The Thanks button is great...

Only I like to actually see what someone thinks, besides the gratefulness.

You can do either... one long post or a post to each person who has answered.

I think the more active a forum the more interesting it is. So I like posts to individuals. But that's me.

I really think that the Thanks button helps the moderators the most, since they can use it and the poster doesn't feel totally ignored.

But on many things, I think the beauty of these forums is that you can get so many perspectives, and so much support.

Sometimes the least little post will be the one with the puzzle piece I'd been missing, so I think encouraging more posts is better.

(((((((((Gerry))))))))

I'm really glad you joined!

I've been on these boards for years and I never knew about the Thanks button.

Only recently found out. I think it's terrific.

Melody

I still prefer actual sets of words... new messages...

besides, the thanks doesn't show up on the index... so if I look to see if anyone replied, there's no way to know that someone said Thanks...



How are ya?????

Wow, I just realized that the moods don't stop after "Blah"

lol

so much for my inquiring mind!

Just a note of clarification on peripheral nerves. The first ones thought of are those of hands and feet. But peripheral nerves are all nerves beyond the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and at least in some cases the optic.

Registering an opinion on the "Thanks for that" feature. I haven't noticed it stopping conversation. I haven't used it, but I can see at least one good use for it: sometimes one wants to indicate gratitude for the post but has nothing to add.

rose

I personally like the thanks. I could see where gerrym is on a learning curve and trying to go from post to post without interrupting the flow of information. I like the thanks button when a group is wishing you a good day, a happy birthday, etc. and you are going to be repetitive with your answers to each person. The thanks button lets you individually thank each person for their comment and then you can post one message with a thanks to the group but then you know that each person knows their post has been noticed if you use the thanks button. Please do not feel that you need to apologize for using the "thanks" button.

And I think that was as clear as mud, right? I think it is pretty much a group vote for the "thanks button". O.K.?

And welcome gerrym. This is a friendly group with a lot of knowledge to give you. For the most part we all get along well. I know the group has been very loving and giving to me. I'm appreciative for the answers and support I get from here. If you feel comfortable with sharing it, perhaps a little more of your medical history would allow us to give you more information to help in your search for the cause of your problems.

Billye

I'm sorry you're feeling crappy, Billye.

Yes, I see where the thanks button comes in handy, I just prefer more messages of an individual nature.

The thanks is a great idea, especially for a learner as they are just gathering up facts and it is a lot to swallow first up and it's just an acknowledgement that the reciever is thankfull for your reply but hasn't yet got much to reply about other than thanks.
I have seen so many times were some people have put in a lot in their answers but the poster doesn't even acknowledge them and will skip a few posters and only answer one or sometimes knowbody, now that is straight out rudeness in my book, a simple " thanks to all " at the end is really appreciated.

Does the thanks button do "Thanks to all"

?????

In terms of not answering... when I was new to forums I used to not be able to find my way back, and I didn't understand how to get instant notifications.

So it wasn't really "rudeness" -- it was disability.

But I take your points.

First of all to "Consider This" and "Rose" regarding their suggestions of using vitamin B12 to rebuild the myelin sheath ... hadn't heard of this before, and wasn't really sure what the myelin sheath was either. So thanks for the tip.

Unfortunately, I do have to be careful with supplements. For example, have been taking Glucosamine Chondroitin for years and recently found they are counterproductive for people with advanced prostate cancer ... And while on the subject ... Some of you suggested I post some of my medical history. So here's more than you probably ever wanted to know:

In 1993, I was first diagnosed with PCa and had a series of 33 EBRT (External Beam Radiation Treatments). All went fairly well until Jan of 2001 when my cancer returned, and I was told it was in the advanced stage. At that time there wasn't a whole lot of treatment options available, so I went on ADT (Androgen Deprivation Treatment). This is nothing more than a female hormone that attacks and kills the male testosterone. (I'll leave it at that) This treatment continues to this date with some modifications.

Prior to Jan of 1997, I had some minor aches and pains in the back and legs but didn't give it a lot of thought. But on 01/10/97, and after a TURP (Transurethral Prostatectomy) where an epidural injection (anesthetic) was used, if you can believe this, I started having severe back and right leg pain. Nothing was made of the incident but it did lead to a laminectomy at the L4 L5 area due to pinched nerves. The leg got better but there was no improvement in the back.

As time passed the pain returned and became more severe, and again started radiating down the legs, but more so on the left side.

The latest MRI, (05/22/06) indicated there was severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing and severe central canal stenosis in the L4-L5. Also, there is mention of degenerative anterolisthesis, disk space narrowing, disk desiccation, annular bulge and marked ligamentous and facet hypertrophy. Most of these conditions were mentioned in the other lumbar areas, but to a lesser degree.

Over the years the docs have wanted to do surgery ... then they haven't wanted to do surgery. We've had PTs, saw Chiropractors, had several series of Epidurals, all kinds of drugs and you name it, and nothing has worked. (This story sounds familiar, doesn't it?)

Anyway, and as mentioned before, the first mention of PN came from an EMG/NCV on 02/20/06 which also showed acute neuropathic changes in an S1 nerve root distribution on the left as well as chronic neuropathic changes in an L4 nerve distrbution on the left all consistent with an acute S1 radiculopathy and chronic L4 radiculopathy on the left side. Whew!!

And what blows my mind, is the 2nd EMG/NCV (06/06/07) shows SMDN but the doc added .... "NO evidence of lumbosacral radiculopathy on either side." Now how can that be?

At the present time, and since the last set of epidurals failed, the only option offered by the Pain Clinic is the "Spinal Cord Stimulation Implant." Don't know a whole lot about it but I've been told it may interfere with future MRIs and Scans my oncologist might need to run. Guess I'll need to talk with her and then find a Neurologist like some of you have suggested.

At this time, I'm totally confused and have so many questions ... Like, is this spinal cord stimulation a procedure used to treat PN or just for the spine problems, and will it work? How does one differentuate between the pain caused by PN and the pain caused by spinal problems? How can two EMGs, only 18 months apart, be so different? ... And what is causing this PN and what can be done about the pain? And, I know it isn't, but in the back of my mind there's a nagging doubt that it may be connected to cancer.

But enough of my ramblings for now!

Sorry I wasn't able (at this point, anyway) to comment on everyone's advise and suggestions, but Thank you all for your input.

gerry