Beef fat used for bio-fuel.

Maybe this will encourage farmers to raise more cattle, and make it
better than your average USDA Select grade beef. The more fact the
better. Everybody wins (except the cows, PETA, and the militant
vegetarians).

http://www.startribune.com/business/...P:DiiUiacyKUUr

-sw

On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:

> The more fact the better.

The more FAT the better.

My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.

-sw

On 4/20/2010 6:12 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>
> -sw
>

Aw shucks, I hope it is nothing serious.

Becca

On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:11:19 -0500, Becca wrote:

> On 4/20/2010 6:12 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
>> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>
> Aw shucks, I hope it is nothing serious.

I'm sure it's just inflammation in my shoulders and elbows affecting
the nerves and circulation. One of the drawbacks is that I really
have to watch to watch my knifework since I can't feel what I'm
holding. On the bright side I could cut off an inch of my thumb or
a half inch of my index finger and not even feel it :-)

ObFood: Dinner was sautéed ravioli in olive oil, butter and garlic
(3 cheese, 3 Crab and Shrimp), grilled vegetable ragout imported
from Spain (orange cherry tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, red and
yellow peppers, asparagus - one of those frozen vegetable "melodies"
I posted about in another thread), and buttered/seasoned/toasted
slices of ciabatta bread.

-sw

Sqwertz wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:11:19 -0500, Becca wrote:
>
>> On 4/20/2010 6:12 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
>>> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>> Aw shucks, I hope it is nothing serious.
>
> I'm sure it's just inflammation in my shoulders and elbows affecting
> the nerves and circulation.

Could be a cervical disc problem too.

> One of the drawbacks is that I really
> have to watch to watch my knifework since I can't feel what I'm
> holding. On the bright side I could cut off an inch of my thumb or
> a half inch of my index finger and not even feel it :-)

When we moved to Europe I'd never heard of or eaten a blood orange
before. In fact, I don't recall if I even knew it was a "blood" orange
when I purchased them... So the first time I go to cut one I see what
*seriously* looks like blood on the cutting board and had to inspect my
hands repeatedly to find where the painless laceration was????

Goomba > wrote:

>When we moved to Europe I'd never heard of or eaten a blood orange
>before. In fact, I don't recall if I even knew it was a "blood" orange
>when I purchased them... So the first time I go to cut one I see what
>*seriously* looks like blood on the cutting board and had to inspect my
>hands repeatedly to find where the painless laceration was????

You got the real deal then. Some "blood" oranges are disappointingly
pale.

(Do they grow them much outside of Socal and Sicily?)


Steve

Steve Pope wrote:

> You got the real deal then. Some "blood" oranges are disappointingly
> pale.
>
> (Do they grow them much outside of Socal and Sicily?)
>
>
> Steve

I've purchased some in the US that were as you say, disappointing. They
didn't have any of the deep blood red juice and no remarkable flavor. I
imagine they're one of those items that are best near the field and do
not ship easily. They're only in season a short while, I think?

Goomba > wrote:

[blood oranges]

>I've purchased some in the US that were as you say, disappointing. They
>didn't have any of the deep blood red juice and no remarkable flavor. I
>imagine they're one of those items that are best near the field and do
>not ship easily. They're only in season a short while, I think?

Often I see them only in January, but this year with the slow
changing of the seasons they were around January through March.
I still have some in the fridge in good condition.

Steve

In article >,
Sqwertz > wrote:

> Beef fat used for bio-fuel.
>
> Maybe this will encourage farmers to raise more cattle, and make it
> better than your average USDA Select grade beef.


With any luck. ;-)
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
Sqwertz > wrote:

> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:
>
> > The more fact the better.
>
> The more FAT the better.
>
> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>
> -sw

Steve babe, PLEASE take a look at the Mackenzie book "treat your own
neck" and follow the instructions.

Please...

<http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Own...6/ref=sr_1_1?i
e=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271821767&sr=1-1>

It works. You already know how I know.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:50:54 -0500, Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> Sqwertz > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:
>>
>>> The more fact the better.
>>
>> The more FAT the better.
>>
>> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
>> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>
> Steve babe, PLEASE take a look at the Mackenzie book "treat your own
> neck" and follow the instructions.

Now my neck hurts, too?

-sw

In article >,
Sqwertz > wrote:

> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:50:54 -0500, Omelet wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > Sqwertz > wrote:
> >
> >> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:
> >>
> >>> The more fact the better.
> >>
> >> The more FAT the better.
> >>
> >> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
> >> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
> >
> > Steve babe, PLEASE take a look at the Mackenzie book "treat your own
> > neck" and follow the instructions.
>
> Now my neck hurts, too?
>
> -sw

NO. The numbness in your hands is likely caused by neck issues.
Based on my own personal experience, I'd be willing to bet on it.

If you could get an MRI...

I did.

Don't suffer needlessly out of sheer stubbornness.

Please.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

On 4/20/2010 9:38 PM, Goomba wrote:
> I've purchased some in the US that were as you say, disappointing.
> They didn't have any of the deep blood red juice and no remarkable
> flavor. I imagine they're one of those items that are best near the
> field and do not ship easily. They're only in season a short while, I
> think?

This can be a problem with the blood oranges that grow in the Rio Grande
Valley, the night time temperatures may not get cold enough for the red
anthocyanin pigment to form.

Becca

On 4/20/2010 9:19 PM, Omelet wrote:
> In >,
> > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:50:54 -0500, Omelet wrote:
>>
>>> In >,
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The more fact the better.
>>>>
>>>> The more FAT the better.
>>>>
>>>> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
>>>> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>>>
>>> Steve babe, PLEASE take a look at the Mackenzie book "treat your own
>>> neck" and follow the instructions.
>>
>> Now my neck hurts, too?
>>
>> -sw
>
> NO. The numbness in your hands is likely caused by neck issues.
> Based on my own personal experience, I'd be willing to bet on it.
>
> If you could get an MRI...
>
> I did.
>
> Don't suffer needlessly out of sheer stubbornness.
>
> Please.


Ditto that.

Dave Bugg seems to have made a real nice recovery from his lumbar fusions.

On 4/21/2010 12:13 PM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> > wrote in message
> news
>> In >,
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>
>>>> The more fact the better.
>>>
>>> The more FAT the better.
>>>
>>> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
>>> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>>>
>>> -sw
>>
>> Steve babe, PLEASE take a look at the Mackenzie book "treat your own
>> neck" and follow the instructions.
>>
>> Please...
>>
>> <http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Own...6/ref=sr_1_1?i
>> e=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271821767&sr=1-1>
>>
>> It works. You already know how I know.
>> --
>> Peace! Om
>>
>> Web Albums:<http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
>> Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food
>> groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine
>
> I'll second that book recommendation. The exercises in it will help take a
> lot of stress off of nerve bundles that are getting irritated or pinched.
>
> I've had a ruptured disk at c-5/c-6 which almost put me into surgery three
> different times, probably would have if I hadn't been so resistant to the
> medieval concept of cutting up my backbone and shoving in pieces of cadaver
> bone. Being careful of posture, rearranging things I use frequently to avoid
> encouraging bad posture (computer monitor height, for example), and doing
> the kinds of exercises found in that book are what kept me from being cut. I
> also found that a good muscle relaxant at night along with moist heat goes a
> lot further towards waking up without pain than any narcotic-type
> painkillers. I'm now 20 years past the precipitating event which caused the
> damage, and I can manage the situation and control it before it gets out of
> hand, and I still haven't been cut.
>
> MartyB
>
>
Ditto the moist heat, and...Doanes Pills...Walgreens has a cheaper store
brand. Dunno why they work, but they do.

On 4/21/2010 12:18 PM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> > wrote in message
> news
>> In >,
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:50:54 -0500, Omelet wrote:
>>>
>>>> In >,
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> The more fact the better.
>>>>>
>>>>> The more FAT the better.
>>>>>
>>>>> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
>>>>> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
>>>>
>>>> Steve babe, PLEASE take a look at the Mackenzie book "treat your own
>>>> neck" and follow the instructions.
>>>
>>> Now my neck hurts, too?
>>>
>>> -sw
>>
>> NO. The numbness in your hands is likely caused by neck issues.
>> Based on my own personal experience, I'd be willing to bet on it.
>>
>> If you could get an MRI...
>>
>> I did.
>>
>> Don't suffer needlessly out of sheer stubbornness.
>>
>> Please.
>> --
>> Peace! Om
>>
>> Web Albums:<http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
>> Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food
>> groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine
>
> Did you have the test the neurologists do where they stick needle electrodes
> all up and down your arms and measure the electrical impulses in the nerves
> to evaluate efficiency and possible damage? If they find nerve impingement,
> they like to do that test as well.
>
> I have one edge of my left thumb which is partially to completely numb at
> all times. Otherwise, all is well. The problem with not getting treatment
> for nerve inflammation or impingement is that the damage can become
> permanent.
>
> After it settles down you get sent to physical therapy, where they will
> teach you exercises to reduce the potential for future problems, and I bet a
> weeks pay the PT folks will also recommend the McKenzie book.
>
> MartyB
>
>
>
That test sounds...gothic...

In article >,
"Nunya Bidnits" > wrote:

> "Omelet" > wrote in message
> news
> > In article >,
> > Sqwertz > wrote:
> >
> >> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:07:11 -0500, Sqwertz wrote:
> >>
> >> > The more fact the better.
> >>
> >> The more FAT the better.
> >>
> >> My typing has been horrendous lately due to numbness in my fingers
> >> and arms. I'll live, so don't start celebrating yet.
> >>
> >> -sw
> >
> > Steve babe, PLEASE take a look at the Mackenzie book "treat your own
> > neck" and follow the instructions.
> >
> > Please...
> >
> > <http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Own...6/ref=sr_1_1?i
> > e=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271821767&sr=1-1>
> >
> > It works. You already know how I know.
>
> I'll second that book recommendation. The exercises in it will help take a
> lot of stress off of nerve bundles that are getting irritated or pinched.
>
> I've had a ruptured disk at c-5/c-6 which almost put me into surgery three
> different times, probably would have if I hadn't been so resistant to the
> medieval concept of cutting up my backbone and shoving in pieces of cadaver
> bone. Being careful of posture, rearranging things I use frequently to avoid
> encouraging bad posture (computer monitor height, for example), and doing
> the kinds of exercises found in that book are what kept me from being cut. I
> also found that a good muscle relaxant at night along with moist heat goes a
> lot further towards waking up without pain than any narcotic-type
> painkillers. I'm now 20 years past the precipitating event which caused the
> damage, and I can manage the situation and control it before it gets out of
> hand, and I still haven't been cut.
>
> MartyB

I'm glad it is working for you Marty.:-)
The worst I've had to do to control the nerve pinching from the bulging
neck disks at C5, C6 and C7 were steroid shots to the spine x3. I also
get weekly traction therapy at the Chiro's office.

And I faithfully practice the Mackenzie stuff...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Nunya Bidnits" > wrote:

> Did you have the test the neurologists do where they stick needle electrodes
> all up and down your arms and measure the electrical impulses in the nerves
> to evaluate efficiency and possible damage? If they find nerve impingement,
> they like to do that test as well.

No. The nerve impingment was rather obvious from the symptoms.
I saw my Ortho', then the Chiropractor.

>
> I have one edge of my left thumb which is partially to completely numb at
> all times. Otherwise, all is well. The problem with not getting treatment
> for nerve inflammation or impingement is that the damage can become
> permanent.
>
> After it settles down you get sent to physical therapy, where they will
> teach you exercises to reduce the potential for future problems, and I bet a
> weeks pay the PT folks will also recommend the McKenzie book.
>
> MartyB

PT is helpful and yes, Ashley was Mckenzie certified. ;-)
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
Cleatarrior > wrote:

> > I'll second that book recommendation. The exercises in it will help take a
> > lot of stress off of nerve bundles that are getting irritated or pinched.
> >
> > I've had a ruptured disk at c-5/c-6 which almost put me into surgery three
> > different times, probably would have if I hadn't been so resistant to the
> > medieval concept of cutting up my backbone and shoving in pieces of cadaver
> > bone. Being careful of posture, rearranging things I use frequently to avoid
> > encouraging bad posture (computer monitor height, for example), and doing
> > the kinds of exercises found in that book are what kept me from being cut. I
> > also found that a good muscle relaxant at night along with moist heat goes a
> > lot further towards waking up without pain than any narcotic-type
> > painkillers. I'm now 20 years past the precipitating event which caused the
> > damage, and I can manage the situation and control it before it gets out of
> > hand, and I still haven't been cut.
> >
> > MartyB
> >
> >
> Ditto the moist heat, and...Doanes Pills...Walgreens has a cheaper store
> brand. Dunno why they work, but they do.

Traction (decompression) therapy is also a good thing. My Ortho' told me
that that and the McKenzie exercises were my best bet to avoid surgery.
The neck steroid injections were administered by a pain specialist. MD
surgeon/anesthesiologist.

Not as bad as they sound. He was generous with the Lidocaine, and they
do offer sedation if you want it. I didn't.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

Nunya Bidnits wrote:

> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat
> thing when I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during
> PT. You can't beat those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat
> therapy.
> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is
> valium, just for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6
> weeks. Fortunately I haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now
> if it starts to flare, a couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot
> wet towels will do the trick.
> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in
> many cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens,
> and that many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to
> prevent serious damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's
> hard to accept when you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting
> through your shoulder and down through your arm and elbow, but in
> hindsight it was the wisest thing anyone told me in nearly 20 years
> of dealing with it.
> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere
> near the problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in
> a car without cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>
> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm
> betting on a less medieval surgical option being available by that
> time. They have a less invasive laproscopic procedure with much less
> chance of post surgical complications, but they wouldn't consider
> using it in the C vertebrae because of the close proximity to the
> spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to get cut someday, they will have
> refined this procedure. I know they already have an artificial
> material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I don't know much
> more about it than that.

I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues. My first back
surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar region which
were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle control in my legs...
and the pain was becoming unbearable. The surgery did the job for the muscle
control issues. But despite several round with injections, lots of physical
therapy, and oral meds the pain is still hanging on and has been getting
worse.

A brand new MRI ( the second since the surgery) now reveals another disc
herniation in the lower lumbar that is impinging on the nerves, along with
two areas of severe narrowing at two places in the canal. Since I am
beginning to have new symptoms in my legs, along with the severe flashes of
lightening bolt pain and the constant, high-level pain, there was no doubt
that another surgery was needed. And this was from an orthopedic surgeon
who, until he saw the MRI, really didn't believe that surgery was a good
option.

So, I am scheduled for surgery on May 11. This will be more extensive than
the first, covering three different areas in the lumbar area. The disc will
be removed and the two vertebrae affected will be fused. The two areas that
are narrowed will be 'reamed' to enlarge the canal in order to relieve the
compression on the nerves. In order to accomplish the surgery, the back
muscles will be extensively moved around. I'm really glad I'll be
anesthe-oblivious.

Physical therapy, to regain fitness in the back muscles, will take a bit
longer than before. I am prepared to take that challenge on, especially if
the current pain is mostly eliminated. I really need to get back to work and
to be able to get things done around the house that have been neglected for
so long.
--
Dave
What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

On 4/21/2010 9:19 PM, Omelet wrote:
> In >,
> > wrote:
>
>>> I'll second that book recommendation. The exercises in it will help take a
>>> lot of stress off of nerve bundles that are getting irritated or pinched.
>>>
>>> I've had a ruptured disk at c-5/c-6 which almost put me into surgery three
>>> different times, probably would have if I hadn't been so resistant to the
>>> medieval concept of cutting up my backbone and shoving in pieces of cadaver
>>> bone. Being careful of posture, rearranging things I use frequently to avoid
>>> encouraging bad posture (computer monitor height, for example), and doing
>>> the kinds of exercises found in that book are what kept me from being cut. I
>>> also found that a good muscle relaxant at night along with moist heat goes a
>>> lot further towards waking up without pain than any narcotic-type
>>> painkillers. I'm now 20 years past the precipitating event which caused the
>>> damage, and I can manage the situation and control it before it gets out of
>>> hand, and I still haven't been cut.
>>>
>>> MartyB
>>>
>>>
>> Ditto the moist heat, and...Doanes Pills...Walgreens has a cheaper store
>> brand. Dunno why they work, but they do.
>
> Traction (decompression) therapy is also a good thing. My Ortho' told me
> that that and the McKenzie exercises were my best bet to avoid surgery.
> The neck steroid injections were administered by a pain specialist. MD
> surgeon/anesthesiologist.
>
> Not as bad as they sound. He was generous with the Lidocaine, and they
> do offer sedation if you want it. I didn't.

Ugggh...

My buddy has an inversion seat, that seems to be a pretty humane
self-decompression tool.

On 4/22/2010 8:33 AM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> > wrote in message
> news
>> In >,
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>> I'll second that book recommendation. The exercises in it will help
>>>> take a
>>>> lot of stress off of nerve bundles that are getting irritated or
>>>> pinched.
>>>>
>>>> I've had a ruptured disk at c-5/c-6 which almost put me into surgery
>>>> three
>>>> different times, probably would have if I hadn't been so resistant to
>>>> the
>>>> medieval concept of cutting up my backbone and shoving in pieces of
>>>> cadaver
>>>> bone. Being careful of posture, rearranging things I use frequently to
>>>> avoid
>>>> encouraging bad posture (computer monitor height, for example), and
>>>> doing
>>>> the kinds of exercises found in that book are what kept me from being
>>>> cut. I
>>>> also found that a good muscle relaxant at night along with moist heat
>>>> goes a
>>>> lot further towards waking up without pain than any narcotic-type
>>>> painkillers. I'm now 20 years past the precipitating event which caused
>>>> the
>>>> damage, and I can manage the situation and control it before it gets
>>>> out of
>>>> hand, and I still haven't been cut.
>>>>
>>>> MartyB
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Ditto the moist heat, and...Doanes Pills...Walgreens has a cheaper store
>>> brand. Dunno why they work, but they do.
>>
>> Traction (decompression) therapy is also a good thing. My Ortho' told me
>> that that and the McKenzie exercises were my best bet to avoid surgery.
>> The neck steroid injections were administered by a pain specialist. MD
>> surgeon/anesthesiologist.
>>
>> Not as bad as they sound. He was generous with the Lidocaine, and they
>> do offer sedation if you want it. I didn't.
>> --
>
> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat thing when
> I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during PT. You can't beat
> those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat therapy.
>
> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is valium, just
> for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6 weeks. Fortunately I
> haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now if it starts to flare, a
> couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot wet towels will do the trick.
>
> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in many
> cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens, and that
> many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to prevent serious
> damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's hard to accept when
> you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting through your shoulder and down
> through your arm and elbow, but in hindsight it was the wisest thing anyone
> told me in nearly 20 years of dealing with it.
>
> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere near the
> problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in a car without
> cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>
> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm betting on a
> less medieval surgical option being available by that time. They have a less
> invasive laproscopic procedure with much less chance of post surgical
> complications, but they wouldn't consider using it in the C vertebrae
> because of the close proximity to the spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to
> get cut someday, they will have refined this procedure. I know they already
> have an artificial material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I
> don't know much more about it than that.
>
> MartyB
>
>
Hydrocodone is a Godsend, but it puts me clean out to sleep.

Ymmv.

On 4/22/2010 12:53 PM, Dave Bugg wrote:
> Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>
>> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat
>> thing when I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during
>> PT. You can't beat those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat
>> therapy.
>> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is
>> valium, just for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6
>> weeks. Fortunately I haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now
>> if it starts to flare, a couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot
>> wet towels will do the trick.
>> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in
>> many cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens,
>> and that many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to
>> prevent serious damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's
>> hard to accept when you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting
>> through your shoulder and down through your arm and elbow, but in
>> hindsight it was the wisest thing anyone told me in nearly 20 years
>> of dealing with it.
>> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere
>> near the problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in
>> a car without cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>>
>> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm
>> betting on a less medieval surgical option being available by that
>> time. They have a less invasive laproscopic procedure with much less
>> chance of post surgical complications, but they wouldn't consider
>> using it in the C vertebrae because of the close proximity to the
>> spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to get cut someday, they will have
>> refined this procedure. I know they already have an artificial
>> material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I don't know much
>> more about it than that.
>
> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues. My first back
> surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar region which
> were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle control in my legs...
> and the pain was becoming unbearable. The surgery did the job for the muscle
> control issues. But despite several round with injections, lots of physical
> therapy, and oral meds the pain is still hanging on and has been getting
> worse.
>
> A brand new MRI ( the second since the surgery) now reveals another disc
> herniation in the lower lumbar that is impinging on the nerves, along with
> two areas of severe narrowing at two places in the canal. Since I am
> beginning to have new symptoms in my legs, along with the severe flashes of
> lightening bolt pain and the constant, high-level pain, there was no doubt
> that another surgery was needed. And this was from an orthopedic surgeon
> who, until he saw the MRI, really didn't believe that surgery was a good
> option.
>
> So, I am scheduled for surgery on May 11. This will be more extensive than
> the first, covering three different areas in the lumbar area. The disc will
> be removed and the two vertebrae affected will be fused. The two areas that
> are narrowed will be 'reamed' to enlarge the canal in order to relieve the
> compression on the nerves. In order to accomplish the surgery, the back
> muscles will be extensively moved around. I'm really glad I'll be
> anesthe-oblivious.
>
> Physical therapy, to regain fitness in the back muscles, will take a bit
> longer than before. I am prepared to take that challenge on, especially if
> the current pain is mostly eliminated. I really need to get back to work and
> to be able to get things done around the house that have been neglected for
> so long.

Wow, bummer recap ADve, I thought maybe it had all worked out for you.

Good vibes on ya for the surgery; I've found trying to complain to the
factory was fruitless ;-)

Your attitude indicates you'll do well.

Cleatarrior wrote:

> Wow, bummer recap ADve, I thought maybe it had all worked out for you.
>
> Good vibes on ya for the surgery; I've found trying to complain to the
> factory was fruitless ;-)
>
> Your attitude indicates you'll do well.

Thanks, amigo.

--
Dave
What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

In article >,
"Nunya Bidnits" > wrote:

> > Traction (decompression) therapy is also a good thing. My Ortho' told me
> > that that and the McKenzie exercises were my best bet to avoid surgery.
> > The neck steroid injections were administered by a pain specialist. MD
> > surgeon/anesthesiologist.
> >
> > Not as bad as they sound. He was generous with the Lidocaine, and they
> > do offer sedation if you want it. I didn't.
> > --
>
> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat thing when
> I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during PT. You can't beat
> those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat therapy.
>
> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is valium, just
> for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6 weeks. Fortunately I
> haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now if it starts to flare, a
> couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot wet towels will do the trick.
>
> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in many
> cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens, and that
> many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to prevent serious
> damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's hard to accept when
> you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting through your shoulder and down
> through your arm and elbow, but in hindsight it was the wisest thing anyone
> told me in nearly 20 years of dealing with it.
>
> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere near the
> problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in a car without
> cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>
> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm betting on a
> less medieval surgical option being available by that time. They have a less
> invasive laproscopic procedure with much less chance of post surgical
> complications, but they wouldn't consider using it in the C vertebrae
> because of the close proximity to the spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to
> get cut someday, they will have refined this procedure. I know they already
> have an artificial material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I
> don't know much more about it than that.
>
> MartyB

I am glad it has worked for you, and appreciate the input. :-)
Where do you put the moist heat packs please?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Dave Bugg" > wrote:

> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues.

Seems to be part of walking upright.

> My first back
> surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar region which
> were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle control in my legs...
> and the pain was becoming unbearable. The surgery did the job for the muscle
> control issues. But despite several round with injections, lots of physical
> therapy, and oral meds the pain is still hanging on and has been getting
> worse.

I hope the surgery helps hon'! I truly do.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
Cleatarrior > wrote:

> > Traction (decompression) therapy is also a good thing. My Ortho' told me
> > that that and the McKenzie exercises were my best bet to avoid surgery.
> > The neck steroid injections were administered by a pain specialist. MD
> > surgeon/anesthesiologist.
> >
> > Not as bad as they sound. He was generous with the Lidocaine, and they
> > do offer sedation if you want it. I didn't.
>
> Ugggh...
>
> My buddy has an inversion seat, that seems to be a pretty humane
> self-decompression tool.

An option I need to seriously try...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> "Omelet" > wrote in message
> news
>> In article >,
>> "Dave Bugg" > wrote:
>>
>>> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues.
>>
>> Seems to be part of walking upright.
>
> At least the upright part can be easily remedied. It's hard to keep
> people from stepping on your fingers in a crowd though. However I
> found that the right dosage of alcohol will help keep that problem
> from becoming too bothersome. If fact, it seems to encourage the
> whole kneewalking thing.

ROTFLOL!!!!!
--
Dave
What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> "Dave Bugg" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>>
>>> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat
>>> thing when I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during
>>> PT. You can't beat those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat
>>> therapy.
>>> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is
>>> valium, just for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6
>>> weeks. Fortunately I haven't had a bout that severe in ten years.
>>> Now if it starts to flare, a couple days of cyclobenzaprine and
>>> some hot wet towels will do the trick.
>>> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself
>>> in many cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it
>>> happens, and that many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain
>>> more than to prevent serious damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of
>>> your neck." It's hard to accept when you're dealing with raw nerve
>>> pain shooting through your shoulder and down through your arm and
>>> elbow, but in hindsight it was the wisest thing anyone told me in
>>> nearly 20 years of dealing with it.
>>> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere
>>> near the problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride
>>> in a car without cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>>>
>>> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm
>>> betting on a less medieval surgical option being available by that
>>> time. They have a less invasive laproscopic procedure with much less
>>> chance of post surgical complications, but they wouldn't consider
>>> using it in the C vertebrae because of the close proximity to the
>>> spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to get cut someday, they will have
>>> refined this procedure. I know they already have an artificial
>>> material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I don't know much
>>> more about it than that.
>>
>> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues. My first
>> back surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar
>> region which were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle
>> control in my legs... and the pain was becoming unbearable. The
>> surgery did the job for the muscle control issues. But despite
>> several round with injections, lots of physical therapy, and oral
>> meds the pain is still hanging on and has been getting worse.
>>
>> A brand new MRI ( the second since the surgery) now reveals another
>> disc herniation in the lower lumbar that is impinging on the nerves,
>> along with two areas of severe narrowing at two places in the canal.
>> Since I am beginning to have new symptoms in my legs, along with the
>> severe flashes of lightening bolt pain and the constant, high-level
>> pain, there was no doubt that another surgery was needed. And this
>> was from an orthopedic surgeon who, until he saw the MRI, really
>> didn't believe that surgery was a good option.
>>
>> So, I am scheduled for surgery on May 11. This will be more
>> extensive than the first, covering three different areas in the
>> lumbar area. The disc will be removed and the two vertebrae affected
>> will be fused. The two areas that are narrowed will be 'reamed' to
>> enlarge the canal in order to relieve the compression on the nerves.
>> In order to accomplish the surgery, the back muscles will be
>> extensively moved around. I'm really glad I'll be anesthe-oblivious.
>>
>> Physical therapy, to regain fitness in the back muscles, will take a
>> bit longer than before. I am prepared to take that challenge on,
>> especially if the current pain is mostly eliminated. I really need
>> to get back to work and to be able to get things done around the
>> house that have been neglected for so long.
>> --
>> Dave
>> What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven
>> before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan
>>
>
> Dammit Dave, it's someone else's turn to get cut. Get better and give
> someone else their chance, it's only fair.

I really don't want to appear selfish; I'll be only to happy to share :-)

--
Dave
What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> "Dave Bugg" > wrote:
>
>> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues.
>
> Seems to be part of walking upright.
>
>> My first back
>> surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar
>> region which were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle
>> control in my legs... and the pain was becoming unbearable. The
>> surgery did the job for the muscle control issues. But despite
>> several round with injections, lots of physical therapy, and oral
>> meds the pain is still hanging on and has been getting worse.
>
> I hope the surgery helps hon'! I truly do.

Thanks, Om :-)
--
Dave
What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

"Dave Bugg" > wrote in message
...
> Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>
>> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat
>> thing when I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during
>> PT. You can't beat those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat
>> therapy.
>> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is
>> valium, just for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6
>> weeks. Fortunately I haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now
>> if it starts to flare, a couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot
>> wet towels will do the trick.
>> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in
>> many cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens,
>> and that many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to
>> prevent serious damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's
>> hard to accept when you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting
>> through your shoulder and down through your arm and elbow, but in
>> hindsight it was the wisest thing anyone told me in nearly 20 years
>> of dealing with it.
>> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere
>> near the problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in
>> a car without cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>>
>> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm
>> betting on a less medieval surgical option being available by that
>> time. They have a less invasive laproscopic procedure with much less
>> chance of post surgical complications, but they wouldn't consider
>> using it in the C vertebrae because of the close proximity to the
>> spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to get cut someday, they will have
>> refined this procedure. I know they already have an artificial
>> material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I don't know much
>> more about it than that.
>
> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues. My first back
> surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar region
> which were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle control in my
> legs... and the pain was becoming unbearable. The surgery did the job for
> the muscle control issues. But despite several round with injections, lots
> of physical therapy, and oral meds the pain is still hanging on and has
> been getting worse.
>
> A brand new MRI ( the second since the surgery) now reveals another disc
> herniation in the lower lumbar that is impinging on the nerves, along with
> two areas of severe narrowing at two places in the canal. Since I am
> beginning to have new symptoms in my legs, along with the severe flashes
> of lightening bolt pain and the constant, high-level pain, there was no
> doubt that another surgery was needed. And this was from an orthopedic
> surgeon who, until he saw the MRI, really didn't believe that surgery was
> a good option.
>
> So, I am scheduled for surgery on May 11. This will be more extensive than
> the first, covering three different areas in the lumbar area. The disc
> will be removed and the two vertebrae affected will be fused. The two
> areas that are narrowed will be 'reamed' to enlarge the canal in order to
> relieve the compression on the nerves. In order to accomplish the surgery,
> the back muscles will be extensively moved around. I'm really glad I'll be
> anesthe-oblivious.
>
> Physical therapy, to regain fitness in the back muscles, will take a bit
> longer than before. I am prepared to take that challenge on, especially if
> the current pain is mostly eliminated. I really need to get back to work
> and to be able to get things done around the house that have been
> neglected for so long.
> --
> Dave
> What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
> you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan
Under the circumstances you may want to change your sig.

"cybercat" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dave Bugg" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>>
>>> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat
>>> thing when I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during
>>> PT. You can't beat those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat
>>> therapy.
>>> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is
>>> valium, just for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6
>>> weeks. Fortunately I haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now
>>> if it starts to flare, a couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot
>>> wet towels will do the trick.
>>> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in
>>> many cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens,
>>> and that many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to
>>> prevent serious damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's
>>> hard to accept when you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting
>>> through your shoulder and down through your arm and elbow, but in
>>> hindsight it was the wisest thing anyone told me in nearly 20 years
>>> of dealing with it.
>>> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere
>>> near the problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in
>>> a car without cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>>>
>>> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm
>>> betting on a less medieval surgical option being available by that
>>> time. They have a less invasive laproscopic procedure with much less
>>> chance of post surgical complications, but they wouldn't consider
>>> using it in the C vertebrae because of the close proximity to the
>>> spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to get cut someday, they will have
>>> refined this procedure. I know they already have an artificial
>>> material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I don't know much
>>> more about it than that.
>>
>> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues. My first back
>> surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar region
>> which were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle control in my
>> legs... and the pain was becoming unbearable. The surgery did the job for
>> the muscle control issues. But despite several round with injections,
>> lots of physical therapy, and oral meds the pain is still hanging on and
>> has been getting worse.
>>
>> A brand new MRI ( the second since the surgery) now reveals another disc
>> herniation in the lower lumbar that is impinging on the nerves, along
>> with two areas of severe narrowing at two places in the canal. Since I am
>> beginning to have new symptoms in my legs, along with the severe flashes
>> of lightening bolt pain and the constant, high-level pain, there was no
>> doubt that another surgery was needed. And this was from an orthopedic
>> surgeon who, until he saw the MRI, really didn't believe that surgery was
>> a good option.
>>
>> So, I am scheduled for surgery on May 11. This will be more extensive
>> than the first, covering three different areas in the lumbar area. The
>> disc will be removed and the two vertebrae affected will be fused. The
>> two areas that are narrowed will be 'reamed' to enlarge the canal in
>> order to relieve the compression on the nerves. In order to accomplish
>> the surgery, the back muscles will be extensively moved around. I'm
>> really glad I'll be anesthe-oblivious.
>>
>> Physical therapy, to regain fitness in the back muscles, will take a bit
>> longer than before. I am prepared to take that challenge on, especially
>> if the current pain is mostly eliminated. I really need to get back to
>> work and to be able to get things done around the house that have been
>> neglected for so long.
>> --
>> Dave
>> What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
>> you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan
> Under the circumstances you may want to change your sig.

lol
--
--
https://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

In article >,
"Nunya Bidnits" > wrote:

> "Omelet" > wrote in message
> news
> > In article >,
> > "Dave Bugg" > wrote:
> >
> >> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues.
> >
> > Seems to be part of walking upright.
>
> At least the upright part can be easily remedied. It's hard to keep people
> from stepping on your fingers in a crowd though. However I found that the
> right dosage of alcohol will help keep that problem from becoming too
> bothersome. If fact, it seems to encourage the whole kneewalking thing.
>
> ;-)
>
> MartyB

<lol>

I don't have a drinking problem!
I drink, I get drunk, I fall down, no problem! ;-)
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Nunya Bidnits" > wrote:

> I was told in PT that as the situation heals, the pain will return back from
> the extremeities towards center before dissipating. I discovered they were
> quite right about that. It hurts a lot in the shoulder, but if it's moving
> back to center it's getting better, and I think the moist heat and muscle
> relaxants have a lot to do with it... that and forcing myself to sleep flat
> on my back on the heat.
>
> MartyB

Thanks. I might have to try that.
Due to the type of work I'm doing right now, it seems to be trying to
flare up again. The Mackenzie neck exercises help to dissipate it if I
do them as soon as pain or tingling in my arm starts, but I'm waiting
for my new insurance to kick in, then I will talk to Dr. Thai (the pain
doc) about possibly getting another series of injections.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

In article >,
"Dave Bugg" > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> > In article >,
> > "Dave Bugg" > wrote:
> >
> >> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues.
> >
> > Seems to be part of walking upright.
> >
> >> My first back
> >> surgery last June corrected impingement of nerves in the lumbar
> >> region which were so severe that I was periodically losing muscle
> >> control in my legs... and the pain was becoming unbearable. The
> >> surgery did the job for the muscle control issues. But despite
> >> several round with injections, lots of physical therapy, and oral
> >> meds the pain is still hanging on and has been getting worse.
> >
> > I hope the surgery helps hon'! I truly do.
>
> Thanks, Om :-)

<hugs>!
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

Omelet > wrote in
news
> In article >,
> "Nunya Bidnits" > wrote:
>
>> "Omelet" > wrote in message
>> news
>> > In article >,
>> > "Dave Bugg" > wrote:
>> >
>> >> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues.
>> >
>> > Seems to be part of walking upright.
>>
>> At least the upright part can be easily remedied. It's hard to keep
>> people from stepping on your fingers in a crowd though. However I
>> found that the right dosage of alcohol will help keep that problem
>> from becoming too bothersome. If fact, it seems to encourage the
>> whole kneewalking thing.
>>
>> ;-)
>>
>> MartyB
>
> <lol>
>
> I don't have a drinking problem!
> I drink, I get drunk, I fall down, no problem! ;-)




Your complimentary Aussie citizenship is in the mail ;-P


Peter
in Brisbane
Queensland
Australia

Omelet > writes:

> In article >,
> "Nunya Bidnits" > wrote:
>
>> "Omelet" > wrote in message
>> news
>> > In article >,
>> > "Dave Bugg" > wrote:
>> >
>> >> I had no idea that I have so much company with back issues.
>> >
>> > Seems to be part of walking upright.
>>
>> At least the upright part can be easily remedied. It's hard to keep people
>> from stepping on your fingers in a crowd though. However I found that the
>> right dosage of alcohol will help keep that problem from becoming too
>> bothersome. If fact, it seems to encourage the whole kneewalking thing.
>>
>> ;-)
>>
>> MartyB
>
> <lol>
>
> I don't have a drinking problem!
> I drink, I get drunk, I fall down, no problem! ;-)

You didn't just repeat that did you? Ye gods.

On 4/22/2010 10:59 PM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 4/22/2010 8:33 AM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>>> > wrote in message
>>> news >>>> In >,
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> I'll second that book recommendation. The exercises in it will help
>>>>>> take a
>>>>>> lot of stress off of nerve bundles that are getting irritated or
>>>>>> pinched.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've had a ruptured disk at c-5/c-6 which almost put me into surgery
>>>>>> three
>>>>>> different times, probably would have if I hadn't been so resistant to
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> medieval concept of cutting up my backbone and shoving in pieces of
>>>>>> cadaver
>>>>>> bone. Being careful of posture, rearranging things I use frequently to
>>>>>> avoid
>>>>>> encouraging bad posture (computer monitor height, for example), and
>>>>>> doing
>>>>>> the kinds of exercises found in that book are what kept me from being
>>>>>> cut. I
>>>>>> also found that a good muscle relaxant at night along with moist heat
>>>>>> goes a
>>>>>> lot further towards waking up without pain than any narcotic-type
>>>>>> painkillers. I'm now 20 years past the precipitating event which
>>>>>> caused
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> damage, and I can manage the situation and control it before it gets
>>>>>> out of
>>>>>> hand, and I still haven't been cut.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> MartyB
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Ditto the moist heat, and...Doanes Pills...Walgreens has a cheaper
>>>>> store
>>>>> brand. Dunno why they work, but they do.
>>>>
>>>> Traction (decompression) therapy is also a good thing. My Ortho' told me
>>>> that that and the McKenzie exercises were my best bet to avoid surgery.
>>>> The neck steroid injections were administered by a pain specialist. MD
>>>> surgeon/anesthesiologist.
>>>>
>>>> Not as bad as they sound. He was generous with the Lidocaine, and they
>>>> do offer sedation if you want it. I didn't.
>>>> --
>>>
>>> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat thing
>>> when
>>> I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during PT. You can't
>>> beat
>>> those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat therapy.
>>>
>>> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is valium,
>>> just
>>> for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6 weeks. Fortunately
>>> I
>>> haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now if it starts to flare, a
>>> couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot wet towels will do the trick.
>>>
>>> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in
>>> many
>>> cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens, and that
>>> many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to prevent
>>> serious
>>> damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's hard to accept
>>> when
>>> you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting through your shoulder and
>>> down
>>> through your arm and elbow, but in hindsight it was the wisest thing
>>> anyone
>>> told me in nearly 20 years of dealing with it.
>>>
>>> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere near
>>> the
>>> problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in a car
>>> without
>>> cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
>>>
>>> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm betting
>>> on a
>>> less medieval surgical option being available by that time. They have a
>>> less
>>> invasive laproscopic procedure with much less chance of post surgical
>>> complications, but they wouldn't consider using it in the C vertebrae
>>> because of the close proximity to the spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to
>>> get cut someday, they will have refined this procedure. I know they
>>> already
>>> have an artificial material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I
>>> don't know much more about it than that.
>>>
>>> MartyB
>>>
>>>
>> Hydrocodone is a Godsend, but it puts me clean out to sleep.
>>
>> Ymmv.
>
> Been there, done that. I finally figured out that in knocked me out to the
> point that I got all scrunched up in my sleep and didn't care. So I would
> wake up in the AM with everything already in an uproar.

Wow, that's a reverse gear for sure.
>
> The muscle relaxant doesn't knock you out nearly as much. One thing that
> really helps is to be able to just lay flat on my back with the moist heat
> underneath, and maintain that posture in my sleep if possible. That position
> is the most pain free anyway, especially with the arm on the bad side up
> over my head. That's where there is the least pressure on the nerve root.
> With the muscle relaxants and feweer pain meds, eventually none, there was
> just enough of an edge left to the pain if I moved around that I seemed to
> maintain that position all night.
>
> MartyB

Can we get a factory recall on the back please ;-)

Cleatarrior wrote:
>
> On 4/22/2010 10:59 PM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> > > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> On 4/22/2010 8:33 AM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> >>> > wrote in message
> >>> news > >>>> In >,
> >>>> > wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>> I'll second that book recommendation. The exercises in it will help
> >>>>>> take a
> >>>>>> lot of stress off of nerve bundles that are getting irritated or
> >>>>>> pinched.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I've had a ruptured disk at c-5/c-6 which almost put me into surgery
> >>>>>> three
> >>>>>> different times, probably would have if I hadn't been so resistant to
> >>>>>> the
> >>>>>> medieval concept of cutting up my backbone and shoving in pieces of
> >>>>>> cadaver
> >>>>>> bone. Being careful of posture, rearranging things I use frequently to
> >>>>>> avoid
> >>>>>> encouraging bad posture (computer monitor height, for example), and
> >>>>>> doing
> >>>>>> the kinds of exercises found in that book are what kept me from being
> >>>>>> cut. I
> >>>>>> also found that a good muscle relaxant at night along with moist heat
> >>>>>> goes a
> >>>>>> lot further towards waking up without pain than any narcotic-type
> >>>>>> painkillers. I'm now 20 years past the precipitating event which
> >>>>>> caused
> >>>>>> the
> >>>>>> damage, and I can manage the situation and control it before it gets
> >>>>>> out of
> >>>>>> hand, and I still haven't been cut.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> MartyB
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>> Ditto the moist heat, and...Doanes Pills...Walgreens has a cheaper
> >>>>> store
> >>>>> brand. Dunno why they work, but they do.
> >>>>
> >>>> Traction (decompression) therapy is also a good thing. My Ortho' told me
> >>>> that that and the McKenzie exercises were my best bet to avoid surgery.
> >>>> The neck steroid injections were administered by a pain specialist. MD
> >>>> surgeon/anesthesiologist.
> >>>>
> >>>> Not as bad as they sound. He was generous with the Lidocaine, and they
> >>>> do offer sedation if you want it. I didn't.
> >>>> --
> >>>
> >>> I had traction but not the injections. I got onto the moist heat thing
> >>> when
> >>> I realized how much the hot pack treatments helped during PT. You can't
> >>> beat
> >>> those hot wet sandbags they use for deep heat therapy.
> >>>
> >>> The best muscle relaxant IMO, if your doc will fork it over, is valium,
> >>> just
> >>> for long enough to get things settled down, i.e., 3-6 weeks. Fortunately
> >>> I
> >>> haven't had a bout that severe in ten years. Now if it starts to flare, a
> >>> couple days of cyclobenzaprine and some hot wet towels will do the trick.
> >>>
> >>> I was told by the first neuro I saw that the body will heal itself in
> >>> many
> >>> cases if you can tolerate and manage the pain while it happens, and that
> >>> many of the surgeries are done to relieve pain more than to prevent
> >>> serious
> >>> damage. Quote "I'd like to stay out of your neck." It's hard to accept
> >>> when
> >>> you're dealing with raw nerve pain shooting through your shoulder and
> >>> down
> >>> through your arm and elbow, but in hindsight it was the wisest thing
> >>> anyone
> >>> told me in nearly 20 years of dealing with it.
> >>>
> >>> I can't say it's completely healed but it's certainly not anywhere near
> >>> the
> >>> problem it used to be. It was so bad I couldn't even ride in a car
> >>> without
> >>> cringing in pain every time it hit a small bump.
> >>>
> >>> I figure it will probably go bad again sooner or later, but I'm betting
> >>> on a
> >>> less medieval surgical option being available by that time. They have a
> >>> less
> >>> invasive laproscopic procedure with much less chance of post surgical
> >>> complications, but they wouldn't consider using it in the C vertebrae
> >>> because of the close proximity to the spinal cord. Hopefully if I have to
> >>> get cut someday, they will have refined this procedure. I know they
> >>> already
> >>> have an artificial material to replace the cadaver bone insertion but I
> >>> don't know much more about it than that.
> >>>
> >>> MartyB
> >>>
> >>>
> >> Hydrocodone is a Godsend, but it puts me clean out to sleep.
> >>
> >> Ymmv.
> >
> > Been there, done that. I finally figured out that in knocked me out to the
> > point that I got all scrunched up in my sleep and didn't care. So I would
> > wake up in the AM with everything already in an uproar.
>
> Wow, that's a reverse gear for sure.
> >
> > The muscle relaxant doesn't knock you out nearly as much. One thing that
> > really helps is to be able to just lay flat on my back with the moist heat
> > underneath, and maintain that posture in my sleep if possible. That position
> > is the most pain free anyway, especially with the arm on the bad side up
> > over my head. That's where there is the least pressure on the nerve root.
> > With the muscle relaxants and feweer pain meds, eventually none, there was
> > just enough of an edge left to the pain if I moved around that I seemed to
> > maintain that position all night.
> >
> > MartyB
>
> Can we get a factory recall on the back please ;-)

You can blame it on evolution. If the back generally holds out for the
duration of a person's reproductive years, back problems that generally
develop after those reproductive years will never be evolved away.

On Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:29:19 -0400, cybercat wrote:

> "Dave Bugg" > wrote in message
>>
>> Physical therapy, to regain fitness in the back muscles, will take a bit
>> longer than before. I am prepared to take that challenge on, especially if
>> the current pain is mostly eliminated. I really need to get back to work
>> and to be able to get things done around the house that have been
>> neglected for so long.
>> --
>> Dave
>> What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
>> you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

> Under the circumstances you may want to change your sig.

<snort>

your pal,
blake