New Member

[Guest guest]

Pam, I'm really sorry to tell you this, but hope is all we really have.

I hurt every single day. I had back surgery (fusion) in 1997 until 2001 I was

doing great until I was in an auto accident. Yes, an auto accident It was

dayshaboo all over again, but worse

It was a miracle what things i could do before the accident (swim, walk 2 miles

in 40 minutes) whatever I felt like doing as long as it was not bending,

stooping, and repetition movement.

Now with my weaker back I just hope and pray to make it one more day. I don't

know when my back will quit I just keep on truck'n. I take medications to make

it. It's difficult for me to sleep. I just enjoy as much of my life as possible

being kind, respectful to others as I can because I don't know who I may need.

I find that exercise is good for my leg pain.

I work full-time, and go to school part-time. It is challenging to me just to go

to work and I work at a library. " I laid back can you get?'

I was married, but I couldn't deal with his rudeness to my condition.

You are going to have to go to physical therapy that is how you are going to to

make it. You must think POSITIVE.

Where are you?

You bring tears to my eyes. I'm 36 years old. I'm really sorry. You know my

doctor never told me how my life would change so dramatically. Now that I have

had this accident It is MUCH WORSE. I'm MAD.

Please respond

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[Guest guest]

Pamela,

First of all, I'd like to welcome you to the group. Although I'm

fairly new here myself, I appreciate the warm welcome I received

from so many others when I first arrived several weeks ago, and I

want to do the same.

I'm sorry to hear about your back problems but if it's any

consolation, you've come to the right place. You'll certainly find

plenty of advice, experience and friendship here. I know I have.

I'm surprised your surgeon hasn't offered to give you anything for

pain until you can be seen by a pain management specialist. Have you

asked him for a prescription yet? If not, call his office and let

them know how much pain you're in. Don't be afraid to elaborate and

certainly don't be afraid to demand some relief. No one deserves to

suffer for even a moment and I for one had to learn the hard way to

speak up when it comes to Dr's. and pain.

It sounds as though your surgeon has been honest with you about your

options, but it doesn't sound as though he's helped you as much as

he could with your pain levels. Consider doing as I did when my

surgeon gave me a similar prognosis. Ask him to give you something

for pain until you can be seen by the pain management specialist. Be

certain to convey how much pain you're in and just how much you're

suffering. If the guy has any integrity at all, he'll write you a

script to get you by. But be certain to let them know how much pain

you're really in. This is something you'll probably have to deal

with for the rest of your life, but if managed properly it's not the

end of the world by any means. You'll find a lot of support here as

well.

Judy

[Guest guest]

I agree.

I love this group.

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/14/03 5:16:37 AM Central Daylight Time,

ppammela@... writes:

<< Are there any over the counter meds I can take to get some relief

until I can meet with pain management doctor? I am 32 married with

4 kids and I honestly dont know how much more of this I can take.. I

have been telling myself for yrs that any day now the pain will stop

and listening to my doctor it sounds like it has only just

begun..Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you

Pamela >>

Pamela,

The only advice I would have for you about easing your pain

until you get some help would be to: use a heating pad or ice pack (ever

which one helps ease your discomfort the best) & you also could ask the

pharmacist what would be good for you to try as far as over the counter

meds.for your pain. I have also found that nice long " hot " soaks in the tub

with Epsom salt can help or even a nice long " hot " shower. You even might try

getting a good massage to ease your tension & help you relax. And last but

not least: I have found that a good pain patch from the drugstore can help a

little. You would have several to pick from but you might also want to ask

which one would be the best. Hope this helps while you're waiting for relief.

Take care & good look. Keep us posted as to how you're doing.

JoyceAnn aka:PainVictim

[Guest guest]

new member

Pam wrote :

> Hi all.. I'm sort of new to this and could probably use some

> advice.. I had back surgery 3 yrs ago to remove 2 discs (lower

> lumbar l3 and l4).. since then i have been suffering from chronic

> back pain and have lost almost all of my mobilty(even doing simple

> house chores have become too painful) I had always assumed the pain

> I was in was normal after back surgery or that I was a wimp (i only

> had one follow up appt after surgery and no PT)../

>rest deleted for brevity

>

> Hi Pam,

My name is and I can identify with your situation, 3 years ago I had an

anterior 2 level lumbar fusion.

I have never been pain free since. The surgery did help but it was not a

total cure.

Every one is different as far as pain goes. Im in pain management now and

probably will be for awhile,

as I continue to work. I can't afford not to.

I have to be on serious doses of medication to just function.

All I can say to you is find a Dr. who will treat the pain and hopefully you

will

improve over time.

good luck,

sincerly,

B.

>

[Guest guest]

lari822 wrote:

> <snipped>

> Has anyone out there ever compared different brands of electric

> chairs.If I ever want to go to flea markets or antique shows again I

> need this transportation to get around.The pain in my foot gets

> unbearable and I cannot walk for long.

My experience with electric wheelchairs has been that they are expensive, heavy

and hard to maneuver (except for one I tried that turns on a dime)

On the other hand, scooters come in a variety of sizes, speeds and prices. Most

can be dissembled and stowed in a car. Unless you physically can't handle

steering a scooter, the scooter is best for shopping and just getting out and

about.

As a side note - I have an acquaintance who was paralysed from the neck down in

a

car accident many years ago. She has this incredible

chair/bed/vehicle/lunchcounter/communicator machine. She drives it from a

remote

control barrette in her hair. All she has to do it nod in a particular way and

the machine does what she tells it to do. Quite amazing.

Lyndi

[Guest guest]

Moderator's note: Content of previous messages edited. Please do not type in all

caps.

SCOOTER OR ELECTRIC CHAIR INSC WIL PAY

THEY WONT PAY FOR THE LIFT OR TRAILER CADDY ON READ OF CAR 500 TO 1000.00

HAD A ELECTRIC CHAIR 4700.00 I WEIGH 270 SO THE CHAIR WEIGHED 300 COUND NOT

FIND LIFT LOADED IN BACK OF SUBURIAN AND FINALLR CHRUSHED THE FLOOR PADS

CHAIR WES GREAT BUT MOVING IT ANY WHERE WAS REALLY HARD IF I HAD TO GO BACK

TO HELP I WOULD GETA SCOOTER THAT I COULD LIFT WITH MY WIFE AND OUT IN

TRUNK

POOBEAR

-----Original Message-----

From: Lyndi

lari822 wrote:

> <snipped>

> Has anyone out there ever compared different brands of electric

> chairs.If I ever want to go to flea markets or antique shows again I

> need this transportation to get around.The pain in my foot gets

> unbearable and I cannot walk for long.

[Guest guest]

Larraine,

Welcome to our group. I joined many years ago and have found everyone to be

supportive and always ready to listen. I'm sorry you have the need for this

group too. I also have Fibro, so I know what your going thru.

Kathleen in Calif.

[Guest guest]

Hello And Welcome Larraine,

I have Fibro also, along with a host of other pests. LOL.

I see you have AOL.

Feel free to add me to your Buddy list and IM me if you ever need support or

just want to chat.

Take care all,

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[Guest guest]

Howdy!

I'm new to the group. I'm a 38 year old female, married to a Marine who

currently is serving

overseas in the Big Sandbox. No two-footed kids at this time (due to my

numerous health problems), but we have a variety of the four-footed sort.

Kitties are my passion!

I have quite a variety of health issues: Type II diabetes, diagnosed 8 years

ago, currently being treated with large doses of insulin (90 u. Lantus,

sliding scale regular when needed) and just started Avandia a few days ago;

Fibromyalgia, actually diagnosed as " CFS " a couple of years ago, finally

diagnosed as fibro about a year ago; hypothyroidism; depression; borderline

bipolar disorder; lower back problems; carpal tunnel syndrome; Social

Anxiety Disorder (as well as General Anxiety Disorder); migraines; chest

pain from scar tissue resulting from a massive pneumonia attack & chest tube

last year; problems with my right hip, due to several injuries; and possible

Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (not yet diagnosed, because that's the LEAST of

my worries!). I'm currently on a " delightful " cocktail of 15 different

meds, including the two types of insulin.

I am unable to work outside the home (largely because we

live in an area that is employment distressed; no one will pay me anything

near what I'm worth, and no one will hire me because I'm " overqualified " (I

have three academic degrees, including two in English & one in archaeology),

and the market is super-saturated with 18-year-old mothers of multiple kids

who will happily work for minimum wage.), and in two years, I have been unable

to find work

I can perform here at home.

I love to crochet (which hasn't been often, as I've been having major

problems between the CTS and Fibro). I have attempted a few knitting projects,

but haven't progressed very far; I also intend to try my hand at plastic canvas

& crochet on the double, but haven't yet. I also am an avid cook, and love to

read (Koontz, King, Jordan, Tolkien, Heinlein, Dan , and all

sorts of other writers); I also love to play computer & console games, fish,

camp, and harass my husband. Lately, since moving into this new home, I've

been trying my hand at gardening (if the bloody deer would stop snacking on

my plants!!) I am an avid movie fan -- I love old classics ( Gable,

Jimmy , etc.) to current classics (on Ford, Connery, etc.

etc.) I collect books, movies, and windchimes.

When I'm not sleeping from the fibro or cleaning house, tending kitties,

playing Mrs. Green Jeans, etc., I run several email list communities: one

for Marine wives, one for Cajun cooks, and one for general recipes. I spend

a lot of time on the computer, surfing eBay, sending/reading emails, etc. --

in fact, my hubby and I met over the computer almost ten years ago (before

the internet was " the thing " ).

So...what else wouldja liketa know about me?

[Guest guest]

Moderator's note: Content of previous message edited.

Howdy, !

Sorry it's taken a while for me to respond; I've had a really rough week, trying

to help a friend.

Actually, I'm NOT " active " much at all; those are all activities I've gotten

involved with at one time or another -- but these days, on a typical day, I

sleep until after noon, have to take a nap a few hours later, try to do

SOMETHING productive depending on my level of pain (some housework, a little

gardening, etc.) -- watch TV or play on the computer a little; eat dinner, take

my insulin; then go to bed fairly early & read a while, then try to fall asleep.

I usually CAN'T sleep until after 4AM or so, in spite of going to bed at various

times, taking sleeping aids, etc. I haven't been able to crochet in several

months now, because of the pain in my hands, and the stiffness & swelling. I'm

not very productive -- and my dishes & various messes tend to pile up for a

while, because I can't establish a routine... so don't think I'm some sort of

walking miracle, by any means!

As for the deer...we live on base, so I don't have many options. Can't shoot

the deer (not that I really want to, anyway), can't make housing do anything

about them -- so I keep starting over...and over...and over...but I'm getting

pretty tired of this nonsense, let me tell ya!

Thanks for the warm welcome!

----- Original Message -----

From: susan herring

It's great to have such an active new member. How do you do all of that with

your illnesses? Must make you hyper?

Anway, it sounds like you need to take up deer hunting if you can't keep deer

out of the garden.

[Guest guest]

Can someone explain the difference between trigger point injections and

epidurals? Are they both painful?? Is there any anesthesia involved during the

procedure?? Did they help you? Sorry for all the questions..but I'm still

searching and learning.

Jan

[Guest guest]

ghunter280 wrote:

> Hi Folks!

Hi G,

> <snipped>.. and had the nerves at a couple of the facet joints

> electrically burned twice.

You sound like me. Can you tell me about your experience with having

your nerves burnt. I'm just about to have it done. And I know nothing

about it. Other than what it does, and how. But a personal experience

would be great. <g>

Thanks,

Sharon. in Australia.

[Guest guest]

{ Extraneous text deleted by Moderator }

r.s.a procedure

what they do is hang a I.v. with water and have a injection ready if the

pain is to bad. they put you under a floral scope at that point they take a

special needle and probe around the nerve they want to kill you are the

driver to make sure they are are on top of the nerve. then they flip a

switch for 10 to 45 sec the end of the needle gets hot and burns the nerve

killing it. we hope when we do this that when the nerve starts to groups

just like a potato sprout is does not get hung in scar tissue or in a area

that will press on it.

I have had over 20 of these done.they aren't the worst but you will

remember them.

poobear011@...

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan,

I don't know if anyone has responded to your questions about epidurals and

trigger point injections, so here it goes.

Trigger points injections are done at the site of pain. We have trigger

points all over and the doctor would go in and inject medicine to

break up the trigger point. These are painful but there are a lot of

people who swear by them.

Epidurals are done in the spine. When I have mine done the doctor gives me a

mixture of medicine by IV so I don't remember anything.

He also does it using fluoroscope (type of x-ray) so he can see exactly where

he needs to insert the needle. A steroid medication is put into the spine.

I just recently had another epidural done. This time he did it in 2 separate

spots and while I did not get a lot of relief this time, it was helpful in

evaluating how much damage has occurred since the last epidural was done.

Sometimes I get quite a bit of relief and sometime it doesn't help much at all.

Hope this helps to answer your questions.

Kathleen in Calif.

[Guest guest]

Hello and Welcome to Affirmations!!!

Very happy to have you join us. Well, to answer your question there

are several things to learn and remember. First off, it does take

practice, lots of practice. Even daily practice if you can!!

Secondly, it takes awhile to change a negative attitude to a positive

one, and to change negative affirmations to positive ones. But, it

CAN BE DONE! I've been doing this for approximately 20 years. And I

will admit that it took time to learn a new way. But, I did

it, ...and I know you can, too. Be patient with yourself when

changing to a new way of doing things!!

Also, every thought you think is a type of affirmation whether you

realize it or not. What you want to try and do is to change the

negative to the positive. But, to do that, you have to lovingly

correct yourself when you think or say it in the negative way. Gently

stop yourself, and say, " that's okay, I did believe this

negative way in the past, but NOW I BELIEVE IT POSITIVELY " !!! Then,

change the negative affirmation to a positive one, and say it out

loud. Even saying it in front of the bathroom mirror helps you make

the change even more and faster! Yes, you may feel silly, but Mirror

Work will REALLY work for you, if you keep trying it.

I will try to send in some examples of changing the negative

affirmations into positive ones next week some time. If I forget,

write me and remind me, though! Any time you want some individual

help, just email me at mollyann365@... too. I won't mind. Just

type in affirmations in the subject line, so it won't go to my spam

mail.

Hang in there, you can do it! And I will help you learn. That's why

I'm here. Love, PJ (group leader)

>

> Hi,

> and thanks for allowing me to join you.

> I live in the UK with my son.

> There are times when I get into very stressful situations

> when an affirmations would be helpful.

> I have tried in the past, maybe I have not been

> using them in the right way, because no matter how hard I

> try to get those positive words, the negatives keep coming.

> Any ideas how to make then stick?

> Thanks again,

> from Jean.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks PJ for answering in such depth, yes it will take patience,

as some of my negatives have been with me for years and

will take time to accept the new ways. My problem is finding a way

to make the positive affirmations stay in the mind and help me

when I am feeling low.

Jean

> >

> > Hi,

> > and thanks for allowing me to join you.

> > I live in the UK with my son.

> > There are times when I get into very stressful situations

> > when an affirmations would be helpful.

> > I have tried in the past, maybe I have not been

> > using them in the right way, because no matter how hard I

> > try to get those positive words, the negatives keep coming.

> > Any ideas how to make then stick?

> > Thanks again,

> > from Jean.

> >

>