NeuroTalk Support Groups - I am so glad I found you all!

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I am so glad I found you all!

:grouphug:

My name is Carolyn. I am 49 years young...yeah right.... lol.
When we are dealing with painful and confusing health problems I think it helps to have and be able to give support to one another.

I had C-5 - C7 disc fusion in my late 30's and serious foot surgery done at 40 because of bone spurs and degeneration of the joints, I have just come from my neurosurgeon and am being scheduled for a L5-S1 fusion for disc collapse and bone spur into the spinal nerve. I have pretty significant pain in most joints and sometimes feel pretty depressed because I really want to be much more active and feel like I am missing a lot. I am a social worker and love my job. I have only been working at this particular job since 8/31/07 so I will not technically be eligible for FMLA leave for three and a half more months and I don't know if I can hold out that long.
One question I have for those of you who might be able to relate, is about muscle spasms throughout my entire body. I have had them in my hands neck, sides, back, feet, legs even my face. One time I was driving home from work and turned my head to merge on the expressway and my entire chest went into a spasm and it felt like a heart attack at first...really scary.
Anyway primarily, i have weakness and some pain in my right leg and my back associated with my disc problem. I was originally being screened for MS since I have had optic neuritis and lost sight for a few weeks and other weird neuro stuff over time but the brain MRI came back fine. The muscle spams seem to be aggravated by movement, even slight movement and I have a difficult time resting and sleeping. My right leg pretty much stays in a spasm but it is numb and weak and I usually do not know it is tightened till I stand up and feel the tightness. My right calf muscle seems smaller and atrophied and the nerve conduction test showed significant nerve damage. I wonder if that will be better after surgery. I have always tolerated pain pretty well...when my neurosurgeon saw my first spine MRI he said.."well I know you are not a crybaby"..not sure what to think of that! I feel like one alot of the time but try to stay positive. I feel like my cervical fusion was the easiest best surgery ever and would be happy to discuss that with others. I had a great surgeon and have had no problem even ten plus years later. Thanks everyone for listening and again I am so glad I found you all!!!

Hi, Carolyn! :Wave-Hello: Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Wow, that's a boatload of different stuff. Are they treating your symptoms like the spasticity? I have MS and totally know the spazzes, they're awfully distracting.

You might want to check out our spinal disorders forum, and please let us know if we can help you navigate the boards.:)

Spinal disorders forum:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

Thanks for the welcome Cindy

:)
I have been given different muscle relaxants. Lyrica, Nerontin and I guess the muscle relaxers work best but they make my vision so blurry it is hard to deal with. I had a brain MRI without contrast. Is that a pretty definitive test for ruling out MS? I was just wondering if I am dealing with more than one thing maybe.
Thanks again for saying hi.

Carolyn

Hi ceegee - Welcome to NeuroTalk! :welcome_sign: I'm glad you found this place, too! There's a lot of really nice and supportive people here. :)

Hi CeeGee! Welcome to NT! Take your shoes off and make yourself at home! Good luck on your upcoming fusion. Hope it turns out as good as the one before.

Sorry you've got so much to deal with, but you're sure to find some comfort and friends who understand around here. :hug:

Hello ceegee and Welcome to NeuroTalk. Glad you found us. Please take a look around and make yourself at home.
http://dl9.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...wnfrhb6il1.gif

Hello Carolyn and welcome to NeuroTalk from me as well.

I'm sorry to hear of all the pain you've suffered with your back, but pleased the MS tests proved negative. I do have MS and have had frequent episodes of optic neuritis, so I can certainly empathise with you there.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...welcome891.gif

my name is helena iam from charlestonhello can you email me back if you are on line

:):(:confused::confused::)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceegee (Post 273703)

:grouphug:
i have some of the same problem with damaged to c5 c6 and donot want to have sugery because i have nerve damage,

My name is Carolyn. I am 49 years young...yeah right.... lol.
When we are dealing with painful and confusing health problems I think it helps to have and be able to give support to one another.

I had C-5 - C7 disc fusion in my late 30's and serious foot surgery done at 40 because of bone spurs and degeneration of the joints, I have just come from my neurosurgeon and am being scheduled for a L5-S1 fusion for disc collapse and bone spur into the spinal nerve. I have pretty significant pain in most joints and sometimes feel pretty depressed because I really want to be much more active and feel like I am missing a lot. I am a social worker and love my job. I have only been working at this particular job since 8/31/07 so I will not technically be eligible for FMLA leave for three and a half more months and I don't know if I can hold out that long.
One question I have for those of you who might be able to relate, is about muscle spasms throughout my entire body. I have had them in my hands neck, sides, back, feet, legs even my face. One time I was driving home from work and turned my head to merge on the expressway and my entire chest went into a spasm and it felt like a heart attack at first...really scary.
Anyway primarily, i have weakness and some pain in my right leg and my back associated with my disc problem. I was originally being screened for MS since I have had optic neuritis and lost sight for a few weeks and other weird neuro stuff over time but the brain MRI came back fine. The muscle spams seem to be aggravated by movement, even slight movement and I have a difficult time resting and sleeping. My right leg pretty much stays in a spasm but it is numb and weak and I usually do not know it is tightened till I stand up and feel the tightness. My right calf muscle seems smaller and atrophied and the nerve conduction test showed significant nerve damage. I wonder if that will be better after surgery. I have always tolerated pain pretty well...when my neurosurgeon saw my first spine MRI he said.."well I know you are not a crybaby"..not sure what to think of that! I feel like one alot of the time but try to stay positive. I feel like my cervical fusion was the easiest best surgery ever and would be happy to discuss that with others. I had a great surgeon and have had no problem even ten plus years later. Thanks everyone for listening and again I am so glad I found you all!!!