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The last few days the pain in my left arm and shoulder and neck has increased noticeably. I am waiting for scheduling for one more MRI before ACDF surgery.
The weather has gotten significantly colder as well in the past week. I saw some snow on the top of the mountains where we are. The pain got really bad today. I took my meds as scheduled: morphine, lyrica, Vicodin. They help,but wow! Sometimes it can still be bad.
I just want this surgery done soon and its taking sooo long for it to happen! I didn't fit in the Closed MRI. The techs there said the surgeon is very meticulous and has to have the MRI just the way he wants before he will do surgery.
The surgeons office is supposed to call me back to schedule an Open MRI at a location where the machine has a much stronger magnet than the last one I had it done on.
Anyway, it hurts bad so I'm gonna bail now and talk to ya all later!
Thanks for listening!
Ken GreyEagle
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 56 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, cervical spine surgery upcoming, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
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Sorry about the MRI not working out. Man that just stinks! I hope that they call you soon with the location of another open one.
Hang in there with the pain. Weather changes do effect our pain levels and of course frustration does too! Don't feel bad at all if you have to speak to your doc ahead of time and say "my pain meds aren't doing the job".
Always listening,
"C"
"I tried to puree a rock...it didn't work..."
Sorry you are having a hard time, I find I go through times like that too. I was at the stage when I was asking for a review of my pain meds when the local social services gave me the use of a dual motor recliner. Just being able to get in the correct possition to relieve the pain by moving my legs and torso independantly has led to amazing pain relief. I will never use a manual chair again.
my friend , I am so sorry that things have gone a little haywire...let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. I am always a PM away....Miki
6\2007 MRI...C4-C5 Disc Degeneration..C5-C6 Central disc protusion effacing the ventral aspect of the thecal sac..right foraminal encroachment. C6-C7 Osteophytes.7\2007 ACDF C5-C6 with Titanium Plate and Screws..Donor Bone..Bone Spurs Removed. 11\2007 Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and RLS. 1\2008 MRI..Scoliosis of the Lower Thoracic. 5\2008-6\2008...Medial Branch Blocks and Ablation.
7\2008..Myelogram..C4-C5 Disc Degeneration with Disc Bulge\Herniation..C6-C7 Broad Based Disc Bulge\Herniation..Tune into tomorrow for the next episode of....10\2008...UPDATE:First time having a Pain Management Doctor and I am trying a different medicine regime and so far I am doing GREAT!!!! I haven't felt this wonderful in a long time....THANK YOU to all of my Family and Friends who have supported me through out all of this....You all ROCK!!!!!
Thanks so much, everyone! It is around 8:30 am Pacific Time Friday morning. I just got up, had a shower, took my vicodin. I'll take my morphine in a few minutes.
So far this morning my pain is under control.
It is 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter is coming. We do get snow where we are in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains of Washington.
I'm hoping my surgeon's office calls to schedule the Open MRI. I left a message with the scheduling coordinator Wed and Thurs. We'll see.
Have a great day everyone!
Ken GreyEagle
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 56 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, cervical spine surgery upcoming, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
I am in the same boat as you. Waiting for another MRI - I have it on MOnday the 13th. My last one was 10/07 and showed C6/C7 spinal cord impingement from it. Then he'll schedule me for an ACDF don't know how many levels. Right now just one. So, we'll see. GOOD LUCK to you
Sandra
Sandra (39) ACDF C6/C7 with PEEK cage system - Nov. 6, 2008. Disk was found to be severed in half-NS said it was good we did this when we did.
Osteoarthritis/DDD. Spine is a mess Cervical MRI-C6/7 significant herniation impinging spinal cord-impingement on left C7 or C8 nerve and bone spurs; Thoracic MRI - Small protrusion T7/8 impinging spinal cord; Lumbar MRI -2 protrusions sitting on R&L S1 exiting nerve roots. YIPPY!
Hi Ken, Off topic, I'm here in Eastern Washington. We are practicly neighbors.. Supposed to get down to 26 degrees here tonight. Where in the cascades are you, if you don't mind me asking.
Hi Suziee and cindy:
Yeah, Cindy, you are in the exact same situation as me. My surgeon's preliminary assessment has me getting one level acdf c-5 to c-6. My spine doctor had thought he would do 4 levels. He wants one more mri with clearer pictures before he makes his final decision on how many levels.
Suziee: We are in Gold Bar, Washington. Just up the hill past the main town in the foothills, unincorporated area.
Ken GreyEagle
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 56 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, cervical spine surgery upcoming, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997
Hey Ken
According to Google Earth, by road, I grew up 64 miles from you. Straight line distance of course is much shorter. I grew up on the Skagit River.
Small world.
"C"
"I tried to puree a rock...it didn't work..."
I'm sorry to hear that you've been feeling so bad and I hope like heck you get that open MRI scheduled soon.
We actually just got back a couple of hours ago from the northern Cascades checking out the fall colors. It was low 40's up there and we saw the snow. In fact, we wanted to hike up at Artist's Point but the road closed 4 days ago because of it. Winter is definitely on it's way.
I talked to the Surgeons Scheduler today. She is going to be calling me first half of next week to schedule that second MRI, I believe. She said she'd leave a note with the surgeon to see what he wants exactly since I did not quite fit in the Closed MRI.
Will keep everyone up to date. I'm doing ok in the meantime.
I love the Northern Cascades! And Skagit, the Bald Eagles are awesome up that way! We get them some here up the hill east of Gold Bar. I always love it when they fly in a circle over head when I am having a prayer with my personal prayer pipe.
Ken GreyEagle
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, 56 yrs old, married 34 yrs, 2 children, 2 grandsons, cervical spine surgery upcoming, tonsilectomy 1959, carpal tunnel surgery both hands 1997