Anyone still here from the "old days"?

[marijo]

Hey Mark, I found the London cabbie's last post!!

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 541
Default End of the road for BT? I hope not.
I have pretty well got over my spine problems for now.

It's been a long haul and I lost my house and my marriage on the way, but most importantly, I recovered. Which is why I'm not here much.

Braintalk has been with me for the whole journey - not just this forum, as it was a couple of years before I even discovered my weird aches and pains and declining mobility issues, were spine related!

I recall what a vibrant and valuable source of information and support BT was to me during those dark days and all the friends I made (and possibly a few enemies too).

I still look in from time to time to see how everyone is doing and maybe offer some tips or encouragement to others, but what I find is...well, nothing.

Mark soldiers valliantly on and a few others from time to time. A few continue to chat in the "Pity Party" thread - and that's about it.

So what's happened?
Have spine problems become a thing of the past?

BT is probably the most relaxed of all the boards. Moderators are not heavy handed and it is not just a platform to promote particular products or providers, or swamped with advertising like other boards.

So what can we do to save it?


Mick
__________________

Do you remember, He called himself Mickinuk!! I wonder how he is right now. Hope he's OK.

[Mark N]

Mary, I hope you and the family have a fun trip as they bicycle around Ireland. It sounds like we both have decided to get off the surgery merry-go-round but of course our bodies have the ultimate say. I wonder how Mick is doing too and I hope he is continuing to do well.

CP isn't any fun so I hope the help you are getting with it reduces your pain. Our laws are making it tougher to get our pain meds now. The nearest Pain med doctor is about 40 miles away and I can't drive that far any more. I know a lot of others that will be even more inconvenienced than me but lawmakers don't seem to care; just another example of doing "something" about the prescription abuse problem but this law won't change that. I have been enjoying our two young granddaughters as they are a real treat when they visit.

[marijo]

hi ejb

Blast from the past. I remember yourself, and of course Mark, and I just noticed that Mick from London has recently posted. I am from North of England, and I posted you once or twice. Are you still playing the guitar. I never was much good at it, but Ive joined a ukelele band, and am helping my granddaughter to play the violin. She has lessons, but I try to make sure she does a bit of practise in between.
Spine issues never seem to go away completely. Mine never really left me although they improved a lot after the mess made by my first surgeon back in 2003, which I had to have redone a few years later by a more competent body. Have also had cervical disc replacement. Heck its just a different life now, I remember Mark saying he was resigned to a whole new life. Well you do kind of get used to it. No option.
Good to see you're still around
All the best you yourself, and everyone.

[Gordon Cook]

Hi all, I showed up here around September 2000. as I was recovering from revision surgery from the New Jersey surgeon who did a cervical discectomy in place the upper two screws squarely in the C5 C6 disc. I was also having horrible pain in my right hip/lower back. my primary Michael dash, who a year later diagnosed the New Jersey index case of anthrax managed to diagnose my right hip problem before the Rothman people did. one thing I find discouraging is for the moment Dr. Dash doesn't have any further suggestions my behalf. If you have a copy of william Broad's Germs, look up michael Dash in the index.

how intense is the level of usage here at this point? if anyone has seen my lengthy post earlier today is there any other forum or topic that I should be looking at? I mentioned PDFs available of Russia and the Himalaya. let me add that this is not just photography but I have endeavored to add explanatory text oftenctimes from Wikipedia but also from my personal recollection and the text lets viewers know exactly what they're looking at.

One such is Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

205 pages 86 megabyte story of the complete masked dance festical at the tengboche monastery nepa; in the shadow of mount everest.

Hit the url and it downloads from my site.

these two are ballets

and only about 40 pages or less

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register... and julliet.pdf
Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register... of he shrew.pdf

click and they download... don't change anything or they won't work

I have almost 60 of these done and could easily do 60 more without exhausting my archive do

only 3 so far of the himalaya, but lots or russia from the 90s, also russian opera and ballet

wondering if and where i should post the fulllist.

Finally anyone here know anything about "DISH"

[Moderator #7]

A Warm "Welcome Back"!

Hello everyone!

Welcome back to BrainTalk! It was so heartening to see this thread!

Yes, we have gone through many changes! Some things will never be the same...except the people! You are all "BrainTalk". Without members, BT is an empty website!

BrainTalk is in the capable hands of Mike Weins, David Hosobuchi and Dr. Dan Hoch, plus three moderators. We have new features; a place for bloggers, a spammometer that keeps spam to a minimum and dedicated people to keep making this website work better for you! We are receptive to any suggestions to improve your time on BT!

This forum has changed a bit in ten years hasn't it! I remember posting my paintings, and poems and all sorts. Then it became very serious, which I guess is how it should be.

I hope we haven't become too serious, marijo ! You can still post your paintings, poems and anything else you want in your favorite forum, either in your post or in an "OT" (off topic) thread or in our "Artistic Expressions and Therapy" forum under "General Subjects", Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register....

Life changes, people move on, but I hope you can all remain together and continue to support each other!

[gracie05]

Hi Brion. Mark N, too. I just stopped in after a LONG absence. I was rockhound in the old forum. It certainly has changed! Funny, Brion, I was thinking about you just a few days ago and wondering how you were doing. I hope well. Mark, I lost touch with you when Thoracic Park disappeared. Any idea what happened there?

[gracie05]

Actually, going through all the posts I see a few people I remember. Marmar, marijo to name a couple. I'm still in touch with Harrier, Still Smiling, and Blue Topaz to name a few. Oh, and Mark M and Webpt. I made lifelong friends on the old forum. Started in summer 2000. I have acquired 5 artificial discs since then. The surgeries were very successful but my body decided to grow excess scar tissue that is wrapping around L5 and my spinal cord so still dealing with nasty leg pain. We spent 4 years in Moscow with the US Embassy which ended with my husband getting broadsided and put in a wheelchair for life. That was July 2011. Been pretty much Hell since.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Gracie)))))) ~

Welcome Back!

I am not a member of the Spinal Disorders forum, but, like you, I have been a BrainTalk member since 2000. BrainTalk isn't as active as it was in those days. But we still have many old timers and lots of new folks stopping by.

Sadly, Brion L passed away last year. Here is our BT tribute to Brion and other BT members, who passed last year ~

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

I am so sorry for the pain you and your husband are enduring.

I hope some of your old friends on the Spinal forum will drop by and post.

Love & Light,

Rose

[gracie05]

My bad

((((((Gracie)))))) ~

Welcome Back!

I am not a member of the Spinal Disorders forum, but, like you, I have been a BrainTalk member since 2000. BrainTalk isn't as active as it was in those days. But we still have many old timers and lots of new folks stopping by.

Sadly, Brion L passed away last year. Here is our BT tribute to Brion and other BT members, who passed last year ~

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

I am so sorry for the pain you and your husband are enduring.

I hope some of your old friends on the Spinal forum will drop by and post.

Love & Light,

Rose

I failed to look at the date on the thread. I'm not terribly surprised Brion L has passed. He suffered through so much for so long, but Moose? That loss surprises me, Rose. Thanks for the update. Yeah...my back problems pretty much took me out. Tim had very successful lumbar and neck artificial disc replacements, 2 each, and was doing really well when a young kid made an illegal left turn across 3 lanes of traffic and slammed into him and his motorcycle. It was a miracle he survived but there's just no recovering from a shattered leg, pelvis, and shoulder, especially when you're 6'8", 375. Nothing is big enough or strong enough to support him. Even the titanium rods in his leg bent. So we are plugging along trying to figure out how we can manage to retire to Ecuador where we can afford to live decently on his pension and where it's warm enough year round for him to get out and about. Alaska is killing us...literally. I'm working at finding out about pain management there which is the last big hurdle. Looking at moving to Cuenca, their 3rd largest city. Then, hopefully, our battle with work comp will be successful and soon enough to allow us to move. We had just gotten on track with all the spine stuff and a great job when he got clobbered. He was on his way to get parts but comp is trying to say he wasn't working. Typical insurance BS. We have evidence, though, and they don't so it should work out in time. We just have to hold out long enough. Thanks again for responding and updating me. I hope Brion went gently and is at peace and no longer in pain.
~Gayle~

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Gayle)))))) ~

What a horrible accident. I can't imagine your husband's pain. I hope that you will be able to resolve the WC issues so that you can move to Ecuador, and that care for both of you there will meet your needs.

Moose's passing was quite shocking and tragic. We first learned of her passing from Donna Thompson on the Child Neurology (CN) forum. The news is devastating, so I caution you before you click on Donna's link in her post. Perhaps read our responses first, then decide if you want more information.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Barb was such a great friend to all of us. As were all of our wonderful BT members, who passed last year. Courageous, generous, kind, loving friends. We miss them all ~

Please do stay in touch with us, Gayle. Healing prayers are on their way for you and your husband, and a better, healthier future for you in Ecuador.

Love & Light,

Rose

[dianne633]

Hi all it has been a long time since i was on this sight it seems to have changed quite a bit, not a lot on that i remember, hope all is well with everyone, sorry to hear about the accident it is hard at time in those situation hope all goes well with you and your husband and you get to shift soon to ecuador

dianne

[Mark N]

Gayle good to hear from you. Sorry to hear about your husband's accident and workman's comp better come through; what a bunch of bs they are trying to pull. I hope the two of you are able to move to Ecuador. My wife and I would like to move to Belize if our stocks come through and grow like they are predicted to do. We are in a couple of 3D printing businesses and getting in before the industry really takes off. They are even able to make parts for our spines and organs. We want to move for the same reasons you and your husband want to go to Ecuador. I want to be near the ocean so I can enjoy it once again. Ideally we will become multi-millionaires from the stocks and move to an secluded island lol.

How are you doing with your spine and pain? I am still dealing with a lot of pain but have maintained it through deep tissue massage and my inversion table which really helps with keeping my muscles from tightening and spasming. I hope your pain levels are under control and not bothering you too much. It is a shame about your husband's accident as I know he was doing much better with his pain but it seems like something always happens to mess his pain levels. Good luck with the Workman's Comp and the move to Ecuador.

[Gordon Cook]

Regarding Ecuador be careful. I was involved in there for several months last year as a part of an effort called the flok society which turned out to be largely fraudulent. I documented that experience extensively and you can find two free reports by googling COOK Report and Ecuador. the current Pres. Rafael Correa is I believe a well advised critic of neo-capitalism. but he also is running a rather repressive state where the rights of nature as enshrined in the Constitution are not always observed in practice. William black of the Department of economics of the University of Missouri Kansas City whom I have long admired and met in person briefly last June is now teaching at the Institute for Public Administration in Quito and to me it will be personally very interesting to see what he makes of his experience. Prof. Black is an expert on what is known as control fraud and author of the book with the catchy title of the best way to rob a bank is to own one.

[Gordon Cook]

to gracie 05

I note that you say you were in Moscow for four years

I spent a lot of time in Russiain the 1990s and have been making documented PDFs of my photography

they can be downloaded by clicking on web site URLs

here are two

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...
Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Kimmylcla]

I used to be in the old forum, I believe in the early 2000s. I lost access & was hoping to get in to get my surgery list & dates from my signature. I'm awful at remembering dates. I was likely under Kmichele, but it could've also been Kimmyla. Who knows... lol