You and Dr. Stoll were kind enough to give me some input a couple of months ago. I had had trouble swallowing. My doc said it was in my head. Once that resolved(after starting Prevacid) I started having a tingling and numbness in the middle 3 toes of my left foot and the doc said "get thee to a psychiatrist!!" You said 'get thee to a chircopractor'. The nerve tests showed nothing so I had an x-ray of my lumbar spine. I then went to a friend who's a chiropractor. He told me alot about de-toxifying myself(preferably with fasting) but I can't do that. So we will try a modified juice and fruit thing emphasizing whole foods in the new year. He took time to look at my x-rays and explain them to me. The neuro doc has never called me about the results. I have degeneration at L4 & L5 with spirring starting on one of them. All other vertebrae looked fine so he thought there had been some trauma several years ago. The vertebular(?) opening in the rear was mis-shapened compared to the other vertebrae. He said this could have begun to press on the nerve and we may try some manipulations in January as well. Does this make sense? I am obese and certainly dropping some weight couldn't hurt. You told me in your reply that I had covered all the bases to make sure I wasn't dying and now I had to find someone to help me live. I may not be dying but the thought of peripheral neuropathy scares me to death. Any words of wisdom you can impart would be appreciated!! Have a Merry Christmas!!
Follow Ups:
Re: Dr. Dave Are You There?,
Posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on December 21, 1998 at 19:49:38:
In Reply to: Dr. Dave Are You There?, posted by Pam on December 21, 1998 at 15:26:14:
I was hoping that cervical x-rays and adjustments would be persued to correct the cause of your swallowing troubles. I guess that hasn'td occured? I'd hate to see you have to be on medication that does little to get at the real cause.
As for the peripheral neuropathy, I wouldn't get too worried until you have tried adjustments for at least a month. Even with the degeneration most turn out positively.
Start doing the skilled relaxation. It is important.
The worst that can happen is that you will have to endure a surgery that has a crappy long term success to make more room for the nerve root.
Keep me posted on how things progress!
Follow Ups:
Re: Dr. Dave Are You There?,
Posted by Pam on December 21, 1998 at 20:13:26:
In Reply to: Re: Dr. Dave Are You There?, posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on December 21, 1998 at 19:49:38:
Just to clear up something-the gastro doc stretched my esophagus (altho his report said there was no real
narrowing) and switched my meds. I had no inkling that
a chiropractor could help with that-but you know, the
literature (PDR & pharmaceutical brochure) lists paresthesia as a possible side effect of Prevacid. So I took myself off of it for about a month but no relief. The gastro doc's nurse said she'd never heard of it but I read about two other people on a gastro bulletin board who both also experienced numbness & tingling while taking Prevacid. But the question would be is it reversible if that's it? I will definitely give the adjustments and new way of eating a chance.Thanks again for being there this year!