Re: neck injury correlation

[Guest guest]

Like your attitude. I was walking across a field one day, age 47 and I thought I was having a heart attack or severe acid attack. Then food started to get caught. I have had lower back problems but so has everyone else. Never had acid problems before. It took 9 years to determine I have A. ing research is an important goal. The strike of A is 1 in 10,000 people so not much demand for research. neck injury correlation

Thank you all for your quick responses and imput. I really appreciate it. It is much easier having people to connect with, who know what you're going through. I forgot to mention in my last e-mail that I am living in South Berwick, Maine. (about an hour from Boston or Portland), the two nearest large medical facilities. Anoyone who knows of good docs in this area, please share with me. As far as my decision, well, it's not been made yet. I am going to see a DO on monday. He is a freind of the family and feels there is real concern for doing the Heller without futher exploring the possibility of this potential correlation. In fact, he feels strongly that he may be able to help. We'll see what he comes up with. One thing I would really like to say. I know that you all have as much, if not much more experience with A than I. However, the general attitude I am feeling from the responses is, "this is what you have, accept it, and take the next best step, the Heller." Remember that there is no known cause for this condition, which is why there is no cure. If everyone submits to fixing the symptons and not continuing to search for causes, we may never find it. In the end, I may very well have to have the Heller, and if so, I'll be fine, and will live with it as I have with the constant trouble eating. If that's the card I'm dealt, I'm ready to accept it for what it is. BUT, I won't ignore this possibility. On the neck injury side of things, I can tell you this. I have noticable nerve damage in my neck, upper and mid back from the 4 buldging cervical discs. These nerves do not control the esophogus. However, the nerves that do, travel right passed those damaged discs and nerves. I should also say that 1 in 10 people have disc disruptions and don't know it, becasue they don't always show muscular symptons. They also sometimes take a great deal of time, even years to get to the point that they do show symptoms, if ever. This doesn't mean that there are not problems underlying that we cannot easily see. Again, sorry for the long e-mail. A has been consuming my life lately. Many decisions to be made, and as you all know, and leaving it untreated for too long can only cause more problems. I do want to find a cause and cure for A, even if I do have the Heller. I will be sure to let you all know what I find out from the doc on mon. Again, thank you all for your support. It means a lot. Mike

[Guest guest]

Mike,

Good luck with your search for the cause

and your ultimate decision with you’re A. A Heller is certainly not something to

decide upon lightly. And since

there are various options depending on your specific situation you’re

doing the right thing getting as much information on both the possible causes

and cures. I certainly wouldn’t

have opted for a Heller except that my particular situation definitely

warranted it. And I would love to

know what issues ultimately led up to the A diagnosis. The more any of us can learn the more

that will be known about A.

Take care.

Beverly

neck injury

correlation

Thank you all for your

quick responses and imput. I really

appreciate it. It is much easier having

people to connect with, who

know what you're going through. I forgot to

mention in my last e-

mail that I am living in South Berwick,

Maine. (about an hour from

Boston or Portland), the two nearest large medical

facilities.

Anoyone who knows of good docs in this area,

please share with me.

As far as my decision,

well, it's not been made yet. I am going

to see a DO on monday. He is a freind of the

family and feels there

is real concern for doing the Heller without

futher exploring the

possibility of this potential correlation.

In fact, he feels

strongly that he may be able to help. We'll

see what he comes up

with.

One thing I would really

like to say. I know that you all have

as much, if not much more experience with A than

I. However, the

general attitude I am feeling from the responses

is, " this is what

you have, accept it, and take the next best step,

the Heller. "

Remember that there is no known cause for this

condition, which is

why there is no cure. If everyone submits to

fixing the symptons and

not continuing to search for causes, we may never

find it.

In the end, I may very

well have to have the Heller, and if so,

I'll be fine, and will live with it as I have with

the constant

trouble eating. If that's the card I'm

dealt, I'm ready to accept it

for what it is. BUT, I won't ignore this

possibility.

On the neck injury side

of things, I can tell you this. I have

noticable nerve damage in my neck, upper and mid

back from the 4

buldging cervical discs. These nerves do not

control the esophogus.

However, the nerves that do, travel right passed

those damaged discs

and nerves. I should also say that 1 in 10

people have disc

disruptions and don't know it, becasue they don't

always show

muscular symptons. They also sometimes take

a great deal of time,

even years to get to the point that they do show

symptoms, if ever.

This doesn't mean that there are not problems

underlying that we

cannot easily see.

Again, sorry for the long

e-mail. A has been consuming my life

lately. Many decisions to be made, and as

you all know, and leaving

it untreated for too long can only cause more

problems. I do want to

find a cause and cure for A, even if I do have the

Heller. I will be

sure to let you all know what I find out from the

doc on mon.

Again, thank you all for your support. It

means a lot.

Mike

[Guest guest]

Mike wrote:

.... He is a freind of the family

and feels there

is real concern for doing the Heller without futher exploring the

possibility of this potential correlation. ...

I agree with you and it may be important for you

to explore this concern with him. Perhaps you will find another way to

deal with the problem. It is likely though that even if you do find a

connection that you will still end up having to make the same choice

between treatments that the most of rest of us have or are making. But at

least you will know you considered your options and will perhaps live

with less doubt.

.... If everyone

submits to fixing the symptons and

not continuing to search for causes, we may never find it.

....

However, if we do find a cause it does not

follow that it will mean we will have new treatment options. In fact, if

you don't know of a cause then you have idiopathic primary achalasia but

some people do know the cause of their achalasia and then it is

considered secondary achalasia and for some types of secondary achalasia

the treatment options are the same as for idiopathic primary

achalasia.

On the neck injury side of things, I can tell you this. I have

noticable nerve damage in my neck, upper and mid back from the 4

buldging cervical discs. These nerves do not control the

esophogus.

However, the nerves that do, travel right passed those damaged discs

and nerves.

It should also be pointed out that the main

nerve controlling the esophagus, along with other organs like the heart,

is the vagus nerve which does not travel in the spine. Because it is away

from the spine the organs it controls can continue to work even after

spinal injuries.

There other nerves that do travel in the spine that may be involved.

However, it has been shown that damage to the vagus nerve or damage to

part of the brain can cause achalasia. I don't know of anyone ever

showing that damage to the spine can cause it. Maybe it can, and I have

just forgotten this fact.

There are people that have reported to this group that they did get some

relief after seeing a chiropractor. Others have not found it to help. I

don't know if any have had long term success with it.

Many decisions

to be made, and as you all know, and leaving

it untreated for too long can only cause more problems.

And it seems that by the time we get treated

there is already permanent nerve damage, possibly from the pressure in

the esophagus from stuck food and drinks.

I do want to

find a cause and cure for A, even if I do have the Heller. I will

be

sure to let you all know what I find out from the doc on mon.

We will stay tuned!

notan

[Guest guest]

Mike - we are all with you in the search for a cause and a cure and if you look at the Website you will see numerous polls where people tried to find a strong correlation between those of us with A. Many of us are still researching other possibilities. Lets face it A does 'consume your life' ! It is a constant presence and food takes on a new meaning.

We have all had to go through the stage you are going through - acceptance comes slowly to most people.

You are on the right track !

Joan

neck injury correlation

Thank you all for your quick responses and imput. I really appreciate it. It is much easier having people to connect with, who know what you're going through. I forgot to mention in my last e-mail that I am living in South Berwick, Maine. (about an hour from Boston or Portland), the two nearest large medical facilities. Anoyone who knows of good docs in this area, please share with me. As far as my decision, well, it's not been made yet. I am going to see a DO on monday. He is a freind of the family and feels there is real concern for doing the Heller without futher exploring the possibility of this potential correlation. In fact, he feels strongly that he may be able to help. We'll see what he comes up with. One thing I would really like to say. I know that you all have as much, if not much more experience with A than I. However, the general attitude I am feeling from the responses is, "this is what you have, accept it, and take the next best step, the Heller." Remember that there is no known cause for this condition, which is why there is no cure. If everyone submits to fixing the symptons and not continuing to search for causes, we may never find it. In the end, I may very well have to have the Heller, and if so, I'll be fine, and will live with it as I have with the constant trouble eating. If that's the card I'm dealt, I'm ready to accept it for what it is. BUT, I won't ignore this possibility. On the neck injury side of things, I can tell you this. I have noticable nerve damage in my neck, upper and mid back from the 4 buldging cervical discs. These nerves do not control the esophogus. However, the nerves that do, travel right passed those damaged discs and nerves. I should also say that 1 in 10 people have disc disruptions and don't know it, becasue they don't always show muscular symptons. They also sometimes take a great deal of time, even years to get to the point that they do show symptoms, if ever. This doesn't mean that there are not problems underlying that we cannot easily see. Again, sorry for the long e-mail. A has been consuming my life lately. Many decisions to be made, and as you all know, and leaving it untreated for too long can only cause more problems. I do want to find a cause and cure for A, even if I do have the Heller. I will be sure to let you all know what I find out from the doc on mon. Again, thank you all for your support. It means a lot. Mike