CALIFORNIA The Whole State thread

[cherylcohen]

Wow sunny I had L4/L5 fused over 10 years ago, after about 5 years of severe pain, not being able to put my socks on etc, finally took the plunge and was completely pain free for years. I just went for an MRI yesterday AM as I've been suffering with horrible debilitating leg pain and numbness the last 8 weeks. We thought it was a blood clot but after a trip to the ER and after a vasular ultrasound they couldn't figure it out. I then went to my back surgeon he ordered the MRI and gave me NERVE relaxers. Well they worked almost instantly, so a disk or two must be pushing on some nerves.

So I'll get some info next week after he sees the films. I was out almost 4 months last time, I'm hoping this doesn't mean a long drawn out surgery, I've got so many things to do!!

 

[capayvalleychick]

It's awful to hear about so many of you having such painful health problems. I hope that you all find some relief and healing.

I really like the photos of the Polish. That shot of the pullet in the almond tree is beautiful. Dawn's chicks are adorable. Can't help but smile when you see those!

Take care,
Kim

 

[mycutekitties]

Sunny I love the pics! Those little polish are so cute!

 

[wolftracks]

Love all the pics.

Sunny I hope the surviving eggs make it. Those Yokohamas are gorgeous.

They wanted to fuse disks on my back when I was in my 20's along with replacing my knee. I didn't do it and since back then I was a weight lifting junkie I found ways to work out and deal fir the most part. I've always had some pain though. When I met Bill his back was such a mess, but it was arthritis and the bone was deteriorating. He started out at 6' even and because of his spine was 5'9" when he died. Just looking at his xrays made me cringe. But along with being a surgical RN he did therapeutic massage and he would work on my back and neck and I had little to know pain. With this darn arm being held they way I've had too, my neck and back are killing me. I never should have gotten out of shape, I'd probably at least be able to tolerate it, but I swear they hurt as bad as my arm right now. My mom had her neck and back fused in her 40's. I think she used Kaiser and they really made things worse. She was in pain the rest of her life, so seeing how she turned out, I'm terrified. But boy do I hurt.

I'm sorry the rest of you are going through this. I know neck and back is awful and I hate to hear when others are going through so much. So hard to live with constant pain and be able to function.

Cheryl, they need to check adjoining areas. Sometimes a clot can be in a totally different place then the area it affects. Ask me how I know that one.

I've had so many weird things happen to me that my cases has been added to medical books. Oh and then there's the time I was giving my daughter eye drops and used nail glue. She had Bell's Palsy (sp) when she was about 9??? Long time ago. Needless to say I never used nail glue again, but if you read the journals the glue actually saved her eye. Doesn't make me feel any better, but then again it is now how they do it. I was a little too accurate though.

Drama follows me.

 

[ronott1]

Love all the pics.

Sunny I hope the surviving eggs make it. Those Yokohamas are gorgeous.

They wanted to fuse disks on my back when I was in my 20's along with replacing my knee. I didn't do it and since back then I was a weight lifting junkie I found ways to work out and deal fir the most part. I've always had some pain though. When I met Bill his back was such a mess, but it was arthritis and the bone was deteriorating. He started out at 6' even and because of his spine was 5'9" when he died. Just looking at his xrays made me cringe. But along with being a surgical RN he did therapeutic massage and he would work on my back and neck and I had little to know pain. With this darn arm being held they way I've had too, my neck and back are killing me. I never should have gotten out of shape, I'd probably at least be able to tolerate it, but I swear they hurt as bad as my arm right now. My mom had her neck and back fused in her 40's. I think she used Kaiser and they really made things worse. She was in pain the rest of her life, so seeing how she turned out, I'm terrified. But boy do I hurt.

I'm sorry the rest of you are going through this. I know neck and back is awful and I hate to hear when others are going through so much. So hard to live with constant pain and be able to function.

Cheryl, they need to check adjoining areas. Sometimes a clot can be in a totally different place then the area it affects. Ask me how I know that one.

I've had so many weird things happen to me that my cases has been added to medical books. Oh and then there's the time I was giving my daughter eye drops and used nail glue. She had Bell's Palsy (sp) when she was about 9??? Long time ago. Needless to say I never used nail glue again, but if you read the journals the glue actually saved her eye. Doesn't make me feel any better, but then again it is now how they do it. I was a little too accurate though.

Drama follows me.

Sorry too to hear about all of the back problems. Four years ago, after three days of terrible pain, especially at night, I woke up to a paralyzed right foot. Turns out I have Congenital Spinal Stenosis. When I looked it up the description was extremely rare. I guess it often goes that way. I had decompression surgery and all pain was gone immediately. The nerve damage was quite severe thought. I can't feel from the bottom of the leg to the tip of my big toe on the top of my right foot. I still have a bit of drop foot, but can lift my foot up 75 percent, so surgeries like tendon transfer and release of my achilies tendon would probably not make things better.

Two years after the surgery I went to a neurologist and he did a nerve conductivity test. The results said I had a crushed sciatic nerve. There was also evidence of repeated nerve damage and them nerve and muscle regeneration.

Spinal surgery has come a long way. Mine was micro surgery and was out patient. I went home that afternoon.

I posted to the norther ca thread with pictures of my McMurray Dorkings and Partridge Rocks. Check them out at Post 1191

 

[SunnyDawn]

Wow sunny I had L4/L5 fused over 10 years ago, after about 5 years of severe pain, not being able to put my socks on etc, finally took the plunge and was completely pain free for years. I just went for an MRI yesterday AM as I've been suffering with horrible debilitating leg pain and numbness the last 8 weeks. We thought it was a blood clot but after a trip to the ER and after a vasular ultrasound they couldn't figure it out. I then went to my back surgeon he ordered the MRI and gave me NERVE relaxers. Well they worked almost instantly, so a disk or two must be pushing on some nerves.

So I'll get some info next week after he sees the films. I was out almost 4 months last time, I'm hoping this doesn't mean a long drawn out surgery, I've got so many things to do!!

Cheryl I hope you have as great an outcome this time as you had last time but with a much faster recovery! From what Pam was telling me the procedure is much less invasive now than it used to be. Mine was about 10 years ago too. I waited til I was in a wheelchair before I finally gave in and had the surgery. I'll wait as long as I can to have the other 2 problem areas done as well. Good luck! Let us know what they find.

Thanks Capay Kim and Sarah! My husband keeps laughing at how much I am enjoying them since I initially fought against getting anything that didn't lay a nice big egg! haha Sarah I doubt these little guys will compare to your gorgeous balls of fluff but we are having a blast with them!

Wolf Kim I think your Mom's experience was pretty common back then. Horror stories like these are the main reasons I waited as long as I did. My bones are fine. In fact my bone density is fantastic but the discs in between are junk! LOL I think we all have to deal with something in life. Part of the learning process. It could be much worse.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Sorry too to hear about all of the back problems. Four years ago, after three days of terrible pain, especially at night, I woke up to a paralyzed right foot. Turns out I have Congenital Spinal Stenosis. When I looked it up the description was extremely rare. I guess it often goes that way. I had decompression surgery and all pain was gone immediately. The nerve damage was quite severe thought. I can't feel from the bottom of the leg to the tip of my big toe on the top of my right foot. I still have a bit of drop foot, but can lift my foot up 75 percent, so surgeries like tendon transfer and release of my achilies tendon would probably not make things better.

Two years after the surgery I went to a neurologist and he did a nerve conductivity test. The results said I had a crushed sciatic nerve. There was also evidence of repeated nerve damage and them nerve and muscle regeneration.

Spinal surgery has come a long way. Mine was micro surgery and was out patient. I went home that afternoon.

I posted to the norther ca thread with pictures of my McMurray Dorkings and Partridge Rocks. Check them out at Post 1191

Wow!!! Spinal fusion on an outpatient basis? That is amazing!!! I was in for 5 days and they wouldn't have let me go home then except that my family went to the classes to learn how to take care of me at home. They had to turn me every 4 hours and had to learn how to feed me etc too. The 2 younger boys were still at home back then and since Steve had to be at work much of the time a lot of the work fell on the boys.

They were amazing though!!! Really showed me what great boys I have! Not only did they do a fantastic job but they were so caring and sweet! I thought for sure they would get sick of it the first day. hahaha

Not fun to hear about the trauma a lot of you have had to endure but it is good to hear that surgery has been successful for so many!

 

[ronott1]

The surgery was for nerve decompression. It was like a roto rooter for my nerve channels. I don't know about micro surgery for Spinal Fusion, but I did read and article today about UCD Med Center performing their first micro surgery heart valve replacement. They did it through the femoral artery at the groin of a 91 year old man. It's amazing what they are doing today.

Ron

Wow!!! Spinal fusion on an outpatient basis? That is amazing!!! I was in for 5 days and they wouldn't have let me go home then except that my family went to the classes to learn how to take care of me at home. They had to turn me every 4 hours and had to learn how to feed me etc too. The 2 younger boys were still at home back then and since Steve had to be at work much of the time a lot of the work fell on the boys.

They were amazing though!!! Really showed me what great boys I have! Not only did they do a fantastic job but they were so caring and sweet! I thought for sure they would get sick of it the first day. hahaha

Not fun to hear about the trauma a lot of you have had to endure but it is good to hear that surgery has been successful for so many!

 

[SunnyDawn]

Ah, ok. That makes more sense. Glad you had such great results still. I'm looking forward to more advances before I go under the knife again!

 

[wolftracks]

All goes to show we'd be better as knuckle draggers.