ladyblue
11-05-2003, 07:35 PM
Hi my fellow cervies. Its been awhile since I have posted, but I still faithfully check the board every day. It gives me hope. And that is what I need. I do have a major question for all of you who have had and ACDF. If any of you have had a follow up MRI, did the result say anything about "metallic artifact" or anything about "ferromagnetic artifact"? Somehow I have metal in my neck, although I have no hardware left in there on purpose. NS is trying to convince me that during the process of the surgery "microscopic metal fragments from the instruments" get into the tissues at the site of the surgery. I dont know about you, but to me that sounds like a load of bull. I have had other surgeries including a shattered wrist repaired by surgery with screws and pins and dont have metal there any more once the ortho removed the pins and screws. I am wondering if I am being overly paranoid. My DH is almost beside himself with worry over me. Especially since I feel WORSE now than before my surgery. I am slated for a myleogram since the NS said that he has no idea where my pain is from. Now I am very discouraged. ITS NOT IN MY HEAD!!! Its in my neck, shoulders, shoulder blades and in my head with headaches that have returned in full fury. I dont know what to think, who to believe or what to do next. I do know that I feel like yuck 90 percent of the time, and the 10 percent that I do feel ok are the days or times when I do nothing. Depression is my daily friend. I have no clue as to my future both professionally or physically. I feel as if a huge part of my life is over and dont know where to turn.
Any feed back would be greatly appreciated and I am sorry for the venting. But sometimes a girl just has to spew ya know?
Lisa
Any feed back would be greatly appreciated and I am sorry for the venting. But sometimes a girl just has to spew ya know?
Lisa
Sponsor
PsychLea
11-09-2003, 01:47 AM
Lisa,
You are not crazy and you are not alone. I think your NS is full of BS. :p I have a plate, so yes, my MRI shows artifact, but yours should not.
I am going through my 2nd set of ESI's right now. The pain is not any better and the next step is burning the nerves. I have had some interesting run ins with my PM's nurse, but I think we have an understanding that I am not interested in any narcotics, just pain relief.
My PM said the facet joints were causing some of my pain, well lots of pain! His name is DR. Ault in North Little Rock and he seems to know what he is doing. I started Baclofen this week and hoping it will help. Haven't noticed much difference, but Haven't been on it very long either.
hope the myleogram shows where the problem is.
You are not crazy and you are not alone. I think your NS is full of BS. :p I have a plate, so yes, my MRI shows artifact, but yours should not.
I am going through my 2nd set of ESI's right now. The pain is not any better and the next step is burning the nerves. I have had some interesting run ins with my PM's nurse, but I think we have an understanding that I am not interested in any narcotics, just pain relief.
My PM said the facet joints were causing some of my pain, well lots of pain! His name is DR. Ault in North Little Rock and he seems to know what he is doing. I started Baclofen this week and hoping it will help. Haven't noticed much difference, but Haven't been on it very long either.
hope the myleogram shows where the problem is.
ladyblue
11-09-2003, 02:35 AM
Thanks Lea for your continued moral support. Greatly needed at times like this. Yes, NS is full of it. He treats me like I am ignorant but little does he know that I have a 20 year background in the medical field as well (besides my current occupation.....or should I say, probably past occupation). Well, anyway, its like my attorney said.....any time there is any type of unexplained foreign body in a person, it is us to the DOCTOR to convince folks that he did NO wrong...not the other way around. In other words, he has to convince someone that the metal is there for a reason and not just for ***ts and giggles. If you know what I mean. ;)
As far as PM goes, I am totally in agreeance with you. I am definately NOT drug seeking, just seeking some relief from this horrible, daily, constant sledge hammer in the neck feeling I keep having. After the mylo the PM doc will get to see me.
Hope you are doing ok. I guess you and I are two of those who didnt turn out so great huh? Me, myself, I just keep on keeping on and try not to complain too much. But then I tend to internalize with my feelings and such and get even more depressed.
Hey, but during all of this I have picked up a GREAT new interest that is probably going to turn into a business for me as I have been having wonderful test reviews. I am into (DH says I am addicted and need a 12 step ) to making natural soap, lotion, lip balms and such. He refuses to even buy soap at the store anymore!! And he is a hairy soap eating soul.....my soap lasts way longer than store bought. The greatest compliment is when he said that he loved it and wont ever use anything else. .......its soothing for the soul....and thats got to be good for the body!!
Chin up girl, Lisa
As far as PM goes, I am totally in agreeance with you. I am definately NOT drug seeking, just seeking some relief from this horrible, daily, constant sledge hammer in the neck feeling I keep having. After the mylo the PM doc will get to see me.
Hope you are doing ok. I guess you and I are two of those who didnt turn out so great huh? Me, myself, I just keep on keeping on and try not to complain too much. But then I tend to internalize with my feelings and such and get even more depressed.
Hey, but during all of this I have picked up a GREAT new interest that is probably going to turn into a business for me as I have been having wonderful test reviews. I am into (DH says I am addicted and need a 12 step ) to making natural soap, lotion, lip balms and such. He refuses to even buy soap at the store anymore!! And he is a hairy soap eating soul.....my soap lasts way longer than store bought. The greatest compliment is when he said that he loved it and wont ever use anything else. .......its soothing for the soul....and thats got to be good for the body!!
Chin up girl, Lisa
Nanner
11-09-2003, 08:28 PM
Hey, Lisa! I had an MRI after my ACDF (no hardware, just like you) and there were artifacts present, but only bony ones. No metal, no how. I would be concerned in your shoes, too. Hope you get some answers, and maybe you need to go elsewhere to find them.
ladyblue
11-09-2003, 09:11 PM
Hey, Lisa! I had an MRI after my ACDF (no hardware, just like you) and there were artifacts present, but only bony ones. No metal, no how. I would be concerned in your shoes, too. Hope you get some answers, and maybe you need to go elsewhere to find them.
Trust me~~~!!!!! I am on the road to another place for answers. I dont like being spoon fed bull s**t, especially from a high priced butcher.
Lisa
Trust me~~~!!!!! I am on the road to another place for answers. I dont like being spoon fed bull s**t, especially from a high priced butcher.
Lisa
winged phantom
11-10-2003, 02:26 AM
Hey Lisa! and Lea and Nanner!
I've been absent for a long time... and now I'm not able to sleep. :yawn: Well, totally unrelated events, but you know how it goes! :rolleyes:
Lisa, you and I and everyone else here knows it's not just in your head, and any MRI you have should be with contrast, I think. Isn't that how they do them for us Spineys with hardware? I haven't had another one yet; just a whole host of x-rays, though. Whatever... if ever you have more MRI's or if anyone asks about implants, I think you should say "yes" unless it's proven later that there really is nothing there.
But that's beside the point... I can't help with the medical stuff, but I am concerned about the depression; certainly understandable! Are you on any antidepressants? If so, is it working? Is it time for a reevaluation? Don't wait until you are really down and out... I'm on the plain old tricyclic desipramine. #1- it's supposed to help nerve pain, #2- I've been on it before and it works pretty well for me with few noticeable side effects, #3- I tried Paxil and felt totally brain dead on it and had a hard time getting off it (had to do it 1/8 of a tablet at a time); even amitriptyline, another of the tricyclics, made me brain dead.
That's wonderful news about the soap making business! :bouncing: I know that is one other thing that has been such a concern; your career future.
Hang in there... It's a hard row to hoe... But you are not alone.
wr :wave:
Hi! You there?
wr 1:32
I've been absent for a long time... and now I'm not able to sleep. :yawn: Well, totally unrelated events, but you know how it goes! :rolleyes:
Lisa, you and I and everyone else here knows it's not just in your head, and any MRI you have should be with contrast, I think. Isn't that how they do them for us Spineys with hardware? I haven't had another one yet; just a whole host of x-rays, though. Whatever... if ever you have more MRI's or if anyone asks about implants, I think you should say "yes" unless it's proven later that there really is nothing there.
But that's beside the point... I can't help with the medical stuff, but I am concerned about the depression; certainly understandable! Are you on any antidepressants? If so, is it working? Is it time for a reevaluation? Don't wait until you are really down and out... I'm on the plain old tricyclic desipramine. #1- it's supposed to help nerve pain, #2- I've been on it before and it works pretty well for me with few noticeable side effects, #3- I tried Paxil and felt totally brain dead on it and had a hard time getting off it (had to do it 1/8 of a tablet at a time); even amitriptyline, another of the tricyclics, made me brain dead.
That's wonderful news about the soap making business! :bouncing: I know that is one other thing that has been such a concern; your career future.
Hang in there... It's a hard row to hoe... But you are not alone.
wr :wave:
Hi! You there?
wr 1:32
ladyblue
11-10-2003, 02:39 AM
Hey Lisa! and Lea and Nanner!
I've been absent for a long time... and now I'm not able to sleep. :yawn: Well, totally unrelated events, but you know how it goes! :rolleyes:
Lisa, you and I and everyone else here knows it's not just in your head, and any MRI you have should be with contrast, I think. Isn't that how they do them for us Spineys with hardware? I haven't had another one yet; just a whole host of x-rays, though. Whatever... if ever you have more MRI's or if anyone asks about implants, I think you should say "yes" unless it's proven later that there really is nothing there.
But that's beside the point... I can't help with the medical stuff, but I am concerned about the depression; certainly understandable! Are you on any antidepressants? If so, is it working? Is it time for a reevaluation? Don't wait until you are really down and out... I'm on the plain old tricyclic desipramine. #1- it's supposed to help nerve pain, #2- I've been on it before and it works pretty well for me with few noticeable side effects, #3- I tried Paxil and felt totally brain dead on it and had a hard time getting off it (had to do it 1/8 of a tablet at a time); even amitriptyline, another of the tricyclics, made me brain dead.
That's wonderful news about the soap making business! :bouncing: I know that is one other thing that has been such a concern; your career future. I, too, wish there was some way you could get some to us... :p Stranger things have happened, though...
Hang in there... It's a hard row to hoe... But you are not alone.
wr :wave:
Hey Wing,
You always offer such wonderful uplifting words of support. Yes, I am on antidep.....Lexapro.
As far as MRI w/ contrast, yeah, I know what I should have, but getting that igmo doctor to order it is quite another thing. I think the mylogram will be quite telling tho dont you?
The bath and body line that I am developing is going to be quite outstanding. Today we did Blackberry Sage.....mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm yyyymmmmm and hubbbbbahubbbbba on top of that. I am going to do the lotions, and potions and scrubs and massage balms and the lip balms etc in co ordinating fragrances. My house smells wonderful!!! And you know, I actually had a thought the other day (gasp!!!), I thought about putting a blurb on my stuff and finding a decent, honest organization, and donate 10% of the proceeds of my sales to spinal cord injury or research or some such. Seeing as how thats what got me into this new potential business, I think its only fittin' , dont you?
Anyway, thanks for the lift, you are a blessing.
Lisa
I've been absent for a long time... and now I'm not able to sleep. :yawn: Well, totally unrelated events, but you know how it goes! :rolleyes:
Lisa, you and I and everyone else here knows it's not just in your head, and any MRI you have should be with contrast, I think. Isn't that how they do them for us Spineys with hardware? I haven't had another one yet; just a whole host of x-rays, though. Whatever... if ever you have more MRI's or if anyone asks about implants, I think you should say "yes" unless it's proven later that there really is nothing there.
But that's beside the point... I can't help with the medical stuff, but I am concerned about the depression; certainly understandable! Are you on any antidepressants? If so, is it working? Is it time for a reevaluation? Don't wait until you are really down and out... I'm on the plain old tricyclic desipramine. #1- it's supposed to help nerve pain, #2- I've been on it before and it works pretty well for me with few noticeable side effects, #3- I tried Paxil and felt totally brain dead on it and had a hard time getting off it (had to do it 1/8 of a tablet at a time); even amitriptyline, another of the tricyclics, made me brain dead.
That's wonderful news about the soap making business! :bouncing: I know that is one other thing that has been such a concern; your career future. I, too, wish there was some way you could get some to us... :p Stranger things have happened, though...
Hang in there... It's a hard row to hoe... But you are not alone.
wr :wave:
Hey Wing,
You always offer such wonderful uplifting words of support. Yes, I am on antidep.....Lexapro.
As far as MRI w/ contrast, yeah, I know what I should have, but getting that igmo doctor to order it is quite another thing. I think the mylogram will be quite telling tho dont you?
The bath and body line that I am developing is going to be quite outstanding. Today we did Blackberry Sage.....mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm yyyymmmmm and hubbbbbahubbbbba on top of that. I am going to do the lotions, and potions and scrubs and massage balms and the lip balms etc in co ordinating fragrances. My house smells wonderful!!! And you know, I actually had a thought the other day (gasp!!!), I thought about putting a blurb on my stuff and finding a decent, honest organization, and donate 10% of the proceeds of my sales to spinal cord injury or research or some such. Seeing as how thats what got me into this new potential business, I think its only fittin' , dont you?
Anyway, thanks for the lift, you are a blessing.
Lisa
winged phantom
11-10-2003, 02:42 AM
Ummmm sage and blackberry.... And hubbabubba? did I get that right?
That sounds great! How did all this come about? This is quite an interesting development to hear about, and I certainly hope something good comes of it, as you sound so excited and positive about it! Keep up the good work... :tup:
wr
That sounds great! How did all this come about? This is quite an interesting development to hear about, and I certainly hope something good comes of it, as you sound so excited and positive about it! Keep up the good work... :tup:
wr