Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Hi Sandy, Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate your responses to me and to other members of the group. You are so kind and caring. I am really thankful for everyone in this group and all the kindness members show to each other. I also completely agreed with what you said: " when > someone offers information that could potentially offer someone > some hope or knowledge, I think it is great. > Isn't that why we are all here, to help one another?? Offering > information, weather we like it or not, is all about sharing that > info, and potentially helping someone! " Sometimes when I am having an especially hard time, it really helps to read what others share, and sometimes it helps me to think I might be able to help someone else, too. It is so hard not being able to work and feeling so isolated alone in the house and not feeling like I am making a difference in the world, so sometimes it helps to think that I might at least help someone in the world with something I write here, or information I pass on, or something I do in real life. Lately, I have been trying to be helpful to my dad's 76-year-old neighbor with terminal cancer, by calling him each day and I've met him for a couple suppers. He is very isolated too and having problems with doctors and pain, so I can relate. I think it is helpful to him to be able to talk to me and vent. I don't think anyone else really listens to him that much. It helps me to be able to have someone to talk to, too. I really appreciate this group and everyone's kindness, information sharing, and thoughtfulness. Hugs to you all! Mara lakelover125 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Hi , Thank you so much for your kind words. I wish you the best possible outcome with work comp. and SSDI. They are both such a challenge to deal with. I wish you strength and positive outcomes. Yes, I am young, and I look even younger. I think that is part of why a lot of the doctors don't take me and my pain seriously. If I looked how I felt, I'd look at least 80. Smile. Mara lakelover125 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 Norma, That is a bummer.... You mean there is a myth out there that isn't true? :-) Oh, well.... Here is to good days Jan :-) Norma wrote: I've had fibro for 12 years and no it doesn't get better over time. For me at least it has gotten worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2004 Report Share Posted September 18, 2004 Hi , Sorry I am not sure which of my messages you were responding to. I can relate to you because I have constant severe pain in my neck (among other places) and I have tears in all 4 of my disks C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5. 4 bad ones out of 5 disks they were able to test. I think more are bad in my neck and mid-back and low back (despite 3 already being removed/fused), too. They tested C-2 (the highest one up) on a different day from the rest and I think it (and maybe C-3 also) is the one that gives me the worst problems - makes it hurt so bad to look side to side like when driving and the worst when backing the car up and also really bad with looking up or down barely at all - looking up for 5 min. or less at ceiling lights trying to decide which ones to buy caused me excruiciatin neck pain, excruciating constant headache, dizziness, and sometimes I get shooting pains from my neck down through the backs of my shoulders, through my elbows and into my pinkies and fingers right next to the pinkies. Most people don't have it where the disks at C-2 or C-3 are bad. Most neck sugeries are only 1 or 2 level fusions. They sometimes do more, but not a lot. I'm only 33 now. 4 neck surgeons have recommended I not have surgery since I am so young and don't want to do it unless I could say my low back surery was a huge success (I can't say that.) It would have to be a 4 or more level surgery since we already know of 4 that are bad. I really think more are bad too, but it sounds like they don't test C-1 (too high up, you couldn't move your neck at all then if they fused it), C-6 didn't hurt bad at the time, and when they attempted C-7 I had such extreme pain when they tried to get the needle anywhere close and it is hard to manuver the needle around the bones there, they gave up trying to test it. They said if I had neck surgery, my range of motion would be so limited and one said I would probably never drive again. One said if I was over 60, they'd do the surgery, but at this age (well 30 at the time), I probably would be upset with the lack of range of motion. At least now I can pretty consistently drive 10 min. away and 10 min. back. If I choose, I can drive further, but then I get the constant excruciating neck pain and constant excruciating headaches often with dizziness and it can last 1-5 days straight with the worst pain levels I can imagine, short of a really bad diskogram with no medications at all (I was fully conscious, no pain meds for several days before, no nothing to make it better). I get shooting pains from my neck into my arms sometimes, usually along the ulnar nerves, (certain activities such as using a computer mouse or number keys a lot with my right hand bring it up in my right shoulder, arm, and hand. Also, looking down too long can do it, working too long at a computer at the wrong height) I also get a lot of tingling, numbness, body parts falling asleep, pins and needles, etc. in my arms, fingers, hands. (Well I get it in the lower half of my body, too, due to the bad low back problems - feel it in my low back first before it spreads lower - hips, butt, shooting down legs) I imagine a surgeon might do neck surgery for you or me if we really pushed it and wanted it, but it doesn't sound like the best option. I hope in our lifetimes they come up with a better option so you don't have to choose between the pain and virtually no range of motion for the rest of your life. My neck and arm pains started at the time of using the computer (especially the mouse with my right hand for 10-11 hours a day to finish big projects) at the wrong height at work too long, but then became so much worse and constant in the neck and started having those neck pains shooting up into my head giving the headaches and dizziness after 1 car accident and becoming even worse/higher level of constant pain, after the second car accident. I wish social security disability would figure out I AM disabled. Lots of people are approved with only 1 or 2 of the many things I have wrong. I have so many. I haven't even listed them all here in quite a while. Thanks so much for your message and I hope they figure things out for you and help you. I wish you all the best with everything. Hugs! Mara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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