Last post Sat, Feb 23 2008 9:56 AM by misspamm67. 43 replies.
Hi Hoola hoop lol ;)
OK I was not real clear - I was suppose to feel pain from the nerve massage IF the nerves were still "alive" - but I didnt - hence meaning nerves are shot - chair? maybe - maybe not depends on if my nerve that is almost dead but not quite keeps telling my leg to move - right now it moves a little, enough I can walk sometimes with or sometimes without a cane.
Pain ? Nope - still there :(
Weird how something can be "dead" and still hurt.
My Dr did put me on folic acid and B12 - I guess Mayo clinic is using this and the nerve massage to help bring damaged spinal nerves back to life....... so we'll see.
I am still going to finish up the course of treatment and hope that there is some/any improvement. I have 12 more back traction ( where they hook you up to weights and pull on your disks to try and get blood and oxygen back to them ) and 5 or 6 more nerve massages to go.
Hi Beth,
I'm new to Disaboom, but not to being disabled. A lifetime ago (well at least it feels that way) i was a
rehab nurse. LIFE is IRONIC! I felt the same way you do,i either stayed in bed or sat in a recliner. This
went on for about 6yrs. WOW! this is the 1st time i thought about how long i did nothing. Like you i was
over weight,severe pain & basically just gave up. Then my life totally changed. I found out my
insurance paid for me to go to a gym. At 1st i had to take classes with the senior citizens, (at 43 the
older people were really making me look like i was the oldest in the class) there where alot of things i
couldn't do either. Granted i would come home EXAUSTED but the instructor told me to stick with it for
1 month & it would be worth it. She was right, i did start feeling a little better,so then i started swimming
my greatest passion. The funny part was it was the little ladies from the senior class that would help me
get dressed. Try calling your senior center in your area & explain your situation, you might be surprised
they might be able to help you. I lost 50 lbs. , had more energy & the pain was a little better (We have
natural painkillers in our brain & exercise releases them). So please start back to PT I know it hurts but
your getting exercise with therapist to help & motivate you.Unfortunately the doctors but me on a new
med which makes me tired & hungry (i gained 25lbs back) so i,m starting over again. Beth i just didn't
decide on my own to do the gym thing,I read a book called God's answers to life's difficult questions, my
life has never been the same. Yes right now i'm depressed i have to start again, but isn't that why God g
gave us a new day, to start new. It's never easy but if i can YOU CAN! God Bless you Beth & i'll keep
you in my prayers!
Dawn
Hi Beth. My name is Jon Klingenfus. And my situation is pretty much at the same place as yours (L5 S1)you can read my Bio such as it is.I walked with a cane due to my ballance was shot after surgery for 7 yrs. i found some shoes that REALLY HELPED!!!! they are called Z coils.My nerv pain was horrible and i couldnt stand on any surface for more than a couple of minutes with out the lightning bolts shooting up and down.they look kinda funky but oh my god what a difference they make.When my surgeon had to finally admit he could do no more harm he wrote me off and labeled me a drug seaker,basically calling me a druggie and faking my pain to get pills,even though prior to my surgery no pain meds were given and after surgery only two scripts of tylenol 2.i went almost 6 years with no pain medication-so i drank---------------a lot!! now 250 lbs. I was worse than ever ,finally i found a DR. to work with me and i quit drinking almost over night,I was never an alcholic I was just in pain and wanted some relief--I wish i could say the shoes took me off the meds!!!But the morphine i fear is here to stay.but now i weigh 195lbs. due to the shoes and being able to go for walks,
Take comfort in your children.My injury has kept my wife and i from having any.mostly due to money--i dont want to ruin a childs life due to mine being in the crapper--the prozac helps--to keep you quiet--dont let them.kick scream yell until they listen to you--truly your worth it!!! I hope this helps even a little.
Your friend Jon
I would see another doctor, a surgeon, and demand surgery.
Butterflylady,
I have a herniated disk and a pinched siatic nerve so I sort of know how you feel. I don't handle pain well and I am the biggest crybaby when it comes to pain. Anyway, the first thing you have to do is change your mind set from "I CAN'T DO IT" TO "I WILL DO IT AND I CAN DO IT!" Like you I am over weight and that is not good for you back either. I am trying to lose weight and I lost about 15 pounds.
I went to PT 3x a week for 6 weeks when my back started to totally hurt, but after about the 3rd session, I started to feel better. Treatments aren't going to work the first time out. I hated the massages but in the end they helped. I do everything I am WAS told not to do, that is play soccer, floor hockey, basketball and do the 50 meter walk and softball throw in the Special Olympics. What works for me is taking 3 advil befor I practice or place(this was oked by my doctor). Also Ice helps too.
HOPE THE FOLLOWING CHEERS YOU UP:
I have a bad ankle, 2 bad knees, a sugically repaired right elbow and if I were a horse they wouldl shoot me(LOL)!
Hello,
I have found this site to be a tremendous help when your feeling depressed and all alone. I too have alot of back pain with disc replacements from degerative disc disease and spinal stenosis and now depression because of loosing a very good job. I am not the most religious person out there probley more God fearing than anyone I know but I do know this. "If God brings you to it, God will bring you through it" Keep up the chin and alwasy come here when things aren't going as expected someone somewhere will pull you threw that day
Kit
Hey Butterfly Lady,
I feel your pain, No fun.
I also have some problems w/ my lower disc, now I wake up w/ pain down one leg or the other. It keeps me guessing, ha. Not really a laughing matter. I am the Queen of Denial. I keep trying to work but it hurts and people are not understanding. I know I need to find the right Dr. to help me. I called my Rheumotologist, She prescribed more pain meds till I get to the next appointment in Feb. I hate being dopey. If I call my Neurologist they will probably want to give me those big shots in my back $$$$, that only last a little while. I have been doing them for the past 3 years. But I did not have the shooting pain down the leg like I do now [ I know it's getting serious ] Maybe I also need a 2nd opinion. I've had trouble w/ my lower back for 35 years & am tired of the pain. When it comes to back surgery you need to go to the best. My MOM had back surgery in the 70's & has done well, she crunched one of her disc. She is now 79, has had 2 knee replacements & goes to water aerobics 3x per week at the Y. [ GO MOM!!!]
I should go back to water aerobics, [ I should check to see if my insurance would help pay for it ] but the only place I can afford can't keep their water temp right. Don't exercize in cold water it will only zap all your strength! I quit going because I thought I finally found the "dream Job" but it turned out to be a nightmare & my boss was a real, not understanding #*&!@%$$#% jerk. so much for that.
I started water aerobics after my knee replacement, it really helped me to get back my strength & balance. When I was going to water aerobics I would wear my swim suit under my clothes to make it easier & bring clothes to change into. I would go to work after. 2x's I forgot to bring my underwear. Lucky I was working part time @ a department store. Ha! I was the youngest in my class too & the older ladies were so nice. I bet the ladies in your class are also nice & all women like to "mother" so I'm sure one of them would help you get dressed. [ I hate to ask for help also, it drives my Husband nuts. ] My mom says that the Red Cross has volunteers that will take people who can't drive to & from DR. appointments, I wonder if they would do that for water aerobics?
I think it's great that your Dr. put you on folic acid & B 12. Last night I pulled out my favorite book on nutrition "Let's eat right to keep fit by Adelle Davis. In the book She states that if you try for 3 months of eating healthy instead of trying to loose weight on some diet, that you will have better results & feel better. also to take baby steps to getting back to exercize. My Neuroligist said I needed to loose 50 lbs. I'm 5' 7" & weigh 195 - 200 lbs. of course He didn't tell me how. Some times you just have to do alot of research to find what works for you.
Keep on smiling, your not alone.
love Bell
Hello Butterflylady. Very interestinghow you found this site! I am new here and it is curious to see your discussion in the current page since it is months old, but your caption really caught my eye since it is what I have been thinking and feeling..how to start over and wanting my life back.
I became paraplegic 5 months ago when I got hit from behind by a sleepy driver. Like you I see there are people worse off then me and it does NOT make me feel better! It's a sorrowful world sometimes.
Your chosen name is very interesting...remember a butterfly goes thru many changes and rest periods before it becomes a beautiful winged creature. It begins as an egg, turns to a catepillar which has its own cycle of growth, changes size 5 times, called "instar". Then it hangs upside down for a while, then pupates, that is changes to a chrysalis, and again rests. When it emerges it must rest again, hanging til its wings dry. Only then can it fly.
I worked on a butterfly farm and my job was gathering food and feeding the catepillars and harvesting the pupae. I had my own personal metamophosis while watching these fascinating creatures. I'm not sure what stage I'm at now... It seems to me that you are facing many changes and challenges as well. You can become a whole new creature, leaving behind all the old bodies.
I agree with Debbie that diet is the best way to control diabetes, and with the doctor that exercise every day is the best thing to keep you mobile. Walking is the best. There is a man here who has neuropathy and he is a diver and has no pain when he is in the water. Losing weight is a tedious task but I'm sure it is essential to your healing. Believe it or not, the best way to reduce is to eat frequently! Just don't eat more than 500 calories at a sitting. And altho breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it sets your metabolism, it is not necessary to "break fast" first thing in the morning. Any exercise done before eating will burn what is stored.
I also have bad reactions to meds and have chosen to go drugless, much to the doctors dismay. They know little else. I have a friend who was diabetic and changed his diet and his blood changed so quickly they wanted to do a case history on him. I am delighted to hear the Mayo Clinic is using vitamin therapy! But from what I learned it is best to take ALL the B vitamin complex, taking just two can create an imbalance.
Have you read THE SECRET? The premise is we are what we THINK. I don't know why I would think myself into my current situation, but I'm trying to stay conscious of my thoughts so that I can start over again and have a new and better life. I wish the same for you.
hi beth..where are you? i miss you yoyo! come back xoxo
hi john and shakennotsturred, welcome to disaboom and great to have you join us. it's nice to meet you.
Hi Kit, I just want to thank you so much for those encouraging words, "if God brought you to it, God will bring you through it", God bless you, Wendy
SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR TROUBLES. I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO GET THROUGH A SITUATION LIKE THIS IS NOT TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN'T DO AND WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHAT YOU HAVE. YOU SAID YOU HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD GRANDSON, WHEN I GET DOWN I SPEND TIME WITH MY GRANDSON,HE'S 4 MONTHS. I OFTEN THINK HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT, AT LEAST I AM ABLE TO SEE MY CHILDREN AND MY FAMILY GROW. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I WOULD GIVE ALMOST ANYTHING TO BE THE OLD ME, BUT I KNOW THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. I AM 49 NOW AND WAS 41 WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. I AM A C-4 QUAD AND HAVE BEEN IN A WHEELCHAIR SINCE. I CAN NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, SOMEONE SHOWERS ME AND DRESSES ME AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ELSE FOR ME. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I AM OFF THE VENTILATOR AND CAN BREATH AGAIN ON MY OWN. I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING AND EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT WAYS TO EXERCISE, BECAUSE I THINK EXERCISE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BODY AND MIND. PLEASE TRY TO GET BACK INTO THE POOL, I THINIK THE EXERCISE WOULD REALLYHELP YOU. MAYBE YOU COULD TAKE YOUR GRANDSON WITH YOU. EXERCISE GETS YOUR ENDORPHINES GOING AND MAKES YOU FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
I HOPE YOU CAN GET STARTED ON YOUR DIFFERENT LIFE AND FIND A WAY TO ADJUST TO YOUR NEW CHALLENGES. TAKE CARE AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
DEAR BETH, I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FOOT, I PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL INTERVENE AND HEAL IT SO YOU WON'T LOSE IT. RIGHT NOW I AM THINKING, WHAT IF IT WAS ME THAT WAS LOSING MY FOOT, WHAT WOULD I DO? I GUESS I WOULD BE THANKFUL IT WASN'T MY LEG. I COULD STILL GET AROUND. I AM FACING MY NINTH SURGERY, THIS SURGERY WILL BE A FRONTAL BACK FUSION AND I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AT ALL!!!!! IT'S AN 18 MONTH RECOUPERATION, RIGHT NOW I CAN'T EXERCISE, CAN'T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING AND AM SUPER DEPRESSED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO BE ACTIVE. I PRAY THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER, GOD BLESS, WENDY
Hi Beth!!!As I am sitting here in "mad" pain, I looked up Back Pain- and saw your posts from last November. I have, and have had, sooo many similiar feelings; I'm not sure where to begin. For starters, I'd just like to ask how u r doing???? Better, I hope!!!? I am a new member since last wk.,and don't have any friends yet, sooo......if u ever wanna talk... I am misspamm.I would love 2 hear from ya?.Take care & God Bless. pammy.
