BE CAREFUL OF WHAT BRAND FENTANYL PATCHES YOU USE. THE PAR BRAND MAKE ME SO SICK AND BELIEVE THAT IT COULD BE LEAKING MEDICINE OR DEFECTIVE IN SOME WAY! I BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE PATCHES!!!!!

Taking a deep breath. What a weekend of horror it has been!!! 
Been wearing a Fentanly Patch, for my pain for years and they wanted to up the dose, but nooo I stayed where I was because I didn't want to wear the darn thing anyway. I have so many back issues that they pain can be unbearable...BUT, I can tell you this. I am getting off of the stupid things and just going to TAKE that PAIN!!! :/
This weekend, I had to take an off brand name of patch. PAR brand and IT Is horrible. The medicine or the adhesive that is used to stick on...IS making me SICK!! And...since, I've worn one...I have an open box that they won't switch out. Now, that doesn't seem far or my problem. IT is there problem and THEY need to fix it. 
This weekend...I've had to wear a Fentanly Patch that was either leaking or was giving me a sever reaction...and they say that they can't take them back! WHAT!! 
IT is horrible to have to take the Fentanyl Patch any way, but to get a brand that makes you SICK. What do you do? I'm worried that the PAR brand that I had to use are defective and the medicine could be leaking out or something. THEY need to RECALL these patches!!!  I don't want to have to wear them again...and don't think that they should be given period to anyone!! I think that it could possibly KILL someone, if the medicine leaks out too fast. I don't know what to do, but something needs to be done. 
I have 15 days of the patches that I usually wear and have no problems with. Then, I won't have ANYTHING to wear for coverage...cause I'm NOT going to go through this again and praying for a solution.. >:o
Now, the pharmacist did switch the one box of patches out for me and I'm now wearing the usually Fentanly Patch that doesn't give me any trouble..but, after these are out...I will only have the PAR brand left and that is NOT going to work!! 
I am still stuck with an open box with 4 left...of the PAR brand that I DON'T want to have to wear again. BUT, how is this going to work out?? They say that there is nothing that they can do @ it. There should be a way that something should be worked out!! I don't understand why there is noooo way for them to return them or switch them...since, it is a possibility of them being defective!!! :o
YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT I'M GOING TO POST THIS ONLINE!!! OTHERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS PAR BRAND PATCH AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF IT BEING DEFECTIVE!!! :/

IT IS BAD, WHEN DOCS AREN'T UP ON THEIR DISEASES!!

Wanted to update the site, since it has been so long. I have been so ill that it takes all of a person, to dedicate their time here. I wanted to keep it as a place to document all that I go through, but have missed a whole lot of time that I could have been putting it down here...instead of writing it on paper. We had some internet problems and me back and forth to doctors. One thing can lead to another, when life is hard on you and sooooo sick of seeing doctors. I just want to be well and to live our life as a family. I just want us to go on vacations and go fishing....to laugh and enjoy each other. But, most of my days are spent in the bed...with back pain and worst of all...are the head and leg pains. You can't get anything done...if, you head hurts or it's foggy. You definitely can't get much done, when your legs hurt so bad. Stupid medicines that I sure wish, I could flush. I am so sick of having to take a pill for this and a pill for that. :o IT is just too much and I never even liked to take a motrin for a headache. I was always careful and never took medication...there was no need, when I felt great! Now, I have to wear a Fentanyl patch, take Neurontin...which, is an anti-seizure medication. I have to take breakthrough pain medicine and sleeping medicine. Ughh, it has just become too much and I so badly need to find the culprit and figure what is at the ROOT of all of this!
I have already been dx'd with Addison's, Lyme disease and Fibromyalgia, Candida...and that is enough right there to make you feel like you are dying. :/ and that is not counting, what is going on in my back! They have found that all five layers are affected. I am miserable and only want to feel alive again. 

Just got back from the Hospital..@ 3 hours ago...and was so sick. I told them, when I walked in the door that I had Addison's. Do you know that they NEVER gave me any cortisol..and believe that I could have died. I couldn't even hold my head up...I was so sick, but they didn't check that ONE important fact out. They did give me fluids and something for the nausea and vomiting, but no cortisol. Hmmm! I am appalled at their incompetency. I REALLY COULD HAVE DIED, BUT THEY WEREN'T WORRIED @ THAT FACT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND! I can only say that our little bitty hospital...is nothing more than a band-aid shop!  I am grateful to my hubby that has always stood beside me and can honestly say...that If, it weren't for him...I would have done been gone a long time ago. I really believe that. 
God Bless you guys...and I am still hanging on. 
Keep me in your prayers and I will yours.

Really worried about why my legs are hurting so much and all the time. Is this going to make me where I can't walk??

Really worried @ what is attacking my muscles...and making me not be able to walk or use my muscles at all, without experiencing PAIN. 

                                                               What is this?? 
I got up to get me some Coffee...and my legs won't hold me up...and they give way under me...and the pain is soooo intense that it takes your breath away. :o Ughh...I donno, but this is beginning to really worry me and make to believe that it is getting worse...not better.
Is it something that I am eating that is doing it...like an alllergy? I don't think so...this is too bad. But, on my own...I have cut Gluten off my diet...just in case that it is Gluten adding or something. This...is profound. I can tell it is bad. Something feels like it is TAKING OVER my muscles..and NERVES...And, the docs are NOT listening to me. :o 

Me trying to smile through the PAIN! I am getting better at doing it. It was a big adjustment, from singing and dancing in Nashville. I was able to do so much at one time, to be stuck in this bed and suffering...all the time.

I have short term memory loss too, to go with it...and it is bad, with moments of confusion. I have a one second rule...If, I don't get what I need to say out...it is gone!! I lost it that quickly and that doesn't sound like anything simple to me. I do hurt so much, at the back of my neck and up in my head, where those liters run up the back of your head. I get cramps and knots in my neck that are H-E...They are just like the "Charlie Horses" you get in your Calf muscles. The only thing that I have found to combat some of it, is Moxibustion Oil that I can rub into my muslces. And...my TENS UNIT, which I use...if, the Migraines get tooo bad. Helps some. 
I have moments of intense emotion too. I feel edgy, irritable, angry, sad and my skin will feel tight on my whole body. I have extreme pains that hit in my head...and mostly on my temples and I use Peppermint Essential oil. I rub it on my temples, over. But, I believe the emotional aspect of it...is the Addison's...and those HORMONES. >:o  

                                                                   What is this??  
Oh Lord, you know that I am grateful to be here. I sure could use some prayers from you guys...if, I could ask for some please. 
This has been going on 6+ yrs. now...probably longer, since I can't keep track of time, place or anything...it seems. I wonder what it is going to take...to find what the cause is to all of this. I don't believe it is the Addison's..or the Fibro that is affecting me with those symptoms...but what? Why do my legs hurt so bad...and so much? All day...and all night.
I am so tired Lord. Please, help me find that Doc that is going to help me find my way...back to me. :) 
I tell ya...I am Really worried @ what is attacking ALL of my muscles...EVERYWHERE...not just the legs. IT HUTS ME TO REACH FOR SOMETHING EVEN!! But, it is making me not be able to walk and a person, to get something done...has to be able to WALK. It is bad..I tell ya...and only feel like it is getting worse. I donno what to do. I can't find a decent doc...to tell me what it is.  This...is profound, but I don't believe it is the Fibro. It feels so profound like my muscles are deteriorating or something. 
Maybe, I need some different kind of Doc or something...like a nutritionist or Functional Medicine Doc. Maybe, an Naturopath could get me back to me and figure out what is doing this. I do know one thing...WHEN, I went to see a Traditional Chinese Doc...and he done Accupuncture on me and gave me some shots...in each of my legs...I could walk and I smiled from not being in ANY PAIN. :o  He told me...after, I explained what was going on with me...that he would make me feel 50% better....HECK, I FELT 100% better...almost, but I was in UTTER MISERY before this guy done this!! He gave me...me back...in one session of ACCUPUNCTURE!! But, the bad thing is...that it only gave me three days of relief...and IT ALL came back, but I was sooo grateful. I will take any kind of relief from this agony...that no Docs are seeing how bad it really is. The have electrocuted me so much..with those stupid EMG test. And, only show that I have a pinched nerve..in m neck. I believe that...and funny thing is...that ALL of this started, AFTER I had that Spinal Diskectomy of my C5-C6. *( ACD & F) 
Another thing that the TCM Accupuncturist done for me is that I was so incontinent...that I was wearing pull-up pads. YES, I was having to stay in bed and wear a baby diaper. :o He made it stop for a month...then, it slowly started back...and all from putting the needles in the right place. He knew where to place them...and would show me...after, he put the needle in...how, the pain was gone from where he was trying to fix. IT WORKED ...and I CAN'T EVEN GO TO HIM. :o  I can't go see him when I want, because the Insurance won't cover it. WHY?? It covers Chiropractor services...so, why theirs and not an Accupuncturist? Isn't it an on-going therapy,...just like a Chiro does???

HOW CAN I GET MY INSURANCE TO COVER MY ACCUPUNCTURIST?? THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY. I WANT TO FEEL LIKE THAT AGAIN. I FELT SO GOOD...AND SMILED, EVERYWHERE WE WENT THAT DAY. AFTER, MY VISIT WITH HIM...I FELT ALIVE AGAIN!! HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING...HE TOLD ME WHAT I HAD WRONG WITH ME. I DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY A THING @ WHAT I HAD WRONG!! I WANT TO GO BACK TO SEE HIM, BUT JUST CAN'T AFFORD...$60 A VISIT. HE IS AMAZING AND SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS ABILITIES TO CURE PEOPLE..OR AT LEAST, GET THEM ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO BE HEALED. I HAVE FAITH IN HIS WORK.

I can tell that this is bad...And, the docs are listening to me either. IT is just so much maybe...that they don't know where to look or how, to figure it out. IT is a LOT!!  It is like they don't hear me or something, when I tell them I HURT like H-E all the time. My legs pull, ache...hurt deep in the tendon, muscles...and bones. Ughh  and the cramps just won't stop!! I have cramps in the arch of my feet even. Sometimes, they feel like they have been shackled for a week. They feel horrible at times...and all that I can do is rub them..and keep the bed going. I keep the massager, on my bed running almost all the time..because it helps me deal with the pain. :'(  
Could this be the Chiari Malformation or the AVM that I have in the back of my head? The CM is 6.5 mm in length and the back of my head/neck hurts all the time too. The AVM is in the left Cerebullar Hemisphere...and always feels PULLED back there...and so does my hair, at times. I have sore spots on my head, nodules, knots...and pressure too. I experience horrible head pain, besides headaches. They hit mostly on my temples, but sometimes when my head is sore...I have a goose egg. The Goose Egg...is where I hit my head, from a Car accident back in '95. Could it be the problem? My eyes stay blurry too, like there is pressure behind eyes...but, one Eye Doc said that he didn't see anything wrong. Well, that was one. I had one thing happen, to where I had to make a quick trip to see a different Eye Doc and he saw things differently. I was seeing a pencil eraser type thing, in my left eye, even when I shut my eyes. It was like a blue tear drop...and that Eye Doc said that it was a Scatoma. Something to do with the Circulation of blood vessels up there. Great!!....Well, I have an Empty Sella too and something called a MASTOID EFFUSION...and they didn't tell me what those things were. They could be related, but if...the Docs don't tell us anything...how we gonna know what to make of all of it.  
My legs stay tensed up and tight. I find that I keep them bent..most of the time. It helps it not to hurt under the knees as much or bad. Then again, I have found them straightened out...in bed like a board...and the back of my knees..where the hamstrings are...feel like someone is scraping all the innerds out with a spoon or something. They are killing me. :/
Any of you guys think of what this could possibly be..since, no doc can come up with the answer?? :P I will take any good ideas...just to see if, they could possibly match up...in any way.  To do this, I at least need a name of a GOOD DOC that could dx me...if, anyone knows of one. There has to be one out there somewhere...to help me. I don't want to live the rest of my life like this!!
I have short term memory loss too, to go with it...and it is bad. I have a one second rule...If, I don't get what I need to say out...it is gone!! I do hurt at the back of my neck and up in my head. I have moments of intense emotion, but I believe ALL that it is just the Addison's...and those stupid HORMONES. >:o

                                                                 What is this??
IS THIS...the CM, AVM, Neck Surgery, Jaw Surgery, the Addison's, the Fibro, the C2 Scerlotic lesion. the 5 herniated disks in my Thoracic...or maybe it is the T3-T4 compressed fracture??? OR is this a totally different animal? Could this be any of those...OR what could it BE???
IF, I just knew which direction to go...to get the answer.

I forgot to mention the Involuntary Muscle movements. I know one NL, he definitely wrote that one SYMPTOM down. I will jerk all of a sudden. It seem to be my right shoulder mostly...and my right index finger. It will hit the mouse on it's own...and I have to hold my hand, to keep it from hitting the mouse. This is really making me wonder, if it is MS or Parkinson's. 
I have a fine Tremor too...which feels all over, but more prevalent in my chest. I do notice that when, I use my muscles they shake more. Sometimes, they really get bad and I remember one time, in particular. I was awakened at 3:30 am a couple of weeks ago and IT felt like intense hard rain falling on me....all over. IT was creepy, but I just sat up in bed and was trying to figure it out...when, my face...which, is already numb...begins to feel more intense. I thought, I would get up and move around, but when I did...my eyes got dark. I thought at first, oh...this is just my sugar being low, but NOOO....I was going to faint. I didn't know what was going on. My whole body was tingling like "the hard rain" feeling, even more...and if, I didn't lay on the floor...I was going to hit it. So, I lay there on the floor...praying that if it is my time...that The Lord take me on. I was scared to death...and felt like I was dying. But, I don't remember just how long that I did lay there, but I made it up...and my eyes got dark again and I felt like I was going to faint again. I made it close to my husbands side...and felt like I whispered to him, "Gary, I need to go to the Hospital...you need to call 911". That is all that I remember and I did lay on the spot, I was in and he covered me up with a blanket and put a pillow under my head. I again, don't remember how long that I was there, but I felt like I just woke up and got on the closest area...which, was the sofa. I woke up the next morning...and felt fine. My husband, Gary didn't hear me say those words and it makes me wonder, if I couldn't talk...or didn't talk. ?? I don't know. I just know that I made it through that time, but what if it happens again?? Will it be it? I have got to find the answer to why.  

 Today, I am just feeling so hopeless and sad. I know that I shouldn't. I am blessed more than some others, but worried that I could do something to change this and turn it all around, but what??
My legs are getting to where they won't hold me up...and they are giving way under me...and the pain is soooo intense. Oh,..I donno what to do...IF, I use my muscles...I pay...and IF, I don't use them...I hurt. Then, if I lay in bed they pull, ache, sting, burn and Cramp...ohh, it is a viscous battle. It hurts me TO use the muscles...and it hurts me NOT to use the muscles. :P 
I am learning @ Indian herbs and taking the Goji & Shizandra drops for the Addison's. I got me some Shatavari, for the Migraines. I am thinking...IS there any way possible that I could do some...or ANY Yoga?? Maybe, it might be a slow process, but believe it could help me...if, I could do it. I believe that I could...IF, I could remember to do anything. I am so tired and weary. I don't have anyone who could massage them or tell me what could I do to help it or possibly cure it. If, only I could see my TCM man...then, maybe things would go back to the way that they were.

 I use Epsom Salts in my bath..and essential oils and they do help, but so temporary. But this is beginning to really worry me and make to believe that something is definitely attacking my muscles and makes me feel that I have a brain tumor or something. Please God tell me that I am gonna be alright. 
I need some prayers please. I feel like this is slowly moving forward...like something is taking over my body!!! I need to put a STOP to it...some how, some way. I will get well some way..."Lord Willing".
Take care all...and I pray that you take advantage of being able to move,..walk. Feel blessed IF, your world doesn't seem to be caving in..on your health. I will get through this...I hope and pray. You never know what is coming. Take advantage of each and every day...and feel blessed that The Lord blessed you with it. He will fix me...I know. I just have to be patient...and He will. 
 I am blessed that I know The Lord. He helps me get through each and every day. Without Him...I would be so lost and not have any sanity. Who knows...with the pain that I have experienced...it is a wonder that I am still here. With His helping Hand...I pulled through so much of it, because He comforted me. 
I know that He does everyday...and know that it was He...that has kept me here. There is a reason...to why that I am still here. Maybe, He has something that I still need to do. I hope that so much...and I do feel blessed that He loves me and is changing me. He is preparing me..I know that and getting my soul ready to join heaven one day. Sometimes, it takes going through the fire...to be purified. I understand. Thank You Lord!!
Sorry, if I repeated anything or sounded confusing to you...welcome to my world. My everyday life is a challenge...and just want to not hurt anymore...and to be able to sing again. Oh, how I would love to be able to get up, get dressed and be productive...in a pain free world..again. It will happen, I just have to believe. Eyes getting blurry...got to go for now. Well, talk later...I pray. 
God Bless all...and if, you do anything...Find God. He is The Only Answer...to any problem. We will get through life...Yes, we will. :) 

AS LONG AS THERE IS LIGHT...THERE IS HOPE...AND THERE IS A WAY.

Dear Everyone in pain,

     I know exactly what u r feeling. I am there and it is utter "H" on Earth.  Why can't the doctors just listen to us. They think they know it all and don't give us the respect we need and deserve. THIS PAIN isn't anything to sneeze at! This is hard and the pain is 24/7.

     This all started with me after a neck surgery on my C5-C6(ACD & F spinal diskectomy). My right arm bi-cep muscle started to burn and I went back to see the Neurosurgen that did my surgery. He ask me where the brunt of my pain was and I told him that my arm burned. He said that it was my C5..how? He put me on Lyrica, in which I didn't take for a yr. bc I didn't want to have to add anything to the pain medicine he had already prescribing, as well. I can say that I was always the kind that didn't like to even take a motrin for a headache, but after that pain kicks ur butt real good and it takes over, then yes, u will take the medicine prescribed.

     I do have to advise others of this important fact of something I wouldn't do ever again that could have added to what I am dealing with now. I must advise everyone out there to NOT have the nerve blocks, no matter what kind of pain u r dealing with. I was hit by one, I think in my nerve fibers surrounding my spinal cord and I wonder, if it isn't the cause of most of it, but with the pain ALL over, l donno what is going on exactly, but do know that the pain can be absolutely unbearable.:(

     I started having places come up on me like little tiny pimples with redness, swelling and burning pain come up on me to and other places that like someone took a knife and slashed me really good. After, I started taking the Lyrica all sorts of things started happening to me(this is a BAD medicine to have to take). I started swelling and my sed rate did get up to 55 and was seen by many Neurologists, bc I was balling up in a fetal position and wreathing around in bed like someone was torturing me. I literally felt like I was dying and it wouldn't end.

    Now, I am in bed, most of my day. At the least, I spend 80-90% of my time having to stay there bc, I can't use my muscles at all, to do anything hardly, but lay here and try to research my symptoms bc it sure doesn't look like the Doctors are doing much to find it. All they do is like to cover it up. It is hard for me to even type, but daggomit, I have got to do something or I will lose my mind. I am in such misery that I burn like I am constantly using all of my muscles. I feel like they are continuously working out and I don't have to do anyting. It feels, like I have been in the Gym, but NOO..If, I even try to use them, they cramp,burn, ache and will be more sore, it will feel like I have been beat with a baseball bat or even so bad that I feel that I have been run over by a truck. ..SO WRONG.I have even had times to where my leg will lock in a bent position and I scream to pull it back out or to straighten it.

    I truly believe that no one(docs, that is) wants to find the answer. They stick "Fibro" on us and send us on our merry..yeah...Away.They honestly feel that we are going to be satisfied with that diagnosis, but we know there is something far worse going on in there!! I have been diagnosed with Arthitis, as well.(Spondylosis and DDD of cervical,lumbar & Hip/joint). 

    I used to do anything I wanted to, but it has taken my life from me and I know it is hard on our family to truly understand the misery that we go through every single day, but it is VERY REAL and VERY HARD to go through and to not have someone to comfort us. If I didn't have my mom/dad...and a wonderful hubby, it would truly be unbearable. I am greatful so much to my son Bryan, who has helped me get through so many hard times. I love him so much and I do thank him. I must say that The Lord has been there for me at all times and He carries me most of the way. If I didn't have Him...I don't think I would have made it through this, at all.

     I pray that He will take this from us and let us have some of our life back. I hope so much that I can at least find what this has and that it is currable..mostly. I sure don't want to live like this...for I don't think that I can do it. I am strong, but this PAIN is so bad that I actually feel like it is going to kill me.

     Take care out there... ALL of u guys, who are suffering and I pray that it be The Lords will that we are comforted and hopefully, we can find a way...back to our lives again, soon. God Bless always.:)))<3 skeet65

VENTING....AND BLESSINGS

                      WE HAVE TO STAY STRONG....NO MATTER WHAT COMES OUR WAY.



I have these symptoms that don't fit w/fibro...and it gets me to thinking...maybe it is the Adrenal thing...that is keeping me so down. It is connected w/hormones. Which..brings a question to mind...do i really need a hormone shot when my Estradiol level is 231.3....that is up there. (1st trimester of preg...or ovulation phase...in which, i am neither...hmmm?
Oh..i don't know...what ever has taken over my body...is ABSOLUTE H...all the time AND all over.
The itching drives me mad, I have my back in scars, my arms, ankles,legs...everywhere, from scratching. Mmy hands burn especially when I use them alot and feel like my nerves are crawling all the time. The left will get where i can't even use it at all. It will go completely paralysed or parathesia...i guess.
One thing I noticed and don’t know if anyone else has experienced is I get sharp jabs like some one is sticking a needle in me in different areas of my body like my belly, feet, legs, sometimes face. I rub it and it will sting, it leaves for awhile but it hurts and is weird.
What is the weirdest of all...is yesterday i felt like someone had literally whipped me w/some leather straps mostly on the back of my legs, but my back felt it and i was absolutely miserable. Almost felt like i had run a marathon, had baseballs thrown at me...and run over by a truck....then, after @ 6 hrs. of that...IT DISAPPEARED  OUT OF THE BLUE....WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT?

OH....I JUST WANT ANSWERS...THAT WILL GET ME OUT OF THIS BED. DOC SAID THAT I HAD TO LIVE W/IT. HE FOUND MULTIPLE LAYERS OF MY BACK AFFECTED...SO, I ASKED HIM, IF SURGERY WOULD HELP ME. HE SAID THAT I WAS IN A CATEGORY 5...RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. HMMM...WELL, I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A LIFE. I AM STUCK IN BED MOST DAYS AND MY LIFE IS PASSING ME ON BY.
I SIT AND WATCH OUT MY WINDOW, BUT CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN ANYTHING...WHAT FUN IS THAT? I CAN TELL U RIGHT NOW...I AM NOT GOING TO BE STUCK IN THIS BED...BECAUSE I AM GOING TO KEEP LOOKING FOR ANSWERS, UNTIL I AM BLUE IN THE FACE.

GOD BLESS ALL...AND NEVER GIVE UP. IF, U FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY WRONG...U HAVE TO FIGHT, TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. KEY....FINDING THE RIGHT DOC, WHO WILL PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT...TO GETTING THE RIGHT ANSWER AND NOT JUST PUT A LABEL OR STICKER ON U...THAT COULD BE A MIS-DIAGNOSIS.  I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT I AM DEALING WITH. :P


GOD BLESS ALL...AND COUNT UR BLESSINGS! (U DO HAVE THEM)  :)

THESE ARE TWO BLESSINGS OF MINE. MY YOUNGEST SON BRYAN AND MY HUBBY GARY. :D

MY OLDEST SON SHANE...A BLESSING, WHO I MISS SO MUCH. HE IS IN THE ARMY AND THIS MOM IS SO PROUD OF HIM! (Forgive me Boo...i am trying:)

...AND MY MOM AND DAD...WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.
I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED. I AM JUST SO SICK...AND HAVE BEEN FOR SO LONG THAT SOMETIMES I FEEL, THEY FEEL I AM A BURDEN. I KNOW, THEY LOVE ME..BUT I AM MISSING SO MUCH OF THEIR LIFE BEING STUCK BACK HERE IN BED.

I WILL GET THERE...I AM NOT GIVING UP. I WILL BE WELL OR BETTER ONE OF THESE DAYS...SOON. :)  

CHECK OUT LINK BELOW. IT IS @ my PAIN. Sharing link 4 u GUYS. :D

http://skeet65.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-light-of-daywill-i-ever-see-it-again.html

HAVING HERNIATED DISKS. TO HAVE SURGERY OR NOT TO HAVE SURGERY??

WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO, IF A  PERSON HAS SEVERAL HERNIATED DISKS IN THIER THORACIC?(All MRI's, are of my disk compressions/herniations/hypertrophy.)

Responses to my question, are below and @ the 4 herniated disks in my back. I did delete the response names, so that I only gave the experience that others can learn by it.

The following are comments only and not intended for medical information or advice, for anyone. So, the main purpose is to show to others  the different opinions and situations that come from other people, in ur situation.

Do not do the metal disc....It is an unnatural material....get a good neurosurgeon, not an orthopoedic....I am someone who had the metal disc with bad results....

Be careful..Be very careful. I have had surgery on a herniated disc. I was told I would be back the work in 2 weeks. That was 4 years and a second surgery ago. I complained after surgery my back was hurting and they wrote it off as normal. Having another MRI less then 30 days after the first surgery show that the disc shattered. Legal issues have been in the process.

But make sure you have the facts. I asked about risks and they laughed, saying what risks. Even look at alternatives, I wish I did.

BTW, I haven't worked in 4 years and can't work the rest of my life. sucks

NO! NO!NO!
Try finding some good alternatives such as chiropractic or physical therapy. Ask for second opinions, you have a right to do it.

I have talked to several doctors.
The best treatment I had was for a prescription for tyleon, 800 mgfor 3 months to reduce the inflammation, then 1 a day. (High octane tyleonol, Rx only)
The idea was, reduce the inflammation then re evaluate.
The pain is all but gone, and no surgery is on the horizon, at least for now.
Who knows what will happen later, but for now, 1 high octane tylenol day.
But then, I'm not you.
However, Noooooo way will undergo any surgery without a 2nd opinion.
Good luck

If the doctor discussed the procedure with you, he must feel it will benefit you to have the surgery done. Without it, you're probably looking at continued misery. It's not going to heal itself.

My brother in law had a herniated disk. It gets to your nerves in your leg because it is from your back. He got surgery on it and is fine now. If it ends up getting worse and painful, Find a doctor that you are confident in for surgery.

Surgery is the last resort if you can find no other relief. If you go to a surgeon, they make their living doing surgery, so would always be their recommendation. As was suggested by another answerer, would be advisable to get another opinion from a doctor of Chiropractic. I have lived with no disc at the L.5, S.1 level for more than 50 years and have only had problems 3 times in that period of time. Each time getting chiropractic treatment and continued working'

See a Chiropractor that specializes in Decompression therapy.

being a teen i dont know much about the body. im doing human biology and probably having surgery is better than having a herniated disc. my dad has had a very bad back for many years having worked on a mine for over 30 years!!

his back is very damaged and has had 3 discs removed and replaced with titanium ones(metal). he said it was the best thing
that has ever happened he said he would be in more excruciating pain if he never got them removed and replaced
personally i think it is a good idea and my dad is the proof that having the surgery can only make you better.
hope it all works out let me know how it goes

First, if they have not had the problem, don't listen to them!!!

I had 2 herniated disks, have had 2 surgeries and am looking at posibly more BUT I am working and doing fine. Here is the order in which you must work and the information you need to get BEFORE you do surgery. I will also recommend a couple of alternatives before surgery that was unavailable to me. My disks were L4-L5 (still slightly bulging) and L5-S1 which has been operated on. Where in your back means a lot too.

1. DO NOT GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY!!! If the disk is pressing into the nerves to your leg, physical therapy will only put more pressure and cause more damage to the nerves. Just what you don't need is someone twisting and turning your body causing more damage than you already have.

2. Chiropractic only works when the bulge is minor which usually is not the case when a doctor recommends surgery.

3. See both a Neurosurgeon and an Orthopedic surgeon. My surgery was done by a

neuro after a second opinion from and ortho. With the disk pressing against the nerves, he told me that the neuro was better for this. (This ortho was the doctor for the Atlanta Hawks just in case you thought he was scared to operate)

4. Vax-D may be a viable alternative to look into before the surgery. It has helped in cases where the herniation was not major but it is not covered by all insurance.

5. There is also a newer procedure involving epoxy whereby the disk is removed, mixed with a rubber epoxy material and then re-injected into the spinal cord to replace the disk. This has had good results in the lower back but not the upper back. This is what I am looking into right now if my insurance will cover it.

6. Surgery may be the only way to relieve the pressure off of the nerves to return you to a para-normal existance. You will never be the same. I returned to work in 2 1/2 months after the first surgery and 2 weeks after the second surgery. The first time they shaved the disk and the second time a piece of disk fell into the spinal canal. This was a simple removal with not complications.

The bottom of my right foot feels like it is asleep all of the time. If I walk for a longer distance, my right leg starts to show weakness and I start limping more. I can tell when it is going to rain but with medication I can control the pain levels. I am a supervisor in the transportation department and a large Post Office facility. I have my bad days but before the first surgery it took me 10 minutes to find the least painful position on the couch to watch TV. I had to lay down most of the time. Walking was difficult and the herniation was pressing against the S1 root nerve. My first surgery was in 1994 and I have been a Little League baseball coach since1996. I was in and out of work for a couple of years but only because they could not find a job within my restrictions. You will not be able to lift anything over about 30 pounds, you won't be able to walk long distances, you will have pain when it rains, you will feel some mornings like you are 80, but you will be able to be human rather than a vegetable watching TV all of the time. Good luck and tell me how the metal replacement works. I will have to look into this as well.

WOW...just goes to show the differences of opinion.
Now, I have 4 disk herniations in my T8-T11 w/Hypertropy in T10-T11 and must find a way to figure out what to do or if, I have to have surgery at all.
I have tried Physical Therapy 3 or 4 times, bed rest/medications/Epidural Steroid Injections/pressure point injections(novacane steroid),Chiropractic care/Accupuncture, etc.
If, any treatment has helped me or given me more relief...it would be from the Accupuncture treatments that I have been receiving. It has made me feel alive...more than anything.
I must say that I was scared to a point, but if u hurt bad enough u will give in to having it done. IT didn't hurt  and wasn't bad, at all. As a matter of fact, I didn't even feel it. I closed my eyes and relaxed...as much, as I could and let him do the work. All that I can say is...that I limped into his office and walked out. IT was unbelievable, how he found the place of my pain, then applied the Accupuncture to the co-existing area that went with it. I did feel 25% better, after the first treatment, just like he said that I would.
I have gone to see Dr.Ly now, for 3 times and the change in me has almost been miraculas, to say the least. It is just, in the way that I can move more now, is astonishing. I do have to watch out or I will hurt myself, by all of the walking that I have done and smiling, from the instant relief of pain that it has given me. I must admit that the man knows what he is doing!
I still have a way to go, to fully get back to me, but u better believe that I am seeing a big difference and praying that IT will last, but I feel that it will. I am giving it all I got and feel Dr. Ly, is too. Maybe, it is Accupuncture that is it the secret of getting better that I have looked so hard for, the past 5 or 6 yrs., but thank God...I did find him.:D
I am so grateful to The Lord, for giving me Dr. Ly(Traditional Chinese Medicine man) and I am sure that he has helped many a person, from the agonies of pain...that he is doing for me.
I will add his link, just in case there is someone out there looking to find help too.:))

http://www.drly.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=27

God Bless always.:D<3 Karen

Disk Herniation, Bulging Disc, Degenerative Disc Disease…?

Disk Herniation, Bulging Disc, Degenerative Disc Disease…?
   

  

 

Having complications after surgery,because MRI's can't see through the titanium plates because of something called an artifact(a glare that is preventing any visualization)...So, does anyone know what I should do, in this situation for them to be able to see?? How are they going to see, unless they do move the titanium plates? 

Has anyone had their Cervical plates removed because of an Artifact that is blocking the view of vertebrea to be visualized?

HELP...I NEED ANSWERS...b4 I am stuck, in a place that I will never be able to come back to me...or ever be able to take care of myself...again.:((

I have been suffering with whole body pain and numbness on one side of my body. The docs have ruled out MS(I think?),since there is no change in my brain MRI, but all of this started after my C5-C6 spinal diskectomy. They keep saying that all that they can see is an artifact, in which is just another word for a black area that can't be seen through. With the symptoms that I am dealing with, it seems to be that the surgery wasn't a success, more of a failed fusion maybe. I don't know. They did say that I had fused, so if I have why can't they take out the titanium plates that are keeping them from seeing what is actually going on in my neck?
It feels like I have developed some kind of infection around the sugery site maybe. There could be a  serious complication from this and I can't believe that my NS won't LOOK further, instead of relying on the visual of the MRI and NOT looking at it, with his own eye.
I told him to stick a Camera in there to see or do something to make sure that there is no problems, but he won't do anything.
He could remove them for me, but I am just going to find out if there is a problem, from someone else. IF he doesn't care enough to go that extra mile to make sure, then I must find another way to get the answer. It will ahve to be another NS then, for I don't see the original Doc that did my surgery.
If I have to, I will get them out. I have to see what is causing me to stay bedridden, can't stand or sit for 15min. and walking is minimal because my legs give out on me.It is like my left knee just gives way and I have feel flat on my bottom. YOWCH!

THIS IMAGE SHOWS SOMETHING POKING INTO MY SPINAL CORD. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE...IT IS THE SCREWS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SCREW...THAT WAS PLACED INTO AN OPENING(vertebrea) AND PUT RIGHT ON TOP OF A NERVE.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAN BE SEEN HERE IN THIS VIEW, BUT IT GIVES REASON TO SUSPECT THAT IT COULD BE HAPPEING, DUE TO ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT CORRELATE TO A C5 OR C6 MEDIAN NERVE COMPRESSION.
THE MEDIAN NERVE RUNS THROUGH THE NECK AND DOWN THROUGH UR ARMS. IT IS ALSO, IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE ULNAR NERVE THAT ALSO, GOES THROUGH UR ELBOW.
I HAVE FELT LIKE MY ELBOW IS BEING CONTINUOUSLY STRUCK WITH A HAMMER. IT IS VERY PAINFUL, WHEN U CAN'T GET THAT TO STOP...AFTER, A WHILE.
THEREFORE, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT IT COULD VERY WELL BE...MY NECK SURGERY THAT HAS CAUSED EVERY BIT OF THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME...AND THE ONE WHO DID MY SURGERY, WON'T LOOK ANY FURTHER TO SEE, IF IT IS.
I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CARPEL TUNNEL IN EACH WRIST, BUT IT COULD JUST BE THE COMPRESSION OF THE MEDIAN OR ULNAR NERVE. EVERYTHING JUST MAKES SENSE THAT IT IS THE NERVE BEING COMPRESSED IN MY NECK!!!



I have been this way going on 6 yrs. and this is just plan ridiculas. I don't understand how a doctor can take an oath to uphold, if he won't do what needs to be done to find the answer to why I am suffering so badly. I do have a few good days, but they are so far and few between. I have missed so much because of being stuck in bed and just looking outside, it hurts. I have always been an outdoors person...fishing,camping,running with my kids, but now I can't walk or stand for 15 min. that is ridiculas. There has to be a reason. The neck makes perfectly good sense. It is where the median and the ulnar nerve run.I know that in between the median and ular is the Brachial Artery and am wondering if that is what has also made my chest to hurt, have shortness of breath because when I have an episode the whole left side of my body goes completely numb, even my face. I am grasping here, but I think the plates need to come out, but I need to know if it is possible or has anyone experienced this before.
Can they take them out without any repurcusions and cause even more pain. I mean, I don't want this to wind up severing my spinal cord or cause me to lose the use of my arms/legs. This is a very serious issue and I can't seem to get my NS to take me seriously. I am beginning to wonder if he doesn't know more than he is saying. I am not a judgemental person and I am a very patient one, but he mentioned to me right after the surgery,in which I might add he was not suppose to do my surgery, another NS I had been seeing the whole time was suppose to do it. He did ask me if this NS could set in, but not do 90% of my surgery like I was told by his nurse.
My issue is that I am too young to have lost what I have and I can't get that back, but I have a lot of good long years ahead of me. I am only 46, just turned. I just want to live without the threat of severe pain and agony. I wish I could add a pic., for I have some of my MRI's that show a screw that has twisted right up next to the other one. (After, veiwing this page, I noticed that the image that I am talking @ is at the bottom of this page. It is the view that I was talking @ and u can see where they are twisted. The last time that I went in to see my NS, there was that page that told me that my plates "had moved", but HOW can the NS, just ignore that???
Yes, I only have two screws in there with some butterfly looking piece holding it together. I should be able to get that out and they see what is behind there....killing me. I think.
If anyone can shed me some light on this, it would be greatly appreciated. I just want to play my guitar and sing again, like I used to. I did work professionally in Nashville for 3 yrs.,but if I don't get this straight, I will never be able to play it again. HELP, Can I take these plates out. I just want to see what is behind there. I was told by a friend of mine,who is a doc,Chiro, that I had a screw that was placed in an opening and put right on top of a nerve, but he lost the xray in a move and has passed since then. I am lost and just need help. I sure hope there is someone out there who can tell me of what, I should do. Thanks ever so much.:)))<3 Karen

• 8 months ago

Additional Details

I have had 14 MRI's since '06 and they haven't been able to see through any of them, because of the artifact(a glare preventing to see through it). They only can see a black hole and they call it an Artifact. I looked it up and it just means that it is like a glare that a camera gives off...sort of, but I am in desperation here. I have to see what is going on in there, behind those plates because nothing else is explaining the debilitatin pain I suffer each and every day.

I am suffering so much and they can't find the cause of all of it,, because they can't see behind the glare of the artifact. So, I definitely want them to take them out, so I can FIND the answer to all of this.

I really believe that this is where my problem lies. It has to be coming from somewhere and this is got to be it. It has to be there, they have looked everywhere else. The NS that did my surgery seems to be giving me the run around and I really hate to say that, but he mention on the very first visit, after the surgery that the pain in my right bi-cep...was in fact, due to my C5. So, why then has he dropped me as a patient and not trying to find the answer to where the pain is originating from. I truly believe it is something really wrong in my neck...I can feel it!!

I used to have so much more good motion, but now...every movement is so very painful. There could be a screw that is pressing on a nerve that is causing ALL of this, but now I don't know what to do, but to pray that someone will help me get back to me.:P

I feel so broken and I can't pull, push, reach or bend..I can't do much of anything now. If, I get a good day and can walk..I hurt myself and pay for it...for a long time.

While, in the NS's room waiting on him last visit, I saw a piece of paper on the desk that had my name on it and I was ever so curious to what it said..@ me, but tried to refrain from reading it. But, as I waited in that room...in which, feels like forever...I did read it and this is what it said, "Mrs. Elmore comes in today, where she claims the last time she was here her plates moved, they had." OKAy...my plates in my neck have moved???...that is NOT good. IT could very well be, why I am losing the use of my arms and legs, because there is some impingement somewhere. 

I wish, I would've taken a pic of that important piece of paper that stated a change in my surgery, but I wasn't thinking. My hubby said that I should have just taken it, but unfortunately, I didn't do either.

There is a reason why my body is in total agony...and as God is my witness, I will get to the bottom of it..."Lord Willing"...<3

8 months ago

Post @ how disks break down from the fluid from a herniated disk in the neck

THIS IS A POST THAT I FOUND....THAT REALLY SOUNDS A LOT LIKE WHAT, I AM GOING THROUGH...



I had similar issues about 3-4 years ago that the doctors thought was either a pinched nerve or carpel tunnel. I was working-out and playing more sports at the time, so that sort of masked the idea that it could be related to sax playing. What it ended up being was a herniated disc in my neck, which wasn't caused by - but was certainly made worse by, hanging a sax from my neck.

This problem started out minor and became worse. It starts out as a bulging or compressed disc, where the soft tissue starts to push out a little and comes in contact with the nerve roots that go to your neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Eventually, the disc breaks down and fluid leaches out from inside (herniated) and causes an even greater interuption of the nerve roots. Picture a jelly donut that gets compressed until the stuff inside comes out.

Anyway - I don't want to alarm you, but I did want to mention this as a possibility because when I look up in the air, after about 10-15 seconds my arm is tingling like crazy (even the top part of my arm)  This was exactly the types of tests my doctor and physical therapist did which made them suspect it was a herniated disc. Then I had an MRI which confirmed it. If the doctors can diagnose this when the disc is still just bulging, then there are things they can do to prevent it from advancing to herniated (mostly physical therapy)

The good news is - even though mine was labelled as "catestrophic" in severity, I did not need surgery. I just went to physical therapy to focus on core strength - and yes - drink lots of water! Also - inversion therapy (where you hang upside down) helps tremendously.

http://www.studiospace.com/rcsq/


Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Hey, I got the same issues. Started about 2-3 months ago and it's robbing my sleep. Doctor? Not yet. I'm going for a body massage first then see what happens. Couple of things. My wife had surgery for carpel tunnel and it did help, but just.

For me, I had the scare of my life 3 years ago and I'm gun shy about things wrong with my body.
Spent a year getting tested by orthopedic doctors for pain in my arm running up to my shoulder and neck. All 5 Dr's said I needed my 6 & 7 disk replaced. I've never been in a hospital, let along cut. So, I was just about to make my appointment to get cut when a Dr friend suggested one more doctor, but this time it was a neurologist dr., someone who deals with nerve issues. Well he looks at my xrays & mri's and tells me that this issue is not my vertebrae's but a nerve in my elbow going through my elbow carpel. He gave me some new workouts and told me that if it doesn't clear up in a few months he would do some minor surgery on my elbow in his office. It cleared up.
Sorry for the long of it, but sharing this type of info could save some pain. This will be the DR I see if my hand & fingers numbness and pain don't stop.
I will repost after my massage.
f

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

I'm dealing with something very similar in my left shoulder/arm for a few weeks. The tingling pain was bad enough that I thought I might have dislocated my shoulder- it seemed to me to radiate from there. And my hand felt weak- I couldn't grip stuff very strongly. I finally broke down and threw some cash at an MD yesterday- he thinks it's a pinched nerve in my neck. Ice helps a lot-- I was mistakenly using a heating pad before. Now less than 24 hours after seeing the MD and using ice every hour or so and I feel about 40% better. I was told I need to do mild stretches as well.

  Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Originally Posted by Jazzed

I finally broke down and threw some cash at an MD yesterday- he thinks it's a pinched nerve in my neck.

If this a good MD it's worth taking your horn along showing him what he actually happens when you play.

A normal saxophone strap can put pressure on your spin and on the arteries at the side of your neck.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

I'm sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office right now as I'm writting this waiting to be tested for thoracic outlet syndrome. My entire left arm goes numb all the time. Even while I'm just sitting watching TV. It wakes me up at night, the arm goes so dead numb it wakes me up. Doesn't matter what position I sleep in. 6 months ago I got a huge blood clot from my shoulder down to my elbow. Been on coumadin since then and the numbness is better, not as severe.

  Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Steve,
I've had the exact same problem over the past few years. I've regularly seen a chiropractor for many years and this does seem to help with the problem. I started getting the same type of pain down into my feet recently as well, so I had full spinal X-Rays taken in order to find out if there was nerve impingement happening in the little holes the the nerves come out of on the sides of the spine (I forget the name of them). I was told that there was nothing really major wrong, probably just some nerves that are inflamed at the spine.

Nerve Inflammation can be controlled by several things- ice, anti-inflammatory drugs (Naproxin, Ibuprophin), and one of the best ways: an anti-inflammatory diet. (http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsf...flamfood_2.htm)

If you are like most saxophonists then there is probably also some amount of carpal tunnel irritation happening with you as well. Besides Otto's very good stretches, I have found that I get a lot of relief from Graston soft tissue treatment from my chiropractor (http://davidvaldez.blogspot.com/2009...endonitis.html).

If your pain is also in your shoulder then the issue is most likely, as your doctor said, a nerve impingement in your neck. Controlling the inflammation as much as you can would definitely help, but another thing that might help would be THAI MASSAGE. I've gotten regular deep tissue massages for many years, but after discovering Thai massage I'll never do anything else. They say that Thai massage is like Yoga for the lazy man, they stretch you in ways that you would never do on your own. Thai massage can really open up bound up joints like nothing else. When your neck muscles get locked up from playing saxophone or from using the computer they will affect the nerves that go down your shoulder and into your arm and hand. Thai massage can do wonders.

Good luck Neff. I feel your pain, literally.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Well, I am going to the orthopedic surgeon on Monday. I've tried to go to others before, but they always want me to wait for hours and I don't have hours. Hopefully this time will be different. I hate the thought of elbow and wrist surgery, but last weekend the pain in my left wrist was so bad I couldn't use my left hand at all. It swelled up too for the first time. I'm hoping surgery will mean I can get back to playing. Hopefully you'll find a different fix for your problem Steve!

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Well, they scheduled my tests for the wrong day so I had to reschedule for Feb 25th so I'm still waiting. The tingling and numbness in my hands isn't happening as much but now I have pain in the upper middle of my back and when I sit at the computer and type I get the tingling there in my back where my spinal cord is. When I touch that area there is a bump there that feels sore. My wife looked at it ( she's a nurse) and she thought it looked like there was swelling there. I guess we'll wait until the 25th and see what happens then. The arm still goes numb and tingles when I look up at about 25 seconds so I'm pretty sure it's a pinched nerve.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Oh, no, you mean it's spreading? I don't think that you are old enough to have all of these problems! Be sure and have your wife keep an eye on any spreading swelling. Like they say in the commercial, consult a physician if you have a swelling that lasts for more than four hours:-)! At least an MRI will give you a good idea of what is going on. Then come the tough choices on what to do about it. I've been resisting back, elbow, and wrist surgery for several years.....I'm thinking of throwing in the towel on two out of three, depending on what the surgeon tells me. That's assuming I don't walk out tomorrow because he kept me waiting too long. I hate doctor's offices because they don't know what the word "appointment" means! Good luck Neffmeister!

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

I had tingling and numbness in two fingers of my left hand. A chiropractor friend of mine grabbed my forearm and the tingling/numbness went away. He said it was a twisted nerve, that it would go away in time. He was correct, but it took a great deal of time. A physical therapist probably could "fix" that and your back in a shorter period of time.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Well, the orthopedic surgeon is sending me for an MRI and X-rays on my elbow and to the neurologist for some nerve testing of my wrist and hand. Hopefully they will be able to figure it out within my lifetime!

  Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

I ended up having numbness in my left hand that progressed to my elbow. Then it moved to my right elbow and hand as well. Eventually the numbness became so bad that I could not lie down to sleep because my arms would go numb from the shoulder down (had to sleep sitting up). I went to see a chiropractor and got adjusted every few days for the first three weeks. My problem ended up being atrophy of the trapezius muscles that allowed some of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae to shift forward and down, pinching the nerves. I put myself on an exercise regimen to strengthen my entire body and I became 80% better within six to eight months. The last 20% came hard, but I overcame it. If I were you, I would talk to my chiropractor and doctor about exercises you could do to avoid surgery, if possible. If surgery is your only hope, then do it. If you have other alternatives, try those first. Exercise can do wonders, if you are willing. Good luck and keep us posted.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Still waiting for my Gemini Harness but I've made a decision never to get another massage. A day after I had it my sciatic nerve started acting up and now I've pain you would not believe. I guess I'll go to the neurosurgical guy and ask about this and the original problem of numbness and needles and pins in my left hand fingers. Old sucks!

  Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Advise on drinking water: By the time you are " thirsty " you are probably already dehydrated. It's surprising how many people don't like to drink water, but will drink everything else, like coffee, soda, booze...all of them dehydrate. Most of us do not drink even near the amount of water our bodies ( and brains ) require. Drink it a sip at a time, spread out your intake. If you just gulp down a whole glass or bottle of water, you will soon excrete most of it. I train fighters who, against my advice, will sauna and drink diuretics to lose those few pounds on water weight before weigh in. I have them use the drinking method above to replenish. Not drinking enough water can effect your energy, concentration and causes a whole list of physical problems. It's important to sax players to drink water when you are playing...especially if you drink on your gigs. Booze dehydrates!
I carry several bottles of water with me all the time. The body requires about eight, 8oz glasses of water a day. You will have more energy and will stay looking younger, as water hydrates the skin.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Regarding water- yes it is true most people don't consume enough. I have had issues with kidney stones, so I try to increase my intake as much as possible. My Nephrologist suggests that one quick way to know if you are consuming enough is that the urine should be nearly clear. If it is yellow or darker, you are not getting enough water.

For arm (or other pain) that is associated with playing. I would never take it lightly. One would not want to risk losing the ability to play. There are clinics which deal specifically with musician issues, such as

http://www.oehc.uchc.edu/clinicallin...iansclinic.asp

They can do wonders

 Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

I believe you do have to be v careful of any kind of tingling. Good luck Nefertiti.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Well, my elbow MRI showed a tear in my ulnar collateral ligament. That might help explain my theory that my ulnar bone is misaligned and splaying outward, putting pressure on my wrist ligament and pinching my median nerve. I was supposed to have the nerve tests done this week, but the neurologist made me wait over my limit(one hour) so I left. I have an appointment with another neurologist next friday........

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Well spent a good hour with my neurologist last week to address my numbness and pain in my left hand. He did not think it was due to my neck strap. His guess is that in Dec & Jan we had a lot of snow which I used the snowblower and shovel for days and aggrevated the nerves in my left arm, mainly the wrist area. He put me on a steroid pack for a week. Seems to be getting much better. However, the same day my Gemini shoulder harness came so it's been a week. I'll never go back to the neck strap. It took me about 10 minutes to get it adjusted and I practiced for 2 hours like never before. Amazing how much I was wiggling and taking breaking because of the neck pressure. So, I guess it's good news for me, for now anyway. I wonder what's next? Another snow storm!
frank       

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

I met with a neurologist today. He did a bunch of tests and thinks it's my neck. He's gonna send me to get a MRI to see whats going on in there. He also thought it would be a good idea to get one of my head to make sure it isn't related to another tumor or something. Better safe than sorry! The numbness and tingling has gone away for the last few weeks but now it is replaced with pain. It's in my neck, shoulder and arm..............

  Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Acupuncture is helping me - my excruciating pain is down by about 90% after 3 sessions. I was very skeptical but had several friends that said acupuncture worked for them. I'm now using a Gemini harness for tenor too, switching to a high stand sometimes. I should point out that my issues started after doing some heavy landscaping work and spending a lot of time at a piano.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

I just got back from the neurologist's office. Testing showed I have severe carpel tunnel in both wrists. He said I was too far gone for acupuncture(he does that too). I was afraid that waiting all these years meant severe permanent nerve damage and he confirmed that. To any of you out there that just started having problems, please don't be careless and keep putting it off like I did.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

I met with a neurologist today. He did a bunch of tests and thinks it's my neck. He's gonna send me to get a MRI to see whats going on in there. He also thought it would be a good idea to get one of my head to make sure it isn't related to another tumor or something. Better safe than sorry! The numbness and tingling has gone away for the last few weeks but now it is replaced with pain. It's in my neck, shoulder and arm..............

Hi Nefertiti
I've only just seen this thread now. MRI is the only way to go. Have to rule out cervical herniated disc or stenosis of the nerve root canal.

Hope you will soon know the problem and then be able to deal with it accordingly!
Best wishes

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Originally Posted by Pete Thomas

Hope you can get it sorted. If it's your neck, then I would really recommend you look into the cebulla neckstrap as it keeps all pressure off the spine.

Thanks Pete. I'll check that out. I had a really hard time playing yesterday. My neck, upper back and shoulder were killing me. My MRI is on the 12th so we'll see what they say. I'd love to get this thing resolved.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

By the way I started doing these McKenzie neck exercises. They have taken away alot of the pain but now it seems like the tingling and numbness is even worse. The McKenzie exercises worked great for my lower back years ago also.

  Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

Well, depends on where the pinched nerve is. Mine are in my spine due to four bulging discs. I use an inversion table several times a day, which has been a God send for me. Thanks to it I don't normally need to walk with a cane anymore. If it's in your neck or shoulder, massage and chiropractic adjustments can be helpful.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

My carpal tunnel solution seems to be working on my left hand. I just received the ones for my right hand in the mail today. The orthopedic surgeon told me today that I should play wait and see before resorting to surgery.

Re: Tingling and numbness in arm and hand.......?

You must be so frustrated by now Steve, and the insurance angle really just seems wrong. Good luck with the McKenzie exercises and any other suggestions you get. (I wish I had one for you.)

U know, after reading this and seeing how my symptoms really compare to someone that is having trouble with a herniated disk, in their neck. IT is unbelievable how I have FELT AND THOUGHT that this has been MOST of my problem ALL along! My Chiro friend was right, I believe. He said that I had a screw that was placed right on top of a nerve....in my neck and he also said that if, I didn't get it out...that I could/would lose the use of my arms and legs.:(*(
THEY can't SEE what is going on in MY NECK, because I have titanium plates in there, from my surgery of the C5-C6spinal diskectomy.
HOW AM I GOING TO GET THIS THOROUGHLY SEEN, IF I HAVE THE TITANIUM PLATES IN THERE COVERING IT UP? They will have to come out or a Camera put in to really get a visual of what is going on IN THERE!!
God Bless always...:)))<3 Karen

Post @ muscle twitching and jerking limbs

I POSTED THIS TRYING TO FIND AN ANSWER....STILL, TO THIS HORRIFIC SITUATION THAT I HAVE BEEN PUT IN.
I KNOW, THERE ARE MANY OF US...OUT THERE SUFFERING AND ALL WE WANT...IS JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS, THAT IS TAKING THE LIFE RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER US.
I BELIEVE THIS SUMS UP A LOT @ ME, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT I DIDN'T COVER HERE.

I WANTED TO ADD THAT I HAVE LOST SO MUCH TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES...DUE TO THIS AGONIZING PLAGUE THAT HAS ME, BUT I PRAY THAT ONE DAY, I WILL BE PUT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AND OUT OF THIS MISERY.:((

I really am posting this to all of u, but GTO67 caught my attention when they mentioned the part where the limbs twitch and jerk...and when everyone else seems to be still, when I seem to have to twitch or jerk. I have also been asked, if I knew that my head bobbled some. I really believe I do have neurological deficits, somewhere in my Central Nervous system or something. THIS is not anxiety...I don't believe it. I have never been anxious or nervous. I have always been patient and easy going, until after I had surgery on my neck and was hit by a nerve block(ESI) of my Thoracic.

"Allright, Im caught in this loop of muscle jerking and twitching. It goes like this: If im moving around (Walking, moving my body, ETC) ill get limb jerks, my arm, leg, head, whatever im moving, will move hard, or off, or wobbily. And when im sitting my muscles will twitch and my legs and arms and feet and all limbs will jerk suddenly at random (only one jerk, not liek a seizure or constant jerking, just once). Can anxiety cause this? Ive been trying to ignore this but thats not stoping it. Then I tell mself that it must be something else because it happens when I dont worry. I also cannot stop figgeting and moving around. Ill notice other people are sitting quietly and ill be twitching or touching myself, i cannot sit still at all. Does anyone know anything about this?"

When I copied what u said to quote it, some other words popped up that I didn't see in ur post or in any of the others for that matter, but some were things that I have experienced...like a Head injury(I did experience a head injury, in a car accident where I hit my head on the roof of the car and had a bad headache 10-15min. afterward) I did eventually have to have a C5-C6 spinal diskectomy because my head was forced in a downward positon. I also do not have ANY curve in my Cervical vertebrea. I was also diagnosted as having a Chiari Malformation of 6.5mm.(It is said that a person experiences neurological defecits over 5.5mm) I am really wondering @ this one, because my CM is 6.5, which makes me a candidate for neurological deficits. They changed this to Tonsilar Ectopia, so I don't know much @ it, but looking it up as we speak.

Head and face reconstruction( I didn't have reconstruction of the face persay, but they had to shave my hair...up to the top of my temples for another surgery that I had back years ago, a bone spur removal from left jaw) It was back 24 years ago and thought maybe, I had scar tissue or adheshions somewhere in there, from that surgery.

THIS WAS A YEAR AFTER THE CAR ACCIDENT AND I FELT GREAT. THIS IS MY HUBBY GARY ELMORE AND MY OLDEST SON SHANE, WHO WAS ONLY 3 1/2 HERE.



I have so many questions that it seems impossible to get the answer, but THIS is not anxiety...I don't believe it. I might be seeming anxious now, but that is because I just want answers and am fed-up being sick and being stuck in my bedroom...in BED. I am sooo sick and tired of being SICK!!

I have so many questions...Why does my face stay numb all day and the back of my neck stay tight and tense like a vice-grip is holding me? Why do I feel like my face is being pulled downward? Why do I have cramps/spasms in my neck?Why does the top of my head still hurt and sometimes, I can't even touch the top of my head? Why does my hair even feel like it hurts? Why does it feel like someone is pressing their thumb into my temples? I experience so many head pains and on my temporal region, it actually feels like someone is pressing inward on my head and sometimes, I will get totally numb on the left side of my face.
I must say that I have never been an anxious or nervous person. I have always been patient and easy going, that is until here recently from all of the stress from the pain, cramping, burning, aching and all of the agony that my body is dealing with. I still am a very patint lay-back person...and just don't think anxiety is the answer.  I have never experienced PAIN like this in my life...only after, the surgery on my neck did I start going downhill. Then, trying to relieve the pain...was I hit by a nerve block(ESI) of my Thoracic...so, there is a legitimate answer, I just can't give up.

After, I had that surgery on my neck I had to take medication that I never had to take, in my life. Before, the surgery I never even took anything for a headache hardly,never had to...much less these strong medications that the Docs have put me on and I do feel that IT, could be the culprit of most of my tremors and spasms and the toxic feeling that I experience. I believe medications, could be most of our problems, but what is a person to do that is in utter "Heck" from all of the agony their body is dealing with and in? It seems like the Docs just keep giving it to me, but I just want to FLUSH it all. I wish, I never had to take another pill!!
Also, due to ALL of the pain that I was experiencing after sugery, I was told that I needed to receive nerve blocks...that it, would relieve this pain. yah...yah...yah...NO, IT is a very dangerous procedure. I went ahead and did the series of 3 Epidural Steroid Injections, due to me not being able to even work or get anything done....and I was hit by a nerve block(ESI) of my Thoracic. I experienced what was called a "wet tap"..and it actually felt like a bolt of lightening had struck me, while I was just laying there and wonder if they hit my spinal cord or something.
I want to say that I had been a healthy person my whole life, until after my surgery. I know...I have NEVER felt so bad in my life...and sometimes, the pain can be unbearable. I just want to get well.
I have so many symptoms that it feels like I could even be dying sometimes, but I don't want to seem dramatic, but this IS a very dramatic situation here...It is BAD. I hurt so much and just want to feel somewhat like the person, I used to know.:(
I felt great b4 I had that surgery and only had a small sleeping problem, but it even makes me wonder that IF it all started, when I hit my head on the roof of that car...But I went right back into working 60+ hrs. a week, like nothing was wrong. The only thing that happened was that 8 years later, I got to where I couldn't find a comfortable place to rest my head, when I tried to sleep at night. I would move so many times that even my hubby would ask me, "Can't u find a good place to rest ur head?"

THERE IS A VERY NOTICABLE PLACE ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD, WHERE I HIT THE ROOF OF THE CAR, IN THE ACCIDENT.  I HAVE WONDERED WHY IT IS WHITE IN COLOR, TO WHERE THE OTHER PLACES AROUND IT, ARE DARK.(??)
U CAN ALSO SEE THE CHIARI MALFORMATION(OR TONSILAR ECTOPIA)-6.5MM
I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A VENOUS ANOMALLY IN MY LEFT CEREBULLAR HEMISPHERE WITH AN "EMPTY SELLA", AS WELL.

It feels like something is terribly wrong in my body, but the NS won't look any further, because he can't see behind the titanium plates. He wouldn't do further testing to definitely rule out that it is the surgery or not that he did on my neck...so, I am still trying to find an answer...6 yrs later.
I appreciate anyone who responds. I need someone to give me a direction or someone who can give me some answers...OR HOPE EVEN.
I am sorry that this is so put-together and messy, but my mind is having trouble concentrating or focusing. I experience so much hormonal imbalance, because I was diagnosed having Addison's disease, to which does make a person have memory loss, emotional distress, incognitive moments and an array of other symptoms, but there is something else going on. My Endocrinologist even told me that I did have something else occuring with me and has sent me to a hand-picked Neurologist to see what he can find.
I really hate that my memory is affected. It really is hard, not finding it stored...where it suppose to be. It is giving me such a hard time to find the right words or I say the wrong things. There has been times where I will say thank u and really mean to say ur welcome. I will write words backward...and not just once or twice..I will do it over and over. I really have to concentrate to do what I want to do. My body seems not to function properly. It is like I have a short circuit somewhere.
If there are any of u out there, who read this....that are searching for answers like me...there is one thing that I can say....the main thing is to FIND the right Doc to treat u. Who do we see? Well, I truly believe that I do have a Central Nervous System problem, but where did my problem arise from? Is it from one of my surgeries, the nerve block or some Autoimmune disease other than the Addison's.
I hope...all of u have found ur answers and are on the road to recovery.
Take care and God Bless always.:))<3 Karen
Ps. I will keep watch here and update this information, for I feel I am on the right track and I'm getting closer to finding my answer....so, don't give up looking for urs, as well.:)