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Post by laurazone5 on Sept 17, 2023 23:43:20 GMT
This week, 2 MRI's. (wed am) One, because the spine doc didn't like the cuts the hospital took, so he needs a new MRI ONE because he says my neurological symptoms are greater than what he sees in my neck.....so the 2nd MRI is of my brain. I told him there wasn't nuthin' up there to see, and he said "I want to make sure there's not something there that doesn't belong". I like this doc. He's straight forward. I work Wednesday 10:30am-10pm
No appointments Thursday, but I work 10am-4 at one job, and 5-9 at my side hustle.
Friday, PT at 8:30am. The muscles in my neck are so tight it feels like they are trying to pull my head of. The pain is absolutely unholy. Sometimes is hurts so bad I feel like I am going to puke, and sometimes my eyes roll in the back of my head like I'm gonna pass out. I need the muscles to loosen up in my neck so I hope PT will help. I don't want to take pain killers............but this pain in incredible. My mobility is crap. I can't bend, I can't turn my head, I can't feel my hands/arms it's giving me headaches.......I am a mess. I work Friday 10am-4
Then I get an EMG. Basically they stick a needle in my arm and eletrocute me to see if my nerves are working correctly.....(Friday 9/30 Am)
Oct 4 I see the spine doc so he can tell me what he sees on the films and report from the EMG and we go from there........
Pray that I will listen to God on what to do about this pain.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Sept 18, 2023 1:28:21 GMT
laurazone5, Prayers continuing for a sure diagnosis and treatment plan.
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Post by farmrbrown on Sept 18, 2023 1:47:25 GMT
This week, 2 MRI's. (wed am) One, because the spine doc didn't like the cuts the hospital took, so he needs a new MRI ONE because he says my neurological symptoms are greater than what he sees in my neck.....so the 2nd MRI is of my brain. I told him there wasn't nuthin' up there to see, and he said "I want to make sure there's not something there that doesn't belong". I like this doc. He's straight forward. I work Wednesday 10:30am-10pm No appointments Thursday, but I work 10am-4 at one job, and 5-9 at my side hustle. Friday, PT at 8:30am. The muscles in my neck are so tight it feels like they are trying to pull my head of. The pain is absolutely unholy. Sometimes is hurts so bad I feel like I am going to puke, and sometimes my eyes roll in the back of my head like I'm gonna pass out. I need the muscles to loosen up in my neck so I hope PT will help. I don't want to take pain killers............but this pain in incredible. My mobility is crap. I can't bend, I can't turn my head, I can't feel my hands/arms it's giving me headaches.......I am a mess. I work Friday 10am-4 Then I get an EMG. Basically they stick a needle in my arm and eletrocute me to see if my nerves are working correctly.....(Friday 9/30 Am) Oct 4 I see the spine doc so he can tell me what he sees on the films and report from the EMG and we go from there........ Pray that I will listen to God on what to do about this pain. If you already know about the trapezius muscles connecting shoulder to neck then skip to the 2:00 minute mark for the last minute. And if you knew all this before, I apologize, but it might help someone else too. I know what those headaches and neck tightness fell like. My Chiropractor can almost make me cry when he grabs those pressure points but the effect is immediate. When it gets bad enough it's surprising what you can do to or FOR yourself, lol. Anyway, when I read the dates on your post I figured you might want a little relief a LOT sooner. www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=pressure+point+to+loosen+trapezius+muscles&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:36b38770,vid:SQ5b2rqEZKg,st:0
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Post by joebill on Sept 18, 2023 2:57:27 GMT
laurazone5, I got no personal cures I will swear by, but I had similar stuff going on decades ago, and somehow got past it without surgery. I know that steaming hot towels from hot water seemed to help, and I wished I had a hot tub. I do not claim to know a dang thing, but if there is any activity that will make you totally relax, it sure cannot hurt, and it is what fixed me. Prayers up for you.....Joe
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Sept 18, 2023 3:14:08 GMT
Prayers going up here, laurazone5. That pain is miserable and unrelenting. I lived with it for many years. Only 2 things helped, heat (I used rice packs, and hot bath baths every night which continue to this day), and stopping everything I was doing that aggravated it, which included my work and almost everything else I did. Only then did it slowly start healing. I realize that’s not an option for you so will be praying you can find a cure soon.
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Post by joebill on Sept 18, 2023 8:32:23 GMT
I woke up thinking about the first time I had a bad neck strain. Doc had me roll up a towel and wrap it around to form a neck brace to hold my head up, then prescribed a HD muscle relaxer. Two days and I was back whole. No warranty on that cure....just fumbling around in my past......Joe
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Sept 18, 2023 8:58:51 GMT
I woke up thinking about the first time I had a bad neck strain. Doc had me roll up a towel and wrap it around to form a neck brace to hold my head up, then prescribed a HD muscle relaxer. Two days and I was back whole. No warranty on that cure....just fumbling around in my past......Joe Mine had me roll a towel up and place it under my neck whenever I’d lie down. Helped some. He sent me to a number of physical therapists, all were worthless except one, who helped considerably. My doc (surgeon) ordered them to never under any circumstances use one of those machines that would repeatedly stretch (pull) your neck. My neck/back damage was from car accidents (major whiplash), I suppose it would make a difference what the cause of your pain is as to how they would treat it.
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Post by mzgarden on Sept 18, 2023 9:57:54 GMT
laurazone5, I am still praying for you as well. I can add - this one exercise made an enormous difference for me. I do it still throughout the day, driving in the car, wherever I am. I avoided surgery for a bulging disk through a variety of PT options, anti-inflamatories and this exercise. I offer it in hopes something helps you get some relief. Step-by-Step Guide to Perform a Chin Tuck Sit upright and look straight ahead with the ears directly over the shoulders. Place a finger on the chin. Without moving the finger, pull the chin and head straight back until a good stretch is felt at the base of the head and top of the neck. ... Hold for 5 seconds if possible.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Sept 18, 2023 16:54:29 GMT
I've always referred to chiropractors as Witch Doctors, all that twisting and pulling just can't really help. Sweet Bride found a chiropractor who doesn't do any of that, he uses what's called an "activator", basically a machine finger that doesn't hurt, but does a wonderful job. The idea behind it is like acupuncture but without the needles, finding the nerves that control the muscles and relaxing them.
When the doc took x-rays the first time she went in he was surprised she could even walk her discs are so compressed and her spine was so crooked. After two visits her back and neck quit hurting. She has a standing appointment for every Tuesday to just keep her pain free. If she's done too much during the prior week, and she's almost dragging a leg when she walks in, she walks out 15 minutes later at a regular gate.
Out doing chores I tell her to let me do the lifting, but I'll look over and there she goes with a water bucket.
Not trying to play doctor here, but such an invasive surgery as what was first recommended would be a last choice after trying everything else. Remember the surgeon's motto, "A chance to cut is a chance to cure".
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Post by joebill on Sept 18, 2023 19:37:32 GMT
In recent years, I have had a pinched nerve in my neck, but the guy who found it told me not to DARE let anybody including him touch me with a knife......Joe
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Post by farmrbrown on Sept 18, 2023 21:26:18 GMT
Ozarks Tom, Yep, that's what was in the video I posted it's called acu pressure, ancient knowledge that today's doctors would rather you not find, lol.
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Post by laurazone5 on Oct 10, 2023 14:01:51 GMT
Brain scan no tumor. Neck scan, stenosis, arthritis....but he said he could scan 100, 58 year olds and 90 of them would have the same scan as me. Says that fusing C-4 through 7 would not correct the symptoms in my shoulders and hands. Does not recommend surgery on my neck at this time.
Had an EMG. The put 3 leads on my left hand and electrocuted my left arm in 3 different places. The pain, was next level. My whole body jumped off the table every time he shocked me. Ditto for the right arm. I could not handle the pain, so we did not do the needle test, where they shove a needle in your arm, and electrocute you.
Based upon the information of THAT test, I have 'severe carpal tunnel in both wrists". After the EMG my neuro symptoms in my shoulders, arms and hands has escalated 1 million times worse.
SO the Ortho referred me to a Neurologist.
4 working days passed, so I called to find out who they referred me too. Called that practice, waited on hold for 25 min, only to be told the first available apt. was Jan 6. THAT IS WITH A PA AND ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WILL NEED TO BE MADE TO SEE THE ACTUAL DOCTOR. I explained that since the EMG, my hands are dead dead, I cannot open a water bottle, I cannot wipe my butt or wash my hair, and driving is more than dangerous. Sorry, you're a new patient, that's how it goes, Jan 6 is the first available. I asked what hospitals / ER's that the neurologists practice at and if I went to the ER could I then see them? He said only if they admitted me.
So today, I will hit every ER in the city until I see a neurologist.
MEANWHILE, a 28 year old able bodied male I work with is STILL on the FREE Covid health insurance, and is have "vericose vein" surgery.......free....... His comment was "I need to get everything done before the free insurance is cancelled".
What in the actual )&%#&^. I am in so much pain, and so depressed, I simply can't even get angry.
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Post by daw on Oct 10, 2023 15:25:06 GMT
Prayers Laura laurazone5, so sorry you are going thru this. It is a shame how older people are treated. And doctors saying they do not have patients.
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Post by mzgarden on Oct 10, 2023 15:35:56 GMT
laurazone5, I liked your last post only to let you know I read it. I'm so very sorry. Prayers that some ER will admit you and find you a neurologist quickly.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Oct 10, 2023 16:53:23 GMT
Wow, laurazone5, that’s awful. So sorry you’re having to deal with all of this, especially such severe pain. I know of so many people, including those that are in their 30s/40s, who get appointments that are 6 mo or more down the road, and some have waited out that time, only to have their appointment cancelled at the last minute, rescheduled another 4-5 mo down the road…which is then repeated 2-3 times. I think you’re smart to go to the ER until you can see a neurologist. If you can’t get this resolved soon, you might need to consider filing for disability. It can be a difficult and aggravating process and usually takes at least 3 times before they’ll even consider you. In most cases they literally turn you down the first several times no matter what’s wrong with you. I believe you usually have to have several things wrong with you that prevent you from working. If I were you I’d talk to a good disability attorney right from the start…they could probably give you a good idea if you might even qualify. You should be able to get a free consultation. It is very difficult to accept being unable to work and unable to do simple daily tasks or self care. I was a year or so younger than you when I could no longer work, then a year later I had the 6 cardiac arrests which basically ended life as I knew it. There is a lot of anger and denial. It is extremely depressing to physically go from age 56 or 58 to what feels like 90 and your mind doesn’t want to accept it. A counselor, pastor or understanding friend you can talk to might be beneficial. Prayers that you will find the right doctor and that your situation can at least be improved.
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