Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sherman, TX,
Thanks: 1
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Response to Marie B's Question About Bonati Sales Pitch Posted: 09-19-07 19:04pm
Marie:
My experience was almost identical to
Carianne's. Both places were informative,
interested and responsive to my many
questions. While I was researching
insurance and taking the time to weigh my
options, LSI contacted my weekly and were
quite relentless in getting me to commit.
As soon as I told them Bonati will at
least work with out of network insurance,
they responded with some negative comments
in an attempt to raise some concerns and
questions to place them in higher regard
and then stopped calling and emailing me.
Bonati, however never said anything about
LSI. They took the higher path. That
impressed me. The few questions I had,
were promptly answered and when I told
Bonati, I'd probably see them next summer,
they were fine with that decision.
Hope this testimonial helps.
C
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Weighing All of the Laser Options Posted: 09-19-07 20:02pm
Carol, There is no question from all that
I have read and heard from people that it
would appear Bonati seems to be the kind
of place we all tend to look at with
approval, for multiple reasons. Thankyou
for your observations of the two laser
places.
Carol, are there any undercurrents in your
mind that would make you choose not to
procede with surgery at Bonati or a laser
center closer to your home? Or would you
continue as you are for some years to come
with injections and possibley meds as long
as nothing more serious occurs?
I am weighing laser surgery because I
don't want to take large doses of the
various pain medications for the rest of
my life. Each one of them have unpleasant
side effects whether they take the pain
away or just take the edge off the pain.
Others tell me that even with surgery I
may still have to take meds if the surgery
isn't 100% .
Do you have doubts about the Institute
handling your spondy in the light of your
other spine problems.
I read on the outdated Bonati Forum the
question from a person who was concerned
about the "progression of spondy after
surgery." The person responsible for
answering the question of concern said
that the doctors handled many spondy cases
and although they would not say 100% that
the spondy would not progress, they would
say it was less likely to progress.
I thought that was a very interesting
statement. The Neanderthal surgeon who I
saw last, said there were no cases where
the spine totally collapses on a person.
After he said that, I left thinking, well
if spondy doen't pregress dramatically and
in the future doesn't press on any major
nerves, then why the insistence on rods
and bolts that many surgeons are trained
in and encourage ruthlessly. Why not just
free the dang impinged nerve or nerves by
a lamenectomy of the vertebrae as the
Bonati procedure claims to do.
I drive myself nuts with questions like
this. They have no answers because no
doctor is going to tell me that "I am
going to be fine now and in the future.
And then there is my husband who keeps
telling me to deal with the pain devil
that I know and not the one that I don't
know.
Quibble, Quibble, Quibble. I guess I am
being a namby pamby.
Marie B.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Posted: 09-20-07 10:35am
Hello Carol,
Seems like it has been awhile since we
last communicated. I hope your epidural
is helping you, especially now that school
has begun.
I'm with you in that I just have a better
feeling with Bonati than LSI, unforunately
Bonati won't accept Medicare and LSI
will.
RichT
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Darvon Posted: 09-20-07 10:41am
Hello Everyone,
I saw my PM doc yesterday - A "crick" in
my back (pulled muscle). Told me to use
cold packs rather than a heating pad.
Must say the cold pack REALLY helped.
I also told him that I have good days, and
not so good days pain-wise. He
recommended that I take Darvon when I had
a "bad" day. WELLLLlll after reading the
info from the pharmacy, and some on the
internet I'm not so sure I want to start
taking it.
SOOOooooo has anyone taken Darvon? And if
so did it help, and did you have any bad
side effects?
Thanks
RichT
|
Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Darvon Not For Older Adults. Posted: 09-20-07 12:52pm
Rich T
I could never take Darvon because I was
allergic to it.
There is another type of Darvon called
Darvon Compound and there is a Darvon 65.
These drugs were made by (Lilly) in past
years. It's been around for a long long
time.
Some years ago, I bought a book titled
Worst Pills, Best Pills by Sidney M.
Wolfe, MD. I got it to monitor my
Father's medicines. The book's minor
title is "The Older Adult's Guide to
Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness.
It provides information on 104 Pills older
Adults should not use and it covers 183
Safer Alternatives.
This book states about Darvon.
(Propoxyphene)
"Propoxyphene is a narcotic that relieves
mild to moderate pain. We recommend that
you do not use it because it is no more
effective than aspirin or codeine and it
is much more dangerous than aspirin. If
you have taken aspirin for your pain and
it has not worked, propoxyphene will
probably not do any better. In fact some
studies say that propoxyphene by itself is
no more effective tha a sugar pill
(plecebo). Most studies show that
propoxyphene is less effective than
aspirin and that it has a potential for
addiction and overdose.
Many people who have taken propoxyphene
have become addicted to the drug without
knowing it. Thousands of thes people have
died, some through accidental overdoses.
Several experts on drugprescribing for
older adults have recommenced that
propoxyphene not be taken by this group."
I provide this for your infomation only
and ask you to remember that I am not a
doctor or a pharmacist.
Maybe others might have more info for
you.
Marie B
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Thanks!!!! Posted: 09-20-07 21:54pm
Hello Marie,
Thanks so very much for your most
informative reply. Your reply "seals" my
decision - NO Darvon.
I was reading similar things about Darvon
on the internet, but when you and others
"speak" on this thread I "listen".
WOW Marie, you are one very SUPER lady!!!
THANKS!!!
RichT
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 207 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Darvon Posted: 09-20-07 22:38pm
Rich,
Good move. My PCP describes Darvon as
this "an expensive drug that may or may
not activate the placebo affect in pain
control, but it sure doesn't work, can get
addicted to and kill you."
PM doc I saw for the epidurals doesn't
have it in his vocabulary and a local
major teaching hospital in the are doesn't
even stock it in their hospital our out
patient pharmacy.
Fran
PS. Welcome Back Rich, our Fearless
leader.
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littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 207 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Celebrex Posted: 09-20-07 22:51pm
Marie said "Does anyone...perhaps Fran,
know what is considered a "too high" dose
for Celebrex? I know they recommend
keeping to low doses such as 200 mg or 400
mg. I wonder if the powers that be would
look at 600mg as too much.
I am having some help with the pain with
this amount of Celebrex.
Marie B. "
Marie, I don't know any more about
Celebrex than you can find on line in a
google search.
It isn't a drug that I would have in my
home or anyone in my family would use
since you can't take it if you are
allergic to Sulpha drugs, have asthma or a
seizure disorder or have heart problems.
That rules my entire family out. Both
kids and myself are anaphalactic to sulph
drugs, hubby has a seizure disorder,
daughter and I have asthma, and son has
mitral valve problems.
From what I saw on line you are taking
more Celebrex than is reccommended to take
for any pain relief except for FAP
(familial polyposis). In FAP it is used
for more than just pain but for a
treatment for a potentially life
threatening type of cancer.
Marie, if you are taking that much
Celebrex, I would have my doc give me
something different to use. Celebrex is a
drug that is not worth the risk to take,
IMHO.
Fran
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
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Celebrex Posted: 09-21-07 06:59am
Good Morning Marie,
Because of arthritis in my fingers a
number of years ago, My orthopedic doc had
me try 5 or 6 different medications for
arthritis in trying to find the one that
best worked for me. Celebrex was one that
I tried for about 2 weeks. I did not have
any adverse effects from Celebrex, but I
should also mention that I do not have the
"difficulties" that Fran mentioned.
After the experiments with the 5-6
medications the one that worked best for
me was and still is Voltarin. Each person
has to determine what works best for them.
I have been taking Voltarin for 12+ years
now with not problems.
I'd suggest you speak with your doctor
about Celebrex and your medical history
and get his thoughts.
RichT
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Thanks!!! Posted: 09-21-07 07:06am
Good Morning Fran,
Thanks for your added validation of the
evils of Darvon. On a bad day I may try
one as an experiment to see if it helps
the pain any, but that will be it, ONLY
one.
Enjoy the day!
RichT
|
Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Clarification Needed Posted: 09-21-07 07:52am
Rich, What dosage of Voltarin do you
take? Is this a specific drug for your
arthritis? You don't take this for
purposes to relieve the pain from your
spine, do you? I was confused a bit
reading your responses to Fran and me.
I have never been diagnoses with arthritis
of any type. That's why when I had my MRI
of the spine and saw the report, I was
surprised to see the Facet degeneration
noted.
When a young doctor who worked with my
Pain Management Dr. said to me that I had
arthritis of the spine. I thought it was
a ridiculous statement at first. No
arthritis noted anywhere in my body by any
doctor,ever, but the 4th and 5th
vertebrae may have it. Now that's what I
call a "specific" arthritic joint.
I never needed any type of meds for
arthritis and yet I know many of my
friends and acquaintances are taking pills
all of the time for that diagnosis.
Fran, in regard to my taking Celebrex, I
have found post op, narcotic drugs do not
provide me pain relief. But give me a
good anti-inflammatory and I'm up and
running. I don't know why. After one
major abdominal surgery, anesthesia Dr.
was giving me morphine via intervenous and
for the first 24 hours I was miserable, in
pain and fuzzyheaded. My gyne surgeon
came in and after I told him my problems,
he stopped the morphine, and put me on
Toradol. It was like a magic pill.
Within a half hour pain was gone and I was
moving around like there was no incision
in my abdomen. It was great.
Today, I have backed my Celebrex down to
400 mg. I will see if that will hold the
pain. I am also seeing a second surgeon
this Thursday and I will see what he has
to say.
I am not allergic to Celebrex. But I
didn't deal well with Darvon Compound and
that was years ago when I was given it for
a headache.
Marie B
|
Carrianne
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tampa, FL
Posted: 09-21-07 14:47pm
Hi everyone and happy Friday! Hope you all
had a good week! I've been home a week
already and can't believe how fast time
goes by.
I was suppose to go back to work Monday,
but just don't feel like I'm ready yet so
I requested an extension to my short term
disability. I still have a bit of
stiffness in my back and some pain in legs
which makes me nervous. I'm just praying
that it goes away as the nerves heal.
Of course, there's a possibility that I
may need more done, but my body tells me
to give it a few months and see how I am
come next year. Dr. Bonati did say what I
feel is normal and it will eventually go
away.
Hope you are all doing well and your pain
is at a minimum! God bless you all! You're
certainly a strong group of people!
Carrianne
|
mj57
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 22 Location: , USA
Nerve Studies Posted: 09-21-07 17:54pm
Hi everyone,
I have a question....
Regarding a nerve study that was
done....what does it mean ''suggestive of
a lesion along the somatosensory pathway
between the right posterior tibial nerve
and the left cortex"? Clinical
correlation is required.
I've tried to search this one .........but
way to much comes up that is all greek to
me. Just wondered if any of you may have
had a nerve study done and had experienced
any of the similar results or possiliby
close to this..........
Always.........mj
|
littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 207 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Re: Nerve Studies Posted: 09-21-07 20:59pm
mj57
wrote:
Hi everyone,
I have a question....
Regarding a nerve study that was
done....what does it mean ''suggestive of
a lesion along the somatosensory pathway
between the right posterior tibial nerve
and the left cortex"? Clinical
correlation is required.
I've tried to search this one .........but
way to much comes up that is all greek to
me. Just wondered if any of you may have
had a nerve study done and had experienced
any of the similar results or possiliby
close to this..........
Always.........mj
<
span class="postbody">
MJ,
I'll take a stab at this one for you, but
remember, I'm not a doctor, just going on
"some medical knowledge and anatomy and
physiology.
First of all the word lesion is a funny
word when it come to medical terminology.
It has several meanings from a tumor,
plaque in your arteries and damage or
nerve compression.
In your case, if I remember correctly, we
are talking about spinal stenosis stuff,
so that the "lesion" no doupt refers to
how the nerves are functioning or not
functioning well.
So here goes with what "I think this
means".
The tibial nerve is a branch of the
sciatic nerve that comes through the
spinal canal through the L4,L5,S1,S2
vertebrae. The sciatic nerve goes along
the butt and goes down your thigh, where
it branches into the tibial nerve that
goes along behind your lower leg. It
brances further down again at the ankle
into the plantar nerves of the bottom of
the foot.
Compression of the nerves in the
L4,L5,S1,S2 causes the pain of spinal
stenosis, that horrible pain in the butt,
going down the thigh, leg, ankle and into
the foot. When the compression is
released with surgery, or the spinal
injections relieve some of the
inflammation, the nerves have a chance to
start to heal.
Depending on how long and how bad the
compression has been, there can be damage
to the nerves that just can't be healed.
The tibial nerve, itself, is responsible
for supplying movement and sensation to
the calf and as it branches to the plantar
to the ankle and foot.
What's called "messages" are sent between
the nerve to the brain, the cortex part of
the brain, that tells the brain to respond
to various sensations and movement.
Things like pain, burning feeling,
tingling, feeling in that part of the leg,
ankle and foot.
If there is "damage" to the nerve, then
the messages are not getting through to
the brain correctly and that part of the
leg, foot, ankle doesn't respond
correctly.
That could mean reflexes are off or not
there at all, pain is felt from
compression of the nerves, only deep pain
is felt and gentle touch is not, etc.
"''suggestive of a lesion along the
somatosensory pathway between the right
posterior tibial nerve and the left
cortex"? Clinical correlation is
required."
This probably means that the tests where
not conclusive but suggest that the "nerve
messages" may not be getting to the brain
correctly along the pathway that it is
supposed to from the right tibial nerve to
the cortex of the brain. A physical
examination of the patient and the
patients response to the area of the body
in question would help to confirm what the
EMG possibly showed.
I hope that helps, but as I said, I'm not
a doctor, but do have some medical
knowledge and anatomy and physiology
knowledge.
Fran
|
mj57
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 22 Location: , USA
Re: Nerve Studies Posted: 09-22-07 05:16am
littleonefb
wrote:
mj57
wrote:
Hi everyone,
I have a question....
Regarding a nerve study that was
done....what does it mean ''suggestive of
a lesion along the somatosensory pathway
between the right posterior tibial nerve
and the left cortex"? Clinical
correlation is required.
I've tried to search this one .........but
way to much comes up that is all greek to
me. Just wondered if any of you may have
had a nerve study done and had experienced
any of the similar results or possiliby
close to this..........
Always.........mj
<
span class="postbody">
MJ,
I'll take a stab at this one for you, but
remember, I'm not a doctor, just going on
"some medical knowledge and anatomy and
physiology.
First of all the word lesion is a funny
word when it come to medical terminology.
It has several meanings from a tumor,
plaque in your arteries and damage or
nerve compression.
In your case, if I remember correctly, we
are talking about spinal stenosis stuff,
so that the "lesion" no doupt refers to
how the nerves are functioning or not
functioning well.
So here goes with what "I think this
means".
The tibial nerve is a branch of the
sciatic nerve that comes through the
spinal canal through the L4,L5,S1,S2
vertebrae. The sciatic nerve goes along
the butt and goes down your thigh, where
it branches into the tibial nerve that
goes along behind your lower leg. It
brances further down again at the ankle
into the plantar nerves of the bottom of
the foot.
Compression of the nerves in the
L4,L5,S1,S2 causes the pain of spinal
stenosis, that horrible pain in the butt,
going down the thigh, leg, ankle and into
the foot. When the compression is
released with surgery, or the spinal
injections relieve some of the
inflammation, the nerves have a chance to
start to heal.
Depending on how long and how bad the
compression has been, there can be damage
to the nerves that just can't be healed.
The tibial nerve, itself, is responsible
for supplying movement and sensation to
the calf and as it branches to the plantar
to the ankle and foot.
What's called "messages" are sent between
the nerve to the brain, the cortex part of
the brain, that tells the brain to respond
to various sensations and movement.
Things like pain, burning feeling,
tingling, feeling in that part of the leg,
ankle and foot.
If there is "damage" to the nerve, then
the messages are not getting through to
the brain correctly and that part of the
leg, foot, ankle doesn't respond
correctly.
That could mean reflexes are off or not
there at all, pain is felt from
compression of the nerves, only deep pain
is felt and gentle touch is not, etc.
"''suggestive of a lesion along the
somatosensory pathway between the right
posterior tibial nerve and the left
cortex"? Clinical correlation is
required."
This probably means that the tests where
not conclusive but suggest that the "nerve
messages" may not be getting to the brain
correctly along the pathway that it is
supposed to from the right tibial nerve to
the cortex of the brain. A physical
examination of the patient and the
patients response to the area of the body
in question would help to confirm what the
EMG possibly showed.
I hope that helps, but as I said, I'm not
a doctor, but do have some medical
knowledge and anatomy and physiology
knowledge.
Fran
Thank you , Thank you, Thanks
you.........Fran.......you have put my
mind at ease....you explained to the
tee.......what I feel. I'm so glad to
have found this site and such great
people.
Could this also be the cause
of...........when walking you realize that
your foot just drug the ground
........when you thought you are just
doing a normal function of walking? (make
sense)......but you know something was'nt
quite right??
Once again Fran......Thanks!!
mj.....
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Allelulia Posted: 09-22-07 07:31am
Yea! MJ, I'm glad Fran picked up on your
question quickly to respond so very
succinctly. I was in the process of
trying to minimize the answer to your
question and there Fran was, johnny on the
spot, with the details. The shortest
thing I could come up with was "There is
something blocking the messages the lower
body was sending to the brain." Trying to
put in all of the details of the Anatomy
and Physiology of the effected parts
caused every paragraph I wrote to be too
wordy.
Yea for Fran!
Marie B.
|
Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 230 Location: Ohio
Spinal Surgery Story Posted: 09-22-07 08:05am
I heard yesterday from an acquaintance who
just had spinal surgery.
The person had stenosis L2, L3, L4, L5,
and S1. The stenosis was caused by
multiple bone spurs. Fusion with
instrumentation was done on the L4, L5
vertebrae because of the presence of
spondylolithesis.
The incision was 6 inchese so you know he
had the muscles cut and pulled away from
the spine for the surgeon to have access
to the spinal column.
The surgery was done one week ago.
The 77 year old man was up and walking the
first day with support, Day 2 he was
given a walker with wheels to move around
the hospital. Day 3 He was released from
the hospital with brace (wrap-a-round
style) He ices his back every 3 hr for 20
min. routine even though he has no
swelling around the incision. All pain in
back, buttocks and legs were gone. He was
ordered the pain medication, Vicodin of
which he has taken only 3 since the day of
the surgery.
He told me that he was sweeping the floor
of the living room when he decided to call
me to report on how he was doing. Prior
to surgery, he knew that I was looking at
spinal surgery and was reluctant to
proceed.
He told me that it all depends on one's
mental attitude on approaching this type
of surgery and the trust that you have in
your doctor. He said his attitude was
other people have had this surgery and
come out in well, so why not me? And
there he is at this stage in his life...up
and moving.
I am beginning to believe that people who
have Facet deterioration from boney spurs
which then press upon the cauda equina
causing the stenosis have a better time of
things post op. The Doctors just sand
off those spurs and voila the stenosis is
gone. If a disc has herniated and the
ligmentum has buckled or a myriad of other
problems then we have a whole different
surgical procedure to face.
It would appear that everyone has pain in
the lower back, buttocks and legs but the
pain in the legs can end at the thighs,
the knees, the calves or right down to the
big toe when they face the fact that there
is a spinal problem. But the cause of
that pain, the degree and extent of that
pain have very different origination
problems. And here is where the trust of
your doctor enters the picture. He
determines the origination and advises how
to procede. So the big question is "How
well do you trust your doctor"?
A lot of them could not win the Mr
Personality Award. But one always has to
remember that a "good bedside manner"
doesn't always mean you are dealing with
the "best doctor."
Carriane and Joe said they still had some
pain in their legs post surgery.
And they were told it would take time for
the nerves to heal and then that pain
would go away...and we hope for them that
it all will.
Maybe we wait too long to face spinal
surgery and it takes a really long time
for the nerves to heal post op.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. We all
face decisions.
Marie B.
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Excellent Thoughts Posted: 09-22-07 14:37pm
Hello Marie,
Thanks so much for sharing the experiences
of the fellow you know. What REALLY
caught my eye was that he is 77 years old.
Marie, you really put some excellent
thoughts down on "paper". Very good food
for thoughts.
Decisions - I trust Carol will permit me
to quote a part of an E-mail she sent to
me the end of August - "Sometimes, I think
that indecision may be the best decision.
I find, that usually if I'm plagued with
that reaction, the answer may be to wait
and take notice of God's little signals .
. . he'll direct you and you will know
when it's right to act." I think of
Carol's above thoughts every now and then.
It gives me peace, reduces my concerns.
Take care.
RichT
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 901
Thanks: 21
Thanked:0
Clarifications (i Hope) Posted: 09-22-07 14:57pm
Hello Marie,
Regarding the dosage of Voltaren - I take
one time release 100mg tablet once a day.
By the way, I spelled Voltaren incorrectly
on in previous post. It is "en", not
"in". What I actually take is a generic
of it.
To quote a small portion from eDrugs.com
website - "Voltaren is used to treat pain
or inflammation caused by arthritis or
ankylosing spondylitis." Being I have
DDD, yes, Voltaren does help. Remember,
it is an antinflamatory drug, not a pain
medication. HOWEVER, reducing the
inflammation wil in some cases reduce the
pain indirectly. (Fran, correct me if I'm
wrong.)
Marie, just wondering what your 2nd
opinion doc had to say about Celebrex.
RichT
|
Carol Lumbar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sherman, TX,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 09-22-07 15:18pm
It was a good thing I copied my response
below, before I submitted, as again I was
"timed out" and was unable to post. I
find this one of the most frustrating
features on this website. How the heck
was Fran able to type and submit such long
posts earlier . . . I type as fast as I
can and try to reply thoughtfully, which
unfortunately takes some time . . .
grrrrrr!
MB:
I swear you are my "spinal twin!"
Mentally and physically we seem to be
experiencing many of the same physical
symptoms and mental anxiety. Plus we both
like to ask a lot of questions!!!
I don't know where to start. . . other
than I'm trying to still "wrap my mind"
around the fact that I even have back
problems. In "my mind" it seems like the
answer is simply. Minimal invasive
incision to as someone said "sand off the
unwanted calification causing the stenosis
or narrowing of the canal and pressure on
my nerves. No fusion, no instrumentation,
just a "cleaning out" of build up and I
will be fine!!!
So, until I find . . . what I'm looking
for, I thought my best option was to suck
up the pain, deal with epidurals and keep
on keepin' on . . . but, I'm now beginning
to wonder, like you . . . if prolonging
surgery will deal with irreversible nerve
damage. My latest epidural block, seems
to allow me to stand a little longer and
walk like a neandrathal a little farther,
before I have to sit down to relieve the
pressure and or pain. Sitting down is
what I do best these days . . . the
thought of being confined to a wheelchair
of one of those motor chairs advertised on
TV makes me angry . . .
My problem is that because of the epidural
block, I know I stand a little longer and
push the boundaries, because the "pain"
sensors don't tell me to stop. At night
when I finally do drift off to sleep, I
can be randomly awakened by such blood
curdling muscle cramps and ankle or foot
spasms, now in both legs that are probably
involuntary muscle reactions accumulating
from daytime activity . . . My ankle and
foot can become so contorted that it is
quite scary.
When I have time, I am constantly
searching for something closer to home . .
. but it will entail enlisting the doctors
in the larger Dallas metroplex. I'm
afraid Sherman just doesn't have the
talent or answers for me. I am encouraged
by my local pain med doctor that he agrees
with me to keep a graduated approach, with
levels of surgery as the last option. I'd
like to hang on with the epidurals till
next summer. Then, I will take the bull by
the horn and be in a position to make a
surgical decision. Hopefully I will be in
a better place to decide what options are
best for me. So, I haven't ruled out
laser surgery. Infact, I'm 75% sure that
this will be my response.
Rich T: I believe either LSI or Bonati
will be fine for laser surgery. If LSI
can provide you with Medicare relief, I
too, would be considering them. The thing
I like about LSI is that they combine
surgeries and you seem to be under only
one time . . . So both places cost the
same amount of $$$, with Bonati insisting
that they do one procedure at a time.
This can be viewed both as being
cautionary or just another way to arrive
at the same financial endpoint. Either
way, we go in with good faith that we come
out intact. I believe both places operate
on that basis.
The underlying problem is that with age,
our symptoms will eventually come back . .
. so we are all at different places in
this journey. There is not life long
guarantee by ANY surgery to solve all
future problems. Sometimes I wonder if it
is realistic to think that we will be
magically free of all pain. Heck, even as
a younger woman, I realized different
levels of what is now my advancing
stenosis . . . I just didn't know it!!
I try to keep the meds to a minimum,
because it makes me very mentally foggy .
. . but I've got a super pain tolerance
limit, or I'm just plain stupid. I
haven't quite figured that out.
Rich T: I got to do some "sprucing up
around the house" today and felt wonderful
to be out trimming and weeding etc. It
was an absolutely gorgeous TX morning . .
. but I was only able to do about two
hours worth before I had to stop. This
I've decided is better than nothing!
MB: My only question right now is that by
keeping the epidurals going and blocking
pain, I sure hope I'm not causing more
nerve damage that can later not be undone
. . . my gut is telling me that is exactly
what I'm doing. I think there is a small
window of opportunity that we have that
diminishes and will result in narrowing
our surgical options down the road.
Fran: That was an awesome response to
MJ57!!! we are fortunate to have your
knowledge shared on this forum!!!
