didn't show compression. One thing I hope he checks is your lumbar spine just to be sure it isn't the cause of your leg problems.

Don't feel bad about the silence as the board has really slowed down after the last big crash. It isn't like it was the last time you visited but I hope my answer gave you some needed info and some ideas to talk to your doctor about. BY THE WAY when they tell you to spend 24 hours on your back following the myleogram be sure you do because the headache you could get from it is something to avoid if at all possible.

[texron]

Thanks for the reply, yes they are doing my entire spine this time. I have read to make sure to stay down after the procedure today (12:30 Central time). The legs are MUCH better today which makes this more bizarre.
Again, thanks for taking the time to reply, this really stinks. I just want to get back to my old life. My 6 year old keeps asking when I can play with him

[texron]

Not that I think anyone is paying attention, but I couldn't have my exam, my BP was 180/115, we got it down to 160/103, but it had to get below 100 for the exam. So Monday I go on BP meds. I'm going to ask for a Valium as well. THIS REALLY SUCKS.

[texron]

Guess this community isn't such a community. Mark, thanks for your help, I'm off to find another support forum. Good luck to you in the future.

[Mark N]

Texron, there are good people here but definitely not many of us left around. We keep hoping the site gets built back up to the vibrant community it was. I know just what you mean about getting your life back. In the 1990s I went through three spinal surgeries hoping I could get my life back too. I hope that your problem stays isolate to the one area and you aren't like me with many areas that are messed up. I hope you get this problem solved and can get on with your life the way many people are able to do.

[logannamath]

Sorry your not getting help, but like Mark sai this board has died down sooo much. Heck I hard,y have time to get on and read.

Sorry u couldnt have the test. I did one in 2002 & it was awful!!!! The pain it caused in my legs...ugh!! Plus the weird feeling along my spinal cord of pressure. I wish they had given me valium. That may have helped.

Praying ur bp drops so u are able to have the test done soon & u have some answers soon. Please keep us posted!!! Remember to take it easy after test. Laying down. Mountain Dew will be ur friend if headache occurs, something to do wkth high caffiene level. Best of luck!!!

[slipnslide]

Ron,

How did it go and did you get the results?

He has me scheduled for a Myelogram this Wednesday.

Best wishes,

Kim

[Jo6]

Hello Ron

Ron, I'm sorry nobody was around when you posted. As Mark said we have lost many members, but when we were shut down so long others went looking for a place to go . I guess I'm just so stubborn I was not willing to give up on Brain Talk.
I am glad you did come back and hope you will stick around, there still are many good people here. We don't have the huge membership that we once did, but I see new/old ones every few days. Please don't get discouraged when you don't get a responce. Sooner or later someone will come by.

I would like to invite you to visit the Emotional Support Forum. It is a good all around forum. If you want to rant or rave, then by all means do it! We have no "set topic", just talk about anything. When I get discouraged I sometimes go there and have a real big tantrum!! Nobody puts me down, they may or may not respond, but I do know people will read it and that sometimes gives me comfort.

Many that drop in every day know where to find answers about the forums, where to go to find some answers. Mark is here most of the time, but at times even he has to sleep especially when he has lost 2 or 3 nights of sleep. So you see, we are all ill in one way or another. The good people here in the Spinal Disorders Forum are good to help out.

I am glad you are back and hope you stay. I have really bad spinal issues, can't do much that I used to do. Everytime I have to give up another minor thing it becomes a MAjOR thing to me. You sound like a young person and that makes it even harder when you have to give things up. I'm older than dirt and it is very dispressing to me to have to use a walker. I do so because it has help me cut down on those falls.

I think I can understand the frustration when Drs. don't some to care. They CAN NOT feel our pain, but they should be more in tune with what we, who has chronic pain get by day by day. I wish the best for you and hope the test aren't too hard on you.

I don't know if you have had your myelogram yet or not, but try to relax and do what they tell you to do. I was scared to death, but after all said and done it wasn't as bad as I had feared and I do not like them fooling around with my spine!!

Take care and keep comming. We care and want to know how you are doing.

Julia

[Jo6]

Ron, forgot to invite you to post on the Party Room here in the spinal forum. You may get responces more often there.

take care, Julia

[Mark N]

Ron, I hope you got your blood pressure down and got the imaging done. Pain always causes my BP go up by 30 points on both levels. When my pain is manageable then it goes back down. To show you how bad the pain can get for some of us I don't get any novocaine when at the dentist except for extraction. my dentist and the ladies that help her out can't believe I can do it without the novocaine but I told them it doesn't hurt as much as my back does so what is the point. I put up with my back pain 24 hours a day so what is the big deal about putting up with dental pain for several minutes while the dentist works on it.

I hope you come back around and that you were able to get the testing done. Let us know what the results are if you can as we still have some good personal experience with spinal issues. If your doctor isn't supportive enough then you need to find another doctor because there are some good ones out there.

[lwatts]

Jo6,
I digitized that picture for Machine Embroidery.. just sayin you know I like it if I digitized it.
Linda