A request from the group
David Hajicek
As some of you know, my back is in bad shape, with degeneration of the
facets of my lower back. The result is a lot of pain which is preventing me
from doing much guitar playing, or working on my guitar building and now it
is interfering with my even going to my day job (don't want to lose that).
I've exhausted most (if not all) of the medical procedures to help. The
doctors say it is not operable because of all the bone degeneration. The
latest procedure, a Facet Rhizotomy, which is designed to keep me from
feeling the pain by killing the nerves, seems to have made things worse, at
least for now.
So I would appreciate any good vibes, wishes, prayers, or whatever that you
can send my way, to make my back good enough that I can function more
normally.
Thank you. This is a great group and best wishes to all.
Dave Hajicek
Ed Edelenbos
"David Hajicek" <haj...@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:HPKdnbcl-Yz9UmTX...@skypoint.com...
Good thoughts in your direction... I hope things improve soon.
Ed
Bill Chandler
<haj...@skypoint.com> brewed up the following, and served it to the
group:
Dave, you got it, my friend, coming full force from Indiana. Way too
much of this health problems crap going around these days.
Hang in there, man.
Bill Chandler
--------
... Climbing my family tree was fun, until the nuts appeared.
the above e-mail address remains totally fictional.
the real one is bc9424 AT gmailspamTHIS! D0T com (if you remove spamTHIS!)
...please check out my music at http://www.soundclick.com/billchandler some time...
Bill Chandler
...bc...
Paul L
Best wishes David and good luck in finding a way to smooth some of the bumps
in the road.
Paul
anyt...@contractorcom.com
My mother had a similar problem and over the course of a year they
basically filled her up with so much calcium (in jabs, pills and
drinks + daily physio (basically the physio was on all her joints
exept the one they were trying to fix otherwise she would have turned
into Lot's wife).
She's fine now - still creaky - she is 79 after all - doesn't need a
stick to walk anymore.
Transatlantic vibes coming your way - hope you find a fix for it.
Pete
Ed Maier
>
> So I would appreciate any good vibes, wishes, prayers, or whatever that you
> can send my way, to make my back good enough that I can function more
> normally.
>
You've got them all, amigo. Hang in there.
Ed Maier
Geezer51
You got 'em, pal. My wife is in the same boat as you. Four surgeries in the
past
three years, both cervical and lumbar.
Geezer
Wamp
Back trouble is never fun!
Hang in there man, and from me you get them all (good vibes, wishes,
prayers)
Allthe best!
--
Wamp
Remove SPAMFROMTHECAN to reply...
"David Hajicek" <haj...@skypoint.com> wrote in message
news:HPKdnbcl-Yz9UmTX...@skypoint.com...
Roger Hightower
worst I can think of, and hope you can get through the rhizotomy OK.
Good vibes coming your way.
Roger
Mike Brown
You've got it Dave. I have more or less continuous lower back pain
(though, thank goodness much milder than yours) so I can imagine what
you are going through.
When I had a really bad spell a few years ago acupuncture was a great
help during the acute phase.
You're in my thoughts.
MJRB
Alan Tignanelli
Back problems suck - good mojo, David. Reminds me I should be doing my exercises more.
Alan
Misifus
Done! We wish you well, Dave.
-Raf
--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafiii
home: http://www.rafandsioux.com
Steve Perry
<SPAMFROMTHE...@fbico.com> wrote:
> David,
>
> Back trouble is never fun!
>
> Hang in there man, and from me you get them all (good vibes, wishes,
> prayers)
>
> Allthe best!
My best, too.
--
Steve
Rick Ruskin
problems can bring to one's life. Nobody should have to go through
it.
RR
On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:38:48 -0600, "David Hajicek"
<haj...@skypoint.com> wrote:
Rick Ruskin
Lion Dog Music - Seattle WA
http://liondogmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/rickruskin
Evil Rev Returns
best
ER
Shy Picker
Good thoughts heading your way from Michigan. I threw out my back once
and it was the worse pain I've ever had. I can't even imagine what you
are going through.
Good luck
David
sheltech
Dar
hank alrich
> So I would appreciate any good vibes, wishes, prayers, or whatever that you
> can send my way, to make my back good enough that I can function more
> normally.
Got 'em goin' on, David, pullin' on the line. Here's to you.
--
ha
Les Cargill
Dunno what good it'd do. But you got 'em. Be strong.
--
Les Cargill
kol_isha
Dave, sending warm healing thoughts your way. Feel better soon.
--
Best,
Arlene
--------------------------------------
"Kol_Isha" - A Woman's Voice
Dwight
David, you have all of the prayers, best wishes, and vibes I can send
you way. Bad backs and shoulder play hell with just trying to live a
normal life.
Dwight
Peter Huggins
P.
if mail to this address bounces, please forward to :
guitarmaniax 'at' msn.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
" I`d dance with you Maria, but my hands are on fire " - Bob Dylan
" We had a knob, and all we had to do was turn it." - Les Paul
Grins, Peter
http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/THISISTHE
http://community.webtv.net/guitarmaniax/unfinished3
Jefferson Holston
...sorry to hear of your suffering, David. Good vibes and meager
prayers coming your way from the West.
jeff
David Hajicek
"Jefferson Holston" <jefferso...@invalid.gmail.invalid> wrote in
message news:hde0k0$q47$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
snip
>
> ...sorry to hear of your suffering, David. Good vibes and meager prayers
> coming your way from the West.
>
> jeff
I appreciate all the support from you and everybody else.
It was hinted strongly today that I may be terminated for being "unreliable"
because of the sick time I've missed from work (even though I took most of
it off as "vacation").
Any advice on how to best sign up for Medicare (Sandy and I are 65)? I've
been avoiding this since I had insurance coverage at work.
Dave Hajicek
Bill Chandler
>
Damn, Dave, that sucks. I hope they reconsider.
You should be able to hook up Medicare through your local Social
Security office. If you are permanently disabled, you should be
eligible for SS disability payments, although if you're 65, you'll be
eligible for regular SS soon anyway. A word of warning--if they
decide you're eligible for disability (and they will make you jump
through MANY time-consuming hoops in the process!), they will then
make you wait ANOTHER 5 months before you'll ever see a dime. We went
through that with Carla when she was diagnosed--was a pretty rough
time. Good luck, Dave.
--------
... And remember: Oprah spelled backwards is Harpo
Misifus
Your local social security office can give you the details, but don't be
surprised if you have to wait a bit. As I recall, I had to wait until I
was 65-1/2 before Medicare kicked in. It may be older now. I seem to
recall a sliding scale of gradually increasing age.
As I recall, about a month before I was eligible for Medicare, I got the
information in the mail without asking for it. They knew it was time
and sent the information along.
David Hajicek
"Misifus" <rafse...@att.net> wrote in message
news:7m1cpjF...@mid.individual.net...
but I will have to wait until I am 66 to get full SS benefits. That's
about 11 months away. The trouble is that there is a delay in the process
(around 3 months or so). So I will have to call them up and ask them what
to do.
Dave
Fred Pierce
You should sign up when you're eligible regardless of other insurance.
Enrollment periods can cause delays so waiting til you need it is a
bad idea. Here's the eligibility etc. FAQ:
http://questions.medicare.gov/cgi-bin/medicare.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2191
My employer's insurance is "primary" and I only signed up for "Part A"
but that gets you in the system.
Good luck,
fdp
Ty Ford
(in article <HPKdnbcl-Yz9UmTX...@skypoint.com>):
> I don't normally do this; that is put out an open call for support.
>
> As some of you know, my back is in bad shape, with degeneration of the
> facets of my lower back. The result is a lot of pain which is preventing me
> from doing much guitar playing, or working on my guitar building and now it
> is interfering with my even going to my day job (don't want to lose that).
>
> I've exhausted most (if not all) of the medical procedures to help. The
> doctors say it is not operable because of all the bone degeneration. The
> latest procedure, a Facet Rhizotomy, which is designed to keep me from
> feeling the pain by killing the nerves, seems to have made things worse, at
> least for now.
>
> So I would appreciate any good vibes, wishes, prayers, or whatever that you
> can send my way, to make my back good enough that I can function more
> normally.
>
> Thank you. This is a great group and best wishes to all.
>
> Dave Hajicek
>
>
Dave,
Have you tried touch healing, chakra balancing or any of the mind/body
modalities?
Regards,
Ty Ford
--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA
Misifus
It's been just long enough that I don't recall the details. I do recall
that neither the SS folks nor the insurance people at my retirement
agency, would discuss the relative merits of keeping the retirement
policy as primary, or buying part B and making the retirement policy
secondary. I had to track down some recently retired teachers to find
out that the second choice (buying part B) was the best deal for Sioux
and me. Your mileage may vary.
David Hajicek
"Ty Ford" <tyre...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:0001HW.C721A1AF...@News.Individual.NET...
about 6 months ago on my shoulder when I got a pinched nerve in my upper
back. That helped a lot.
Dave
David Hajicek
"Fred Pierce" <li...@avialantic.com> wrote in message
news:l03of5dad0rb7p84a...@4ax.com...
Dave
Misifus
I had a herniated disk a little while back that responded nicely to
physical therapy, particularly the McKenzie exercises. However, your
condition sounds as though its much more serious than mine was. I hope
it works for you.
hans
> I don't normally do this; that is put out an open call for support.
>
> As some of you know, my back is in bad shape, with degeneration of the
> facets of my lower back. The result is a lot of pain which is preventing me
> from doing much guitar playing, or working on my guitar building and now it
> is interfering with my even going to my day job (don't want to lose that).
>
> I've exhausted most (if not all) of the medical procedures to help. The
> doctors say it is not operable because of all the bone degeneration. The
> latest procedure, a Facet Rhizotomy, which is designed to keep me from
> feeling the pain by killing the nerves, seems to have made things worse, at
> least for now.
>
> So I would appreciate any good vibes, wishes, prayers, or whatever that you
> can send my way, to make my back good enough that I can function more
> normally.
>
> Thank you. This is a great group and best wishes to all.
>
> Dave Hajicek
best wishes Dave. hang in there and things will get better soon.
hans
Jefferson Holston
Dave,
I guess I wished you well and didn't look back in here for a
couple days. I don't have any advice (that hasn't been given) on
getting Medicare going, except that it sounds like the prudent
thing to do, and the sooner the better. With your job situation
you might want to see if you can access Social Security
Disability, perhaps as a bridge until you're eligible for your
full Social Security. That takes some time too, and I understand
they turn you down on the first application just as SOP.
That little "warning" from your employer really makes my butt
pucker. Clearly I'm not real familiar with your situation, but I
could easily entertain the suspicion that the hint you got may
have been the first step in building a case for termination. It
may be a good idea to quietly have a look at your personnel file
to find out if there's a little memo in there to document that
conversation... may also give you cause to ask for some
reasonable accomodation under ADA. Just a thought, hopefully
it's not that severe.
I do hope the doc's come up with some relief for you, and that
your employers develop a workaround to keep you with them until
*you're* ready to leave.
jeff
David Hajicek
> David Hajicek wrote:
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA
snip>>>
>> The doctor is going to sign me up for physical massage therapy. I had
>> that about 6 months ago on my shoulder when I got a pinched nerve in my
>> upper back. That helped a lot.
>>
>> Dave
>
>
> I had a herniated disk a little while back that responded nicely to
> physical therapy, particularly the McKenzie exercises. However, your
> condition sounds as though its much more serious than mine was. I hope it
> works for you.
>
> -Raf
Thanks Raf. I appreciate the support and advice from you and everybody
else. I will sign up for Medicare as was suggested and my doctor is signing
me up for massage therapy too. My back does seem to slowly be getting
noticeably better. I think the good vibes are really working. Do me a
favor and hoist some good quality beer in my direction. I can't drink with
the meds I'm taking.
(Rant- feel free to ignore)
My boss has cooled down and actually went out of his way today to show me
some long term schedules with my name on tasks (see, the good vibes worked)
so I'm probably ok as long as I can keep coming to work. This week, I
pulled their bacon out of the fire once again (that probably helped). I
seem to do this regularly and I enjoy a challenge. A few weeks ago, I got
them out of a regulatory stop-ship condition that would normally have lasted
months, and I did it in two weeks and lowered the cost of the product too.
I don't think I even got a thank you. Then there are the design ideas and
patented IP I came up with that is basic to them having a major new product
(I did get nice dinners and some plaques for that). I'm also the old guy
people (including managers) come to whenever the s**t hits the fan and they
need a technical solution RIGHT NOW. But still some managers think I'm just
the old guy that has back trouble too many days and maybe we should just get
rid of him and save some money.
The expression back at Honeywell was, "one aw-shit wipes out a thousand
atta-boys." That isn't very good odds. ;>) (End of Rant.)
So keep the good vibes and beer flowing, I'm not over the hump yet, but I'm
gettin' there. ;>)
Dave
David Hajicek
"Jefferson Holston" <jefferso...@invalid.gmail.invalid> wrote in
> snip> Dave,
>
> I guess I wished you well and didn't look back in here for a couple days.
> I don't have any advice (that hasn't been given) on getting Medicare
> going, except that it sounds like the prudent thing to do, and the sooner
> the better. With your job situation you might want to see if you can
> access Social Security Disability, perhaps as a bridge until you're
> eligible for your full Social Security. That takes some time too, and I
> understand they turn you down on the first application just as SOP.
>
> That little "warning" from your employer really makes my butt pucker.
> Clearly I'm not real familiar with your situation, but I could easily
> entertain the suspicion that the hint you got may have been the first step
> in building a case for termination. It may be a good idea to quietly have
> a look at your personnel file to find out if there's a little memo in
> there to document that conversation... may also give you cause to ask for
> some reasonable accomodation under ADA. Just a thought, hopefully it's
> not that severe.
>
> I do hope the doc's come up with some relief for you, and that your
> employers develop a workaround to keep you with them until *you're* ready
> to leave.
>
> jeff
>
Thanks. I'm sure I have two strikes against me in my personnel file. I
added a letter to my file on one of these because it was way over the top
(not that it will help). I hate to say this, but they have been known to
make up stuff and put it in a personnel file to later justify "termination
for cause". Minnesota is an At Will employment state, so they don't need a
reason. It is just to save money on their unemployment insurance premiums.
One guy that had been terminated, talked to the Unemployment Office and the
UO response was basically that they knew my employer was gaming the system.
I have decided to stop worrying. I will plan as if I will be terminated and
do all the good things people have suggested. If I can make it into next
year (pretty good odds), I should be ok financially. I will go on
unemployment and try to find another job (which would be difficult). But I
will honestly look for a job or consulting until I am 66.
I asked HR if working fewer days a week (which would help me a lot) would be
possible. I would lose all employee benefits in that case (not just
pro-rated). With the loss of vacations (3 weeks) and holidays, I wouldn't
come out much ahead. But if I have Medicaid, I can switch to that if
necessary. But it is very unlikely that I would be allowed to work fewer
days in any case. They feel they need me there every day. We are
deliberately understaffed. So if miss a day, that can be a 1 day schedule
slip.
Dave Hajicek
kol_isha
> be possible. I would lose all employee benefits in that case (not just
> pro-rated). With the loss of vacations (3 weeks) and holidays, I wouldn't
> come out much ahead. But if I have Medicaid, I can switch to that if
> necessary. But it is very unlikely that I would be allowed to work fewer
> days in any case. They feel they need me there every day. We are
> deliberately understaffed. So if miss a day, that can be a 1 day schedule
> slip.
>
> Dave Hajicek
>
Dave,
Check out the Department of Labor Family Medical Leave laws. If you have
worked there at least a year, and your company has 50 employees or more (OR
if it is a federal, state, or local governmental agency that employs you),
they MUST comply!!! You are ENTITLED to have your job protected, for up to
12 weeks (unpaid), if you have to leave work in order to "seek medical
treatment for or recover from" a serious health condition. This applies
even to people who have to take sporadic leave (in other words... even if
you have a "chronic" condition for which you may need to be out of work at
unpredictable times), as long as you provide your employer with
documentation from your doctor that you have the condition, and that when it
flares up, you need time off. They are NOT allowed to fire you for taking
that time off. If your company has less than 50 employees, check their
documentation carefully anyway. Some companies indicate that they comply
with this anyway.
Good luck.
Best,
Arlene
Bill Chandler
>
Good to hear it, Dave. Hope the good news continues!
Bill
--------
... Big or small We tax them all.
Les Cargill
This isn't unusual. And from what I've seen ( which is critically
dependent on what it is you do ), some people come out quite ahead.
But you need a good network.
> I asked HR if working fewer days a week (which would help me a lot) would be
> possible. I would lose all employee benefits in that case (not just
> pro-rated). With the loss of vacations (3 weeks) and holidays, I wouldn't
> come out much ahead. But if I have Medicaid, I can switch to that if
> necessary. But it is very unlikely that I would be allowed to work fewer
> days in any case. They feel they need me there every day. We are
> deliberately understaffed. So if miss a day, that can be a 1 day schedule
> slip.
>
That illustrates why people that run businesses that way - ostensibly
to be "competitive" - often end up paying more for it in the end.
Sometimes much more.
> Dave Hajicek
>
--
Les Cargill
David Hajicek
"kol_isha" <kol_ishaR...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hdme46$l7u$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> Dave,
>
> Check out the Department of Labor Family Medical Leave laws. If you have
> worked there at least a year, and your company has 50 employees or more
> (OR if it is a federal, state, or local governmental agency that employs
> you), they MUST comply!!! You are ENTITLED to have your job protected,
> for up to 12 weeks (unpaid), if you have to leave work in order to "seek
> medical treatment for or recover from" a serious health condition. This
> applies even to people who have to take sporadic leave (in other words...
> even if you have a "chronic" condition for which you may need to be out of
> work at unpredictable times), as long as you provide your employer with
> documentation from your doctor that you have the condition, and that when
> it flares up, you need time off. They are NOT allowed to fire you for
> taking that time off. If your company has less than 50 employees, check
> their documentation carefully anyway. Some companies indicate that they
> comply with this anyway.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Best,
>
> Arlene
They have more than 100 employees. I have worked there for over 8 years. HR
knows about this law and has suggested the possibility. That is not the
problem What would happen is someone in upper management would make up
some other reason for terminating me to get around the law. They would find
a replacement and then say that they had no job for me to return to. I do
not want to fight that fight and I would lose. I have seen many good people
terminated and frog-marched out the door. Sometimes for good reason, but
sometimes they are simply the scape goat for bad decisions made by upper
management. We just had a department manager hand in his two weeks notice,
because he'd had enough and he probably knew he was next on the scape-goat
list. I don't think I am in that position, so I'll hang in there for as
long as I can. Hopefully my back will get good enough that I no-longer miss
significant time at work. But I will have my Doctor write a letter to our
HR explaining my medical condition (as backup). Thanks for the idea. If my
back was good, I'd be looking for a job elsewhere.
This is a strange company. They are scrupulous about following regulations
and things in other areas. But when it comes to employees, it is the wild
west.
Dave Hajicek
kol_isha
"David Hajicek" <haj...@skypoint.com> wrote in message
> They have more than 100 employees. I have worked there for over 8 years.
> HR knows about this law and has suggested the possibility. That is not
> the problem What would happen is someone in upper management would make
> up some other reason for terminating me to get around the law. They would
> find a replacement and then say that they had no job for me to return to.
> I do not want to fight that fight and I would lose.
Well, that's sad. But buttom line is they are not allowed to "get around
the law" and they are not allowed to terminate you for taking FMLA leave.
But I understand that you might feel it not worth fighting the fight (which
you would most likely win... but maybe not worth the hassle). Anyway, good
luck with this all, Dave.
JPTl
<haj...@skypoint.com> wrote:
>I don't normally do this; that is put out an open call for support.
>
>As some of you know, my back is in bad shape, with degeneration of the
>facets of my lower back. The result is a lot of pain which is preventing me
>from doing much guitar playing, or working on my guitar building and now it
>is interfering with my even going to my day job (don't want to lose that).
>
>I've exhausted most (if not all) of the medical procedures to help. The
>doctors say it is not operable because of all the bone degeneration. The
>latest procedure, a Facet Rhizotomy, which is designed to keep me from
>feeling the pain by killing the nerves, seems to have made things worse, at
>least for now.
>
>So I would appreciate any good vibes, wishes, prayers, or whatever that you
>can send my way, to make my back good enough that I can function more
>normally.
>
>Thank you. This is a great group and best wishes to all.
>
>Dave Hajicek
>
>
Hello Dave,
You must keep hoping to win the fight against pain. I have endured
similar events.
In 1996 I underwent a very common operation on my backbone : I had a
slipped disc. Since then my back has been stiff like a steel bar and I
had the usual ailments connected to this very common trouble.
In 2007 it degenerated into Arnold's neuralgia : it is a nerve that
runs out of your backbone at the bottom of your neck and covers your
skull and that nerve gets blocked and compressed for some reason. The
result is a permanent aching pain with the sensation of your skull
being compressed like in vice grips. I had also exhausted all sorts
of medical solutions without success ; injections and so on. To go on
working I went everyday to my office with tablets of morphine that I
took regurlarly during the day. It lasted for months and like many
suffering from this disease I soon contemplated suicide. But
miraculously a doctor advised me to try a new medicine that had been
for sale for only 3 years : it is designed to ease the pain for
diabetics whose nerves are damaged by that disease ( it is called
Cymbalta here in France, it is just an example, not sure that it would
work for you, but it is a US medicine) . And it worked for me. The
pain transformed just into a sensation of constantly wearing a helmet
but not more. In other words it does not deserve to be called pain any
more. Here, now, writing his message I am wearing that helmet . (and I
can wear it all day long since no one sees it :-)
So my message is , do not lose all hope. In the medical laboratories
extraordinary people are working and things get better everyday with
their discoveries. The doctor who had no solution for you last year
may have one now. Keep on knocking on their doors regularly.
Wishing you to recover from it all.
Best regards
Jean-Pierre