Hi Everyone ! :wave:

Nanner , Winged Phantom,Debbie2, Melanie dawn, Oliver, and to All those who may remember me.
I haven't been on here since our dear little Grandaughter was born in February ..and I've missed you All.. :)

I have been struggling to get back into the " Real World" after months of a lot of pain,since my 3rd Spinal op. in July last year..2002;
plus working hard to get off as much medication as possible..
I have it down to a level I'm satisfied with..but may need it for the rest of my life due to the Neuropathic pain which can become unbearable at times ..

However My beautiful little Grandaughter( 8 months old today!) makes up for All the Pain and makes life worth living !! :angel:
Isn't it amazing how a Baby can make one feel?..

I am in a wheelchair now , needed due to the operation nerve damage of the spinal cord .. healing is not completed , time will tell if it ever will,but we are forever hopeful .

Anyway , I'm not here to be negative , I'm just here to say it's wonderful to see everyone is still encouraging each other with their problems ;

What would I have done; where would I be now; I dread to think? when I needed help to get through my darkest days without your friendship and help on here ??
You're All amazing !!
Love to Everyone .. Belle NZ http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/love1.gif

Belle :wave:, it's so good to have you check in! I was absent for quite a while, too. While some folks move on due to successful surgery, I think some of us just need a break. The boards are wonderful support, but it does take time to be an active participant.

Sorry to hear you are in the wheelchair. You certainly gave it your best shot, and the surgeons as well. At least it sounds like you have less pain than before, and the medication is helping control what continues.

I hope you keep dropping by. I was wondering where you had gone, as I missed your posts and the grandbaby updates.




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Nancy D-ACDF C6-7 on 6/7/02. Donor bone with no hardware

Belle!!!! Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? I'm SO GLAD to see you stopping by for a visit.... we've been wondering and worried about how you have been, and it's so nice to finally hear from you!

So how is that little love of your life doing? 8 months old, huh? And have you been working on lots of projects for her?

I'm glad you got your wheel chair to help you get around better, although it's sad to hear about how much pain you are still in and how hard life has been for you this past year; I hope that slowly there will be some improvement... Hopefully that is not too much to pray for, Belle.

Please, please, please.... stop by again in a day or two. I know Debbie2 has commented about how much she missed you; we've both missed your posts and wondered when you would find your way back here. And seeing as how it's the weekend here... and people are not usually on much over the weekend... I doubt she'll be back before Sunday night, which would be Monday morning your time.

I'm so tired I'm falling asleep in my chair.. I'll also try to stop back later to chat with you... you, too, Nanner..
wr

Oh Belle, my heart is jumping with joy. Belle, Belle, Belle... I have missed you so much. Of course, you remember how I worry, I was so very worried about you. This is just the greatest... you being here. Gosh Belle, I can't believe the baby is 8 months old. I just celebrated my year anniversary for my surgery. It's just fine as am I.
Glad to hear you got your chair, only because I want you to heal and be part of the world again. The chair, as much as you dreaded it, is safer for now then you trying to walk and being in pain.
Oh Belle, bless your heart... you sound so good to me :)
How are things at home, is hubby okay with all this. When you speak of the surgery, it's your old surgery not a new one correct?
How is the dear Mommy doing, and her hubby?
Oh my gosh I can go on and on. Last I heard our dear friend Davy was not doing so well. He had been working very hard (physically) and had problems a few months following. But dont' worry bout him, he's going to be fine. Someday I hope he will come back and join us here.
Like Nanner said, some move on some needed to move on.
Dearest Belle, please take care and know we are here just thrilled to the bones to see that screen name appear as returning.
God Bless you my dear friend. Welcome back!!!!! :D

Debbie2 :bouncing:


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Debbie2
ACDF fusion (c5c6) with titanium plate and screws using donor bone -
September 4, 2002.

Hi Everyone! :wave:
To those I know, and those I have never met on here before I hope you are all feeling positive and as well as possible;
if not, let us all know what we may do to help cheer you up? :)

The friendship on here keeps one going,it's amazing ! don't you agree? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif..
when others we love, like husbands , family or friends don't, or can't, really comprehend fully what we are going through, even though they try so hard to help..

There are VERY many aspects of disability connected to Spinal Cord Disorders,some issues no one will discuss with us , including Drs,Specialists etc... I have had almost 4 years of it and 3 operations , so I do know only too well..

it takes another person like our friends on here who've " been there , done that !" to be able to genuinely understand and empathise fully with this wretched position we have found ourselves in!!

I feel so lucky to have discovered this site when I needed it so much; and Thank You All for Caring about me ..It's wonderful to be back!

If you need any help about ANY issue, please ask and I'll try and be there for You too?..

Love to You All.. Belle http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/love1.gif

:wave: Debbie 2, Winged Phantom, and Nanner .. Thank you so much for the Lovely Welcome Back to the Board !! :)
it means so much to see your excitement, but I am really excited to be back too!!

My little Grandaughter is absolutely wonderful , such a pretty happy little girl.. full of life and keeps us on our toes ! I can't imagine what she'll be like in 4 more months time at 1 year old !!
My husband has been won over by her .. she's going to be Grandad's little girl , I can see that.. it's really lovely to see him so happy now , after all the terrible stress we went thru these past 3 years with all my health problems.. it's done a lot of good for us both.
And my daughter and her husband are being wonderful parents , I am truly so proud of her; she is such a great wee Mum , considering it's first baby .. so I feel very relieved for everyone .. I can sleep peacefully at night now .. no worries ..

Well Love to you all..off to bed now .. Will check in tommorrow to see how you all are ?.. :)
Love .. Belle http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

Hi Belle,

I rarely post here anymore, but I do lurk occasionally. I just wanted to welcome you back. It's wonderful to "see" you again.

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
Barb

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Anterior Cervical Corpectomy/Diskectomy); own bone from left iliac crest; titanium plate with 4 screws. Freed myself of Evil Miami JTO (not just J) killer contraption against surgeon's orders (and happy I did it!!!!)
Rebellion worked--I'm free with the surgeon's blessing now! YIPPEE!!

Gosh, old home week. Hey Barb, you've been mighty quiet here... life get that boring? HA! Belle, it's still just so good to see you here. Yes, I think we all agree... if I had not discovered this site when I was having surgery I may have put it off for God know how long. It's was a blessing... and it gave us such great friends :D
{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}

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Debbie2
ACDF fusion (c5c6) with titanium plate and screws using donor bone -
September 4, 2002.

Thanks Barb. for the welcome too. I am really pleased to see you took control of your "contraption" now with your Surgeons blessing.. I'm interested to know if you are left with any pain at all? and if so, what do you do for it? Can you exercise ? do all the things you used to do before the op?.. Did you get good advice of what you may be in for before the op?..This is really interesting .. thanks Belle http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif

Hi Belle and Debbie,

Debbie--Boring? Me?? No way. Just busy!!!!

Belle--I'll answer everything tomorrow. Before I write, I have to go back and see what I've already told you. The story is kind of long, and I don't want to bore you (and everyone else) with repetition. And since it's already past midnight, I'd never get to bed if I started now. But I promise to get back to you tomorrow.

Lots of love to all.

http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
Barb

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Anterior Cervical Corpectomy/Diskectomy); own bone from left iliac crest; titanium plate with 4 screws. Freed myself of Evil Miami JTO (not just J) killer contraption against surgeon's orders (and happy I did it!!!!)
Rebellion worked--I'm free with the surgeon's blessing now! YIPPEE!!

Hi again, Belle,

I bumped up a thread from March 2. I don't know if you had seen it or not, but it explains a lot of what went on surrounding my "freeing" myself. The thread is called "Debbie2--because you asked".

Now, to answer your other questions...

You might hate me, but pain was never an issue for me. I experienced tremendous pain during the few days surrounding the onset of symptoms, but that was the end of it. In fact, I still have 56 of the 60 20mg Oxycontin pills my neurologist prescribed back then. And I never took any pain medication at all once my surgery was done--not even immediately post-op. I do, however, experience stiffness/tightness sometimes (discomfort, but not pain), and when that happens, I take a Robaxin, just to relax the muscles.

As for exercise, the surgeon from hell believes that PT can cause more harm than good, and from what I've read here on HB, there have been enough horror stories for me to respect that opinion. However, I most certainly do NOT agree that I shouldn't be able to do other kinds of exercise, like cardiovascular stuff. (She didn't even want me to go on the treadmill!) Unfortunately, though, I haven't had any time to get to the gym. (Most people around here know about four of my husband's knee surgeries. I don't know if anyone knows that he developed another infection and had four more surgeries in June. I spent the summer being a caretaker and not properly recuperating from my own ordeal.) Anyway, if I ever get to the gym, I will work on the treadmill and the stairmaster (to the extent that my MS allows, that is), and if I do any arm exercises, I will limit myself to ten pounds.

My left arm has improved tremendously, but it's still not 100%. I'd say that it's probably up to about 80%. With the exception of carrying heavy loads, I can pretty much function like I did before the operation. I think I'd probably drown if I tried to swim, though, because I recently discovered when trying to show my daughter the proper swimming stroke that my left arm gets stuck halfway through the stroke, and I can't bring it up and around without working very hard at it!! The first time I noticed this problem, I could not bring the arm around at all, not even with all the concentration in the world. Now I can (with hard work, as I said above), so I guess even that's showing improvement.

I was told by the surgeon from hell that nerve damage takes a very, very long time to heal and that it could be two years until I would know if I would recover full function of the arm or not. I'm 13 months post-op now, and judging from the improvement thus far, I have hopes that I'll get back to 100%. (Of course, the MS and/or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has affected my hands, especially my left one, so there's loss of function there that is not because of the cervical problem.)

I never saw the b**ch again after Feb.14, so I'm basically just cruising along on my own, doing what feels right and avoiding what doesn't. If I have any questions, I usually ask my MS neurologist. Despite that fact that he is the one who referred me to the dragon lady, I still love that guy!

Well, I think I covered everything. If there's anything else you'd like to know, please ask. Same goes for anyone else.

Lots of love,
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
Barb

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Anterior Cervical Corpectomy/Diskectomy); own bone from left iliac crest; titanium plate with 4 screws. Freed myself of Evil Miami JTO (not just J) killer contraption against surgeon's orders (and happy I did it!!!!)
Rebellion worked--I'm free with the surgeon's blessing now! YIPPEE!!

This is for Barb,
Shocked to find a fellow MS'r here, suffering from cervical problems. I have bulging in the C5/C6 and C6/C7 area and major issues in the T1/T2, with nerve compression affecting my right arm /hand. My MS affects my left arm/hand, so this is extremely concerning for me, since it's affecting my "good" hand.

I'm rather new here, so I'm not familiar with your history, but would love to learn more about your experiences. One thing I'm confused about is the apparatus you mentioned being freed of, against dr's orders. Whatever it was, I'm glad you stood up for yourself, and are free of it now.

I'm 39, female, dx with MS in '97, on Avonex weekly injection, no flare-ups since dx. Back problems are new to the mix...only started about a month ago, with no apparent cause...just woke up that way one morning. My neurologist is treating me thus far, and is trying everything to avoid surgery. Had a cervical ESI 2 weeks ago, and am scheduled for thoracic one in 2 weeks. If that fails, then consult with orthopedic surgeon is next step. Don't know why orthopedic, would be more comfortable with neurosurgeon I think. I'll look into that further if the need arises.
Any advice, experience, whatever is greatly appreciated!! Best of luck to you, too...take care. Carla

Belle, I posted a reply to you on my initial thread about the thoracic problems, so please be sure and read it. :) I had no idea what all you have been through, and are still struggling with...you're amazing to have taken the time to offer your support to me. It means a great deal, and I wish you the very best in your recovery. Enjoy that grandbaby!!

Hugs,
Carla

bump for Belle