...glad the courtroom nightmare is over for you Mark. I know exactly how it feels to be the only layman in a room full of lawyers - makes one feel like cannon-fodder. I'll be praying all weekend that the outcome is favorable and relayed to you asap.

...also now aware that while I THOUGHT I was doing well, using the TENS unit in place of muscle relaxers, been having such a bad 3 months that I had to start the flexaril at beditme again. I notice much improvement. After 3 days on the pills, I am back down to a 5-6. It could possibly be weather related too, but more than likely my muscles aren't ready to stand on their own yet.

...wish all my friends here in the Forum a beautiful weekend free of worry and pain.

Am happy to hear that Mark is feeling postive sending good vibes your way
~~~((((++++++)))))~~~~~((((+++++)))))~~~~~((((++++++)))))~~~~

Also, A smile and a wave back at you, Mark!

Am happy to have gotten a scrip for my very own Interferential stimulator unit. Can't wait to order it and try it out.

Also happy to report I have made it to my new gym each day this week, though I am pretty sure I won't make it today... and did my exercises. 20 minutes of light cardio a day and my normal PT exercises to start. My back is not liking it much, and I had to up my regular pain meds a bit, but my mood and general energy level have been MUCH better. SO, I am going to keep at it pretty gently, for now. .

Happy and pain free weekend to all!!!!




Johanna

Today I am in quite a bit of pain but thankful that I can finally wash my own hair lol!! I have been raising my activity level the last few days because I have literally done nothing for 2 months. I know its causing some of the pain, but I am not overdoing it and only doing things that I am allowed too. I can't wait for warm weather so I can get out side!!

Johanna it is awesome that you have been able to exercise hun!! I pray that your body will continue to cooperate!! There is no better feeling than being tired from actually physically doing something! I found my tens machine flared me up more than helped, but I have severe fibromyalgia and hyper active muscles so that may be why.
Mark I am glad you got through court and I am praying that you will finally win this fight! You said you were in Gods hands, there is no better place to be!!
Hang in there everyone, put one foot in front of the other and take each day in baby steps, it's all we can do so let's give it our all! Wishing a low pain weekend for all (((((hugzs))))))) cindy

...am still in pain. It just doesn't go away. After the injections in my armpit to relieve the arm pain ...well...it worked for a little while but now IT's BACK! The arm pain is back and as painful as it was before. I now can't brush my teeth again without pain..can't stir foods, can't jerk my arm in any way shape or form...BEEN DROPPING EVERYTHING! This truly sucks! If I press on the muscles under my arm...my entire arm all the way to my fingers tingle and go numb. Also happens when pressing on the neck. It's instand pins and needles. The Doctor mentioned that in his report also.

This is just rediculous...and so very frustrating. I tried to peel potatoes yesterday and cried. I couldn't even fry up ground beef!

I've been dealing with this pain and going through injections but they only seem to relieve the pain for a short time. I need longer relief! I can't stretch without SEVERE pain! No therapy yet and my husband went to massage my neck and shoulder...YIKES...NO WAY NO HOW! I jumped sky high. That hurt so bad it brought tears.

so today again I sit here in pain...I can't even put jeans on without crying. I feel so useless. I can't go shopping..can't do anything! It can really make for some down time. I didn't even wash my hair cause I can't get my arm up.

I guess as usual one day at a time but I have another week before I see the Doc again. Oh yippee!

Now I also have a cold...the kids were so nice and decided to share. I feel so wonderful now. I really am doomed!

P.s. I wanted to let you all know that I have a 14 yr old daughter who has mild cerebral palsy along with many other medical conditions. She has had 9 surgerieds...3 open heart. She also has some learning issues, developmental delay and some new things coming about. We aren't sure what's going on so I'm in the midst of contacting specialists and going through all kinds of testing at the moment. As always I put the kids first but I'm starting to lose my mind. I don't even know where to start these days.


Well enough about my troubles...hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Take care.

Cindy

I guess we're having a similar day...lol

I read your post after I posted...must;ve been typing mine while you were posting yours.

I have an idea...guess if we shave our heads like Brittany Spears...we wouldn't have to worry about washing our hair anymore

After shaving my head...I'll cut my arm off too...


ok maybe not but nice thought at the moment.

Today... I think Mom was giving me a shot about having a BUZZ cut I do it every spring and yes it does cut time off in the morn plus added benefit of not having to reach up so go for it MOM an Cindy though getting to how you feel MOM , maybe talk to your doc about an anti dperesnt ex; paxil, prozac, etc... does not hurt to try... but remember we are here for you and let it out !!!!

thank cindy, jo kat an mom for their positive vibes, now to wait the month or 2 for their decision <UMMPH>

If anybody has the chance to try water therapy go for it! The pool where I go is a constant 91 and feels great when in it, but when I get out can feel the difference, hope it adds to my mobility in time .

Pass long my hopes for low pain to all and a great day !!! Mark~n~GOOBER

I like the idea of a buzz.... been there, done that. Not sure i will this year, but we'll see how hot it gets and how i feel. Momz and cindy, i hope you're feeling better today. Johanna - way to go getting to the gym. I honestly think that the cardio I try to do in the mornings helps more than anything, although I only feel the reduced pain lvls for a few hours. The overall benefit of being active is huge, I think. On a totally unrelated note, I thought i broke my big toe, but found out last night that its infected and inflammed. so i have to take MORE meds. between the ketoprophen dose and the medrol and the muscle relaxer (not sure why the doc prescribed that ) my stomach pretty much hates me. I think it hurts more than if i were to drink cheap whiskey all weekend. oh well. not the end of the world.

Hey Buzz cuts are cute!
I've been giving buzz cuts to hubby for 10 yrs or so and boys too but now they go to barber shop or do it them selves I guess.
We like 3/8" the best.
saves a lot of money - just buy a good cutter and buz it off.

********************************************
[This is just rediculous...and so very frustrating. I tried to peel potatoes yesterday and cried. I couldn't even fry up ground beef! ]
momzpeachy-
Boy I do remember those times!
a couple months in 03 was the worst for me - got so sick of not being able to cook! and only eating fast foods, frozen dinners and sandwiches. I love to cook.

When did your bad symptoms start?

Hi guys

Today I had 3 fights with my hair..lol.

Ok, who won...hair of course! I gave up! I almost went for the shaved head look but just couldn't get up the nerve. I was pulling some of it out though! I got so mad because I wanted to put my hai rup today but couldn't get my arm up enough and long enough to do it. HOW FRUSTRATING

I also noticed today how bruised I am from all these injections. My neck is green and bruised and sore as heck! I haven't wanted to look at it since I started going through all this. Also pressing anywhere around my neck is a NO WAY HAPPENING THING!

I now have extreme pain under my arm, under hte armpit and along the side around to the back. Also, my ribs hurt when pressing on them too. THe pain seems to be migrating to new areas. I don't know what's going on. It hurts to cough sometimes and man do my ribs and whole right side just feel sore. My shoulder, elbow, and wrist are killing me!

I also have a new problem...I started getting pain on the left side..a little bit in the neck and a lot in the wrist. What does that mean? Please tell me this can't be happening and occurring on the other side now too.

ALso, here is a little about my story on how this started. In April of last year I was typing at work like I did every day and I was feeling achy. I started getting daily headaches and just an achiness/tired feeling in the right arm. I went to the Doc who referred me to a neuro. He did some tests ...looked for carpal tunnel and MS. Both came up negative so he said absolutely nothing. Gave me something for the headaches and didn't say anything further. Never saw him again. I assumed maybe I was just getting older and was doing too much typing at work. Getting kinda tired in my old age or something..lol.

So I kept doing what I was doing and over time things got much worse. The tiredness and achiness was getting to be more and more. Headaches were more severe and arm pain was happening. Then in December of 06 I started having so much pain in my wrist and elbow. I was also having trouble lifting my arm up and lifting anything was becoming a struggle. I was dropping everything and was having trouble even doing simple chores. I started having ICE COLD hands! I was going to the bathroom and running hot water over them A LOT! I was shaking out my hands, wearing a wrist brace, you name it..I was lost. I was then getting very uncomfortable sitting at my desk. I was getting a burning feeling in my neck. I then started noticing my fingers turning BLUE/PURPLE while typing at work and I freaked out. I went to the regular doctor who said I had all the signs of carpal tunnel who then referred me to a ortho..who said the same thing and referred me to the neuro. THen all the tests began and I got diagnosed in February with TOS. He checked for everything(CTS, MS, herniated discs, etc). Had to rule out all that to get the TOS dx. So here I am now. Going no where fast. And typing this has brought on the pain. There is more to the story but I will save that for a better day.

Take care all

momz

Momz- often tos is bilateral- think of it this way- your rib is pushing up against your collar bone because it is too high. so, if one is higg and rib cage is pretty connected andsymetrical, guess what...the other is high too...

spasms in your neck and back muscles aren't helping, they are pulling the rib cage further up, so go figure, the other side starts to hurt, too. For me, started on the right, and after months of compensating with my left arm I am now more interested in surgery on the left than on the right.

Also, a note on bruising:
those big green and black and blue areas are the result of extra dried blood particles hanging around under your skin. ALso, I bet there is some swelling associated with all those bruises? TOS is the result of compression. you are now adding little blood particles and extra lymphatic fluid to an area that is overstuffed already...these can cause extra compression by taking up space. Extra compression= extra symptoms.

The last time I had an IV it was in my wrist and it bruised afterwards...my whole forearm was numb for a week until the bruising went away.

I don't mean to give you something else to worry about, but bruising may be contributing to your symptopms...

IF stimulators are reported to help flush some of that junk out buy stimulating deeper healing and promoting "waste flushing" of the stimulated areas. (deeper and moreso that TENS) Also, there are exercises you can do to promote lymphatic drainage, or there is such a thing as lymphatic massage. (it is super super gentle). These things may really be able to help you. I know our PT gave shelley an exercise to help increase drainage around the neck/collarbone area after her surgery. It was something really simple like:

look striaight ahead
put your pointer finger on your chin and press gently
bend your head down at a 45 degree angle between your shoulder and chest, or maybe it was a little closer to your shoulder...can't remember..I think it was like trying to look at your armpit....
then bring your head back up again.

also not sure if the finger's part is very big, just know shelley did it when she showed me. It was a very gentle movement and you don't have to go far.


Shelley....are you out there??? is this at all correct????

On a good note- the fact that you got to a doctor who could even diagnose you properly in a BIG PLUS!!!! That he knows what to do after dx is even better



Johanna