*snerk* Thanks for the laugh!!! *wanders away muttering about baby-back ribs*

Good luck with the tests!

I have heard good things about Dr Cornblath. My doc is Griffin.
If I had to switch, Dr Cornblath would be at the top of my list to choose from.

Today's the 26th !!
I just got back from my nerve conduction study with Dr. Frankenstein.
(I could've put one foot in a pan of water and then
put my finger in a light socket or wall plug & gotten the same Sx )
BTW, My next-door-neighbor tech was conveniently out of the building
at the time I arrived. So he didn't do it.
Actually it really wasn't so bad. I had the same Dr that did it last time.
He asked me if I knew what was about to happen, and I asked if it
was 'der zapper' or 'dose needles'..... he said....... both !!
Bottom line, its been 4 yrs (time files when we're having fun...don't it ) since the last tests
and he said that it really didn't look like thing had changed very much.
No progression to be concerned about for the moment.
No great significant changes since the last testing.
He did ask if I'd had a sural done, and I said I'd pass on that one,
for the moment, please
I'll wait til my doc contacts me with his interpretation of the results,
But the doc who did it, is pretty sharp.
So, no reason to stress out about progression, but maybe I'm becoming tolerant of the meds - and that's why the Sx seem to be increasing a bit in severity. But at least I'm still able to function at a 2 or 3 with meds, and spikes are about 4-5, sometimes a 6 but seldom.
I'll just have to 'bite the bullet' if the docs can't come up with
a better 'cocktail' for me.

good so far... let us know what happens. No progression.

Tolerance does occur with medications. That is one big downside to them.

And you have done really well with the Lyrica...most people could not do what you have done with it!

Yes, I agree, Mrs D.
A he11 of a lot better than the 6-8 with spikes above
without the Lyrica. Only the weight gain is bothersome.
I've put on 30 lbs, that's taken me from my normal 220-225lbs
to 250-255lbs. Its been a compromise and a trade-off.
I've not been able to take it off, this time - so far.
I was able to shed 25lbs from the neurontin,
but Lyrica seems to be more difficult.
So its been up & down & up, weight-wise

it could be a little healing at the same time as the "no progression". I certainly hope so.

I have always admired you and the way you handle all of this. I hope they can find something else to help you with the pain.

Billye

We'll wait to see what my regular neuro has to say and if he's willing to try some other meds. At the moment, I'm not screaming for a Lyrica replacement, but maybe adding something to the existing mix? I'm not as severely afflicted as many of you here & am fortunate enough to have had minimal complications. So I still can work, and play an instrument, and can walk a block or three before needing to rest. It takes me 3x as long to "do the mall' as my wife can, but she'll just have to wait.... or catch up with me later. I'm not letting this ruin my life and am fortunate to have docs who, along with me, stay on top of things. I dunno, we'll see.

Bob:

I am quite impressed by your going and getting these tests. My last emg was for something to do with my shoulder and pain going down my left arm (from some nerve decompresson or whatever).

My doctor said: "You have to go for an EMG and nerve conduction test". I knew what they were because I had had them YEARS before for carpal tunnel and I DID NOT LIKE THEM THEN.

So I looked at my doctor and said "do I really have to do this"? He said: 'melody, yes you do".

So I went to the testing place, I hopped on the table, the lady came at me with the cattle prod, she did this exactly three times before I hopped off the table and threatened her life. I really did this. No kidding. I would have belted her if she touched me one more time. I looked her dead in the eye and I said "if you tough me again with that thing, I'll punch you in your F.....face". I cannot believe I actually said this to another human being.

She just sighed and said: "yes I know SOME PEOPLE FIND THIS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE".

DUH!!!!

I must have been on that table no more than 2 minutes. That was enough for me.

I immediatly marched back to my doctor's office, walked in and said "if you ever send me there again, that's IT!!!"

He started chuckling. I said "you go and do that test". He stopped chuckling.

Oh, in 1995 when I had Bells Palsy, the neurosurgeon told me "you have to go for an emg of your face". That's all I had to hear. My Bells Palsy cleared up in two weeks straight. When I went back to him he said "wow, you don't need to go for the test".

Concerning my left shoulder, after that, I just did the spider up the wall thing and the exercises when people have breast surgery. I had had breast surgery when I was 40 so I knew what those exercises were. So I just did them. My left shoulder has improved.

I have had X-RAYS. I have had one cortisone shot in my left shoulder. It helped.

But honestly, moving my arm every day is what does the trick. So it doesn't become frozen.

But I don't know what I would if someone told me "melody you have to go and get an emg and a nerve conduction test on your body.

I have diabetic neuropathy. Started in the tips of my toes. Then they started to vibrate, buzz whatever, and that's when I started the Methocobalimin. DID THE TRICK.

But, on occasion, when the weather is nuts, or I get a stress thing going on in my life, my arms feel like the hairs are standing on end. It's a wispy kind of feeling. I just take my hands and pat down my arms. It goes away.

I don't know what an emg or nerve conduction study would tell my doctor. I'd have to have my arms, my legs, my feet and toes done.

NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Can you just imagine me lying there and they come at me with that cattle prod thing. If I could only take 2 minutes on that table, what the heck would I do if they try and put those things all over my body.

I've had pinched nerves all of my life. Been diagnosed with them.

So I'll do my epsom salt soaks (for my feet to get the magnesium in my system), I just orded Malic Acid from Puritan's Pride. I'll take my CQ10, and I take my Methyl B-12,.

BUT NO ONE'S COMING AT ME WITH NO CATTLE PROD.

They'll land in the hospital if they do this.

I know me. lol

Mel,
I did call him a few other names other than Frankenstein-
4 letter names if I recollect properly.
At on point I said, that felt like it burned two holes in my elbow,
betcha I have marks there.
After that, he was more careful, but some nerves are deep
and require more 'zap' than others.
But considering the results that they get, its worth it.
Do I like it? No-F'in Way!
Will I do it again, sure!
Do I look forward to it? Why do you think its been
4 yrs since the last time I got tested?
I remembered it well

I don't recall, Bob, if you tried these?

Could they give you that pain relief boost?

(you know I have been "patched" up alot these last two weeks
myself! LOL)

I really like the Lidoderms...they work really well for me.

We're going to a huge rock yard today looking for the stone
to fix our front garden... tonight I expect to be another Lidoderm night!