TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . DONATE . CONTACT . CHAT  
 Wikia  Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Archive through January 16, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2007 ~ Mar. 2007: Health Center: Spinal Issues: Archive through January 16, 2007 users admin

Author Message
Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Monday, November 06, 2006 - 8:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
Still at the same level, but did not get worse, so I am glad. Thank you all for your support and prayers. Hopefully will improve, but even if this is all, I will deal with it until the surgery. But hoping for more improvement.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, November 08, 2006 - 11:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
ginger, I've just returned from the east coast, and am reading up on this thread. so glad to hear your pain has diminished somewhat, and I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope that it continues in this positive way.

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 11:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
I have heard from the surgeon's office that my surgery is scheduled for January 15th. The pain has returned to close to the level before the procedure, but not all the way - Thank God.
I have to give 2 pints of my own blood prior to the surgery. I have to go for so many tests, and a cat scan, and then scheduled for a Spine Class, where they teach me what I can do and can't do. I will have to have someone with me. I will not be able to cook, reach, bend, etc.
I will not be able to drive for 6 weeks.
Part of this surgery includes a bone graft, yuck, I am so not happy. I am scared.

Retired
Member

07-11-2001

Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 1:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Retired a private message Print Post    
Ginger, any time you face surgery it's scary. Just concentrate on how well you feel once it's over and you recuperate--no more pain.:-)

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Friday, December 22, 2006 - 3:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
OMG, they just sent me a 4 page itinerary of events prior to the surgery. I am so busy. My sister has hired someone to stay at my house with me for 2 weeks, to take care of me. I hate having to be dependent. I am a very independent woman, and thinking I can't do something, freaks me out.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Friday, December 22, 2006 - 3:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Ginger, honey, sometimes you have to give up control. You are going to be very happy you have someone there to help you. Geez, 4 pages! What do you have to do?

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Friday, December 22, 2006 - 6:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
I have to donate blood for myself twice. I have to have another cat scan. I have to have ekg, lab work, chest x rays.
There is a class for a half a day that I have to take, that deals with before and after the surgery. I have to be fitted for a brace. And 2 pages about what meds to take and not to take, what to bring to the hospital, all kinds of crap LOL

Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - 2:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sia a private message Print Post    
Ginger, I'm thinking of you. Hope you get along well with your surgery and make a quick recovery. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Haven't looked at the earlier posts in this thread, but can anyone address back pain caused by misaligned vertebrae? I'm usually in serious pain which is temporarily relieved by visits to my chiropractor, but the relief doesn't last long (maybe a day or two) before my back is out of alignment again and aching something awful. I'm taking Rx meds for osteoarthritis pain, but nothing truly alleviates the pain. Thanks for any helpful suggestions you all might have.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Tuesday, January 02, 2007 - 4:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Hi Sia! If your chiropractor says that your vertebrae are misaligned and realignment of them relieves the pain only temporarily...

be sure (s)he is giving you exercises to do. It is just my opinion (albeit a bit of an "educated" guess since I am in the Physical Therapy field), that you have muscular weaknesses around your spine. All of the realignment in the world will not work unless you strengthen the weak musculature around the bones. If your chiropractor hasn't suggested exercises, shame on him/her.

Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 10:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sia a private message Print Post    
Hukd, I'm sure I'm supposed to be doing exercises, but I don't do them. Am I a bad girl? My husband still laughs at the fact that we found the exercise sheet the hospital discharged me with after the birth of my daughter--we found the illustrated list of postpartum exercises when she was three years old, untouched!

I have three hernias, acid reflux, high blood pressure, underactive thyroid, chronic back and neck pain, chronic depression, severe allergies, moderate to severe osteoarthritis, repeated knee injuries, water retention, insomnia, and severe sleep apnea. I'm on meds, but am sometimes noncompliant because I'm stubborn and self-punishing.

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 2:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
Went to donate my first pint of blood for my surgery. Monday will donate another hopefully. Tomorrow is my round of presurgical testing. Oy, I am so nervous and scared about this.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 2:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Well, Sia, I guess I don't have any other suggestions for you, you stubborn and self-punishing thing, you!

I think you should share some of this with your chiropractor and see whether there are some easy exercises you can do. I think that using a therapy ball is a really nice way to introduce exercise without causing much trouble with the hernias or osteoarthritis. The other issuse you brought up shouldn't be affected by mild exercising.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 2:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
(((Ginger)))

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 2:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Geeze Ginger, I didn't even read your post! I'm sorry if it looked like I snubbed you...

I wish you the best of luck with your surgery (it is still on the 15th, right?) and with your recovery. It will probably be a tough road and you may initially think you did the wrong thing. Pretty much every surgical procedure makes us feel that way, but before you know it, you'll be feeling better than you have in a long time!

Hang in there, and make sure you have someone who can give us updates after your surgery, o.k.? Take care....Huk/Lori

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 7:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
Aww Lori, I didn't think you snubbed me. I would never think that. I will try to get someone to update. Or speak to somebody. Something. Tomorrow I will find out what I can and can't do. My sister hired somebody to take care of me for 2 weeks, round the clock if needed.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 7:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Just skimming, will go back but, ACK and lots of easy hugs and sending support, Ginger!!

Glad you can self-donate. Hmm I wonder if I needed to do that if they would still reject my blood considering it would only be there in case I needed it?

Well I went back.. and it sounds tres formidable, Gingah, but I think it is good that they are being so thorough and giving you the class, even though I suppose much of that is CYA on their part..

Hey, I know you can call any number of people.. I'll send you my phone # (cell is almost never on so not much use).. get a list of us and then if you are feeling really boxed in, start down the list and someone will be around..

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 7:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Oh, will you go home the same day or stay over?

I had a graft with my knee surgery, an allograft of cartilege (allograft is cadaver graft) and that did mean I couldn't give blood for a whole year

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 8:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Ginger, you know I'll be praying for you and sending positive thoughts. I'm up most any hours of the day or night so if you want someone to talk to please feel free to call me. If you don't have my phone number just PM me and I'll be happy to send it to you. Soon you will feel better than you have in years! The rest of us will have a hard time keeping up with you! Love You!

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 10:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Ginger, I think it would be a good idea if you, your sister, and the caregiver have a list of phone numbers of people who are offering here to keep in touch for you. Get the phone numbers now and pass them out.

I have been here long enough to know that among all of us, there is almost nothing we don't know, and pretty much nothing we can't collectively accomplish. I am not particularly religious, but I do know that somehow the prayers, or vibes, or missives to the great giftie, do actually work.

I believe in covering the bases. You can't cover them better than with the aid of your friends here.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 10:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Sometimes just having a list works.. we used to use that technique with PTSD flashbacks and extreme dissociation.. having a list of people who were fine with taking a call.. lol.. anyway, I emailed my number earlier.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 10:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
You da best, Seamonkey. Plus, you are old and smart. And I mean that in the best way because when one is old, one has had many life experiences to draw from.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 10:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Sea, I know what LSD flashbacks are, but what are PTSD flashbacks?

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 10:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
post traumatic stress disorder.. lucky me though I was given experimental LSD as a little kid by these not at all nice people and not within the experiment.. so I had much later in therapy some nasty LSD flashbacks too

I had no idea what was going on but my therapist was like "oh shit!!", but at least had the experience to know what he was seeing.

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - 1:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Speaking of spinal issues, Ginger was to have her surgery today and I HOPE this is the start of her eventually NOT having spinal issues!

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - 3:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Sea I thought the surgery was Monday?