[SamsSweetPea]

I have two slipped discs (C6,C7) and a bad nerve root, other than that I dont know how to describe my problems all that well. I do have a horrible spasm in the muscle in left shoulder that just wont go away no matter what I try. I've been to pain clinics, used tens units, had facet block injections (they failed) and am going to a spine center for PT. Other than that everyone on this site seems to know the names of each muscle, so many of the treatments available, etc. I just don't seem to be able to follow what's being said all that well even with my background in hospital pharmacy as a tech. for ten years before I became disabled. I want so much to learn more about my condition as the doctors I'm working with don't seem to care to educate me much and I'm trying to learn on my own so I can help myself. Is there a place on this site that explains alot of the abbreviations for disorders that are used, names of the muscles and where they are, and what treatments ppl here are discussing? I would say I'm a fairly intelligent woman, had very high grades in hs and college, but with this illness I am totally lost. I've only been dealing with this one for a few years now and havent been going to the right places up until recently ( I hope ). I really don't want to try surgery unless it is a last resort. I am new to this site as well and am grateful for finding it but seem to have problems navigating my way around. I just look at the new posts to find the illness that I want to post to. Is that correct? I have several other illnesses that this site addresses as well and have already received so much help from the few responses I've been given. Ty everyone!! May your days be filled with peace instead of pain...

[Leesa]

Hi and WELCOME. I'm glad you found us! Don't worry about not knowing alot about your condition -- it took all of us a LONG time to educate ourselves about our problems. I've been dealing with spinal problems for over 25 years, and still have a lot to learn. LOL I used my 'search engine' alot, and just entered specific things so I could find them on the internet. There is a wealth of information "out there" so don't hesitate to look for it.

At the top of this page, you'll see where it says "Medical Dictionary," "Drugs" and "PubMed." These are great things to use -- you can look up medical terms, find out about medications, etc.

I wish you the very best! Take care & God bless. Hugs, Lee

[ginnie]

I want to welcome you to Neuro talk. There sure will be others that will respond to you also. Feel at home, you have found a site with lots of compassionate people. There are many here who have faced spinal fusion and back problems. Navagation around the site just takes some practice. You can always join in any posts that you want to. There is a forum for spinal problems off to the right of the screen. Just scroll down until you find that particular forum. don't hesitate to ask questions. The fact that you want to educate yourself is the best possible thing you could do. Most of us who have spinal issues will be able to help you interpret your MRI or test results. If you would care to post that, I am sure there will be some knowledgeable people to chime in to help you figure it out. When I had my second spinal fusion I was right here on NT, just the same as you, and pretty scared. I found help and resource right here. It also may help you to "google" all the words in your MRI that you do not know. That was how I started to find out what was wrong with me. What is in the records is often very confusing, and we don't know the language of the medical terms. Keep a record of your pain, or a journal. There may come a time where you will seek more help, and to have those notes and records is really important when going to a new physician, or neruologist. Keep your medical records for all that has occured so far will be to your advantage. Please do come back, post any questions you have. I wish you all the best. ginnie

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by SamsSweetPea

everyone on this site seems to know the names of each muscle, so many of the treatments available, etc.

Fooled ya, din't we? (Hey Gang, we got another one! )

Is there a place on this site that explains alot of the abbreviations for disorders that are used, names of the muscles and where they are, and what treatments ppl here are discussing?

Yes & No. Here are a couple of Sticky Threads from the Chronic Pain forum with some of that information.
Common Abbreviations used on the Forums
Useful Sites & Resources

Sticky Threads are our FRIENDS!

Originally Posted by Leesa

At the top of this page, you'll see where it says Medical Dictionary, Drugs and PubMed.

Medical Dictionary, Drugs and PubMed are our FRIENDS!

Leesa is our FRIEND!


Ginnie is our FRIEND!

I just look at the new posts to find the illness that I want to post to. Is that correct?

I wouldn't say it's WRONG. There is also a Search page/function, which is available globally (in the first toolbar across the top of the page) or via each forum/sub-forum (in the gray toolbar on each forum page)

The Search tools are our FRIENDS!


In addition to these and many, many others...
Google and WIKIPEDIA are our FRIENDS!

SweetPea! Pull up a chair and meet some new FRIENDS!

Doc (who is a horse's PATOOT!)

[ginnie]

Hi once again. Doc Smith, does alot of research. I have looked into places he has sent me for information many times. I bet most of us at some point have looked up and Googled someone elses medical problems. Today I looked up chiari malformation, because I really didn't know what it was. The person who posted was pretty worried, so I wanted to understand more about her. Thats is what I try to do when I talk to people. Also it may allow me to direct the person to a site that has information that may help. I hope you keep with NT. The more you come here, the more informed and relaxed you get. ginnie

[SamsSweetPea]

I want to welcome you to Neuro talk. There sure will be others that will respond to you also. Feel at home, you have found a site with lots of compassionate people. There are many here who have faced spinal fusion and back problems. Navagation around the site just takes some practice. You can always join in any posts that you want to. There is a forum for spinal problems off to the right of the screen. Just scroll down until you find that particular forum. don't hesitate to ask questions. The fact that you want to educate yourself is the best possible thing you could do. Most of us who have spinal issues will be able to help you interpret your MRI or test results. If you would care to post that, I am sure there will be some knowledgeable people to chime in to help you figure it out. When I had my second spinal fusion I was right here on NT, just the same as you, and pretty scared. I found help and resource right here. It also may help you to "google" all the words in your MRI that you do not know. That was how I started to find out what was wrong with me. What is in the records is often very confusing, and we don't know the language of the medical terms. Keep a record of your pain, or a journal. There may come a time where you will seek more help, and to have those notes and records is really important when going to a new physician, or neruologist. Keep your medical records for all that has occured so far will be to your advantage. Please do come back, post any questions you have. I wish you all the best. ginnie

I'm typing this right now using Dragon as new software for the computer I don't know if you know about it. So far it seems to be working pretty well there is a lot of pain in my arms and I'm just learning to use the program. If some of the words are misspelled or the punctuation is incorrect it is totally my fault. Thank you for all the great suggestions. I have been keeping a journal of all of my medications, pain levels, symptoms, and anything else I can think of. Unfortunately my specialist doesn't seem to care to spend much time with me. I'm hoping that some of the symptoms I'm having are from the high doses of pain medication they are giving me. Other than the pain, I'm experiencing difficulty walking hot and cold flashes dizziness, freezing hands and feet, what an ER doctor told me our pain chills and a few other things. I can't imagine these are all coming from my neck. I'm even having problems with urinating at this time. If these don't seem to get better by Monday I plan on asking my doctor to admit me to the hospital for testing. Thanks again and I hope to speak with you sometime later if you don't see me you know where I went. If you have trouble typing as well I definitely recommend you try Dragon, it's been a lifesaver.

[ginnie]

Yes, you are right, you have to get a diaganosis ASAP. One of the things that concerns me is your ability to urinate. That is not such a good indicator, and I would tell the doctor about that first. The total symptoms you present, does warrent asking your doctor to admit you to get to the bottom of the problem
Sorry your current physician is not taking the time he should, to investigate everything you are saying. He is not listening to you from the sound of it. Maybe get a referal from him and go to a different neurologist. I had to do the same, as my first neruologist didn't listen to me, and got really upset with me that I wouldn't do one of the tests. I found a different neruo, through my pain management doctor. The new neuro asked me what the problem was regarding my first doctor, and I did tell him. He found a way around the test I was afraid of, and did do my second fusion C3-7. All turned out well with that one. Sometimes finding the right doctor is the hardest part of the whole situation.
I hope this next week brings some resolution to your condition. It's great that you are keeping that journal. Usually when you do that, the physician takes the time to look at it and really respond to it. That will help with what ever physician you wind up with. I wish you all the best sweet pea. I know none of it is fun to go through. PM any time you need to vent or question. ginnie

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by SamsSweetPea

I have been keeping a journal of all of my medications, pain levels, symptoms, and anything else I can think of.

Excellent! When you can (if you haven't already) get/keep your own copies of all your medical records as well.

Some of those symptoms (including the trouble urinating) could be medication related; if it hasn't been very long (less than a week or so) they may resolve on their own. We can't feel what you do, so you'll need to use your own (and Sam's) best judgments on this, and having a couple days to consider/sleep on it should help too.

A couple of those symptoms could also be from your neck (things/symptoms can change over time - personal experience), but we don't have all the facts/history/variables here, and we're not doctors anyway. There could be concomitant conditions - viral, hormonal, etc. Sometimes weird (one-off) stuff happens for which there just isn't any known explanation. Time will tell.

One thing I have learned during this lifetime is that worrying (very often needlessly) about things we have no control over, or can't immediately do anything about, doesn't do anything except create more detrimental stress. I've never seen "worrying" accomplish a single cussed thing.

Doc