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Dear Dr. Stoll,
Over the past 5 1/2 years I have undergone 3 cervical surgeries, starting with levels C4/5 and C5/6, spinal cord compression injury. The headaches, arm and leg weakness, and the accompaning burning, tingling, numbness alternated with aching are driving me nuts not to mention the fact that I am experiencing great difficulty in moving, of major concern lately is the appearent symptoms of my mid/lower back and legs. Since I have so many discs fused (C3 thru C7) and have symptoms indicating that the discs just below those levels are affected, what do I have to look forward to? The doctors have said that this will be a life changing (and it has been) and chronic condition. Will I be looking at surgeries being performed routinely? What is the prognosis for someone with this many levels fused? I have also been told that this is all due to a "metabolic change in the bones" but no one is saying what those metabolic changes could be. Can you give me an idea as to what I should be specifically asking in order to get answers? What kind of genetic reasons could be associated with this kind of condition? And, lastly, what non-genetic causes are there?
I greatly appreciate your time and shared knowledge.
Sincerely,
Nada Slack-Collins
nslack@aims.edu
In Reply to: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain posted by Nada Slack-Collins on February 18, 2003 at 00:46:52:
Hi, Nada.
Since your problem was precipitated by trauma, and then you were one of the 2/3rds who either get worse or show no improvment following surgery, you do not have much to work with.
Still, Rolfing, Alexander Technique or Feldenkrais, along with serious SR or even the regular practice of self-hypnosis, is still the most important thing you can still do.
Use the glossary for any unfamiliar terms and then go to the bracing archives for more options.
Let us know what you learn and how you do.
Walt
In Reply to: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain posted by Nada Slack-Collins on February 18, 2003 at 00:46:52:
Hi Nada,
Simple massage may also help give you some relief.
Best wishes,
Happygal (Certified Massage Therapist)
In Reply to: Re: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain (Archive in trauma.) posted by Walt Stoll on February 19, 2003 at 06:19:07:
Thank you for your replies Dr. Stoll and Happygal. I have and currently incorporate message into my "theraputic" plan, often with some relief however brief. Accupuncture has also been helpful, but too expensive for someone who has been out of work for over 2 years due to the pain. I hope, that I will be able to get back to a less physically demanding employment opportunity once I complete my MA in social psychology (that is still a ways away for me though).
I will look through the archives and I will let you all know if I come up with anything helpful also.
Take care everyone,
Nada
In Reply to: Re: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain (Archive in trauma.) posted by Nada on February 24, 2003 at 02:30:47:
Thanks, Nada.
SR is the single most important thing for you to do and it is free.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain (Archive in trauma.) posted by Nada on February 24, 2003 at 02:30:47:
Dr. Stoll,
I read your archive on Lupus but it was not all that helpful in understanding what it is. I did go and check out a few websites but want to make sure of the accuracy. My doctor is sending me for blood testing and the tests seem to be for diagnosing Lupus. Would you please enlighten me on what this disease is, its symptoms, and its prognosis? Is being tired, fatigued, and wanting to sleep all of the time a common feature (I don't allow myself to do this but the urge is definitely there)? I thought this being tired thing was just associated with wanting to get away from the constant pain that I have been feeling lately.
Also, do you have any recommendations for a person who is experiencing sever night sweats? It seems that I am getting up at 2 or 3 times every night to change my clothing. This is more than just being too hot.
Thank you.
In Reply to: Re: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain (Archive in trauma.) posted by Nada on March 06, 2003 at 01:15:23:
Hi, Nada.
Lupus is an autoimmune condition for which the full explanation could fill several books. Your doctor can lend you his copy of the simplest description OR you can go to the reference librarian and have him find you a copy at your lending library.
Let us know what you learn.
In the meantime, only your genetics can decide whether you will get Lupus, RA, hypertension, etc. The mechanisms of causation are what you need to be learning about so you can reverse them. They are too similar in all chronic diseases to worry about what name is finally put on your condition. All that the name can do is predict what will happen to you if you do not do anything about the causes.
It is very like choosing a purebread dog so you will know exactly what it will look like when it is grown.
Have you read the archives about autoimmunity?
Walt
In Reply to: Re: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain (Archive in autoimmunity.) posted by Walt Stoll on March 07, 2003 at 06:03:15:
Dr. Stoll,
I have begun to read the posts concerning autoimmunity. I was suprised (and somewhat relieved) to find that another adult person had been plagued with "thrush"...lol...I, until a month ago was under the impression that thrush was a childhood disease...just one of the humorous points in all of this and there are too few of them so I highlight the ones available in my life.
My understanding from my reading the archives is that autoimmunity diseases are ones in which my immune system is attacking my own cells. By biology books states it is because there are proteins on foriegn substances that have entered my body that are indistinquishable from my own proteins and cells. Do I have that understanding correct?
Assuming this is the case, is it likely that my body is causing total destruction of my bones (vertebrea to be specific)?
Also assuming this is the case, stiff, swollen, sore joints are a definite symptom of an autoimmunity problem- seems every joint in my body is effected and temperature changes increase the severity - ?
Knowing that relaxation techneques are one way of controlling pain, I have become quite good at it. Until recently it has always been at least mildly beneficial to practice, but lately seems to be of little help in controlling the level of pain I feel consistantly. Is there a rational reason for this or am I just getting tired of hurting? It has been my experience that the pain level threshold goes up not down so either I am in more pain than usual or something else is happening.
Lately it seems as though all I do is complain, another habit I try very hard to stay away from due to the negative impact it can have on your psychological well-being as well as your physical well-being. However, since I do not feel able to attend to many of the household chores that need to be done and feel a need for extreme amounts of rest, I feel a need to inform my family of my physical conditions....offer an explaination if you will for why I need their help (even if I don't get it.).
I know that exercise is very important; it is necessary in order to keep the healthy bones and muscles healthy and also to strengthen the weaker bones and muscles - keeping them at least functional (I have already had several muscles completely calcify in my neck due to the major fusions previously mentioned).
I guess my bottom line question, one that I have been asking the doctors since they brought the situation to my awareness is, if my bone conditon is caused by a bio-genetic breakdown, what could that be? What do we do about it? and what do I do in order to keep functioning while all of this is being tried?
I can't continue on the path that I am on. I have lost my energy level; my appetite is very poor and when I do eat my stomache becomes upset and hurts; my mental capasity seems to be effected as I feel foggie much of the time lately (this is the one thing that has keeped me going - my ability to think - I have to feel productive and useful somehow - it helps the depression); I hurt all of the time despite the heavy amounts of narcotics I am taking; the incrediable night sweats...I can't keep up with the laundry anymore; It seems my immune system isn't working at all as I catch every little virus and bug that goes around;
At present, the quality of my life stinks!!! And, I seem to be the only one who cares. Though I try to do the right things to get my health back there must be something missing....but I don't know what and obviously I don't know what the right questions are to ask.
The accupuncturist now says that my kidneys are having a problem...my understanding of this is that my energy level will go down (symptom?). The massage therapist has noted extreme swelling around my sacrum area and muscle tissue through out my legs - more pain to deal with...hurts just to gently touch my legs these days.
I know that one can get trapped in a pain cycle, which until the cycle is broken somehow, the pain will be unmanageable...I am there...but do not seem to be able to break the cycle. Any suggestions?
I guess I am at a point of needing survival guidence....I am not getting it from my doctors. Any, and I mean any, suggestion that can be given will be tried.
Links to www sites that will aid me in my research would also be appreciated...knowledge is power, and right now I need all the power I can get to combat this physical war I am fighting.
Thanks everyone.
In Reply to: Re: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain (Archive in trauma.) posted by Nada on February 24, 2003 at 02:30:47:
PS.
They are now talking about doing hip surgery....really, more surgery before finding the cause? Help Dr. Stoll, I don't want to be the medical guinie pig (sorry for the spelling)...Nada
In Reply to: Re: Need more information....& help posted by Nada on March 17, 2003 at 04:07:20:
Hi Nada,
When you can't get help from the doctors, you just have to do what you can do by yourself to improve your health condition. The best information that I have found for doing that is here on this website. Read the article, "How to Be Healthy" which describes the Wellness Stool with it's three components: Skilled Relaxation, Whole Foods Diet, and Exercise. By doing these three things according to the directions and regularly, you will be giving your body what it needs to make it's own improvements. It doesn't cost anything (or very little) to do this wellness program -- you can even use the library to obtain the few books recommended for study.
The way you describe your post sounds pretty much the way I have felt most of my life -- fairly miserable -- except I didn't have the spinal fusions. I've been doing the Wellness Program and everything has improved, including my brain fog, pain level, need for rest, and psychological condition. I highly recommend that you do the Wellness Stool. It seems to improve everything.
Best wishes,
Happygal
In Reply to: Re: Need more information....& help posted by Nada on March 17, 2003 at 04:07:20:
Thanks, Nada.
EXACTLY what I have been talking about with LGS and the leaking of peptides that trigger the autoimmunity process: "--proteins or foreign substances that have entered my body that are indistinguishable from my own proteins and cells"!
If the leakage stops, while the individual TOTALLY avoids any contact with what has been leaking for at least 6 months, the continued damage will cease.
Hope this is making sense to you.
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: cervical fusions levels C3 to C7 with more pain (Archive in trauma.) posted by Nada on March 17, 2003 at 04:15:41:
Hi, Nada.
My suggestion would be to read Robert McFerran's story and do what he did. Use the search engine and let us know what you learn. It might be listed under the arthritis archives. His diet is listed separately.
Walt
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