Is anyone here?
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Nancy
Aug 30, 2010, 9:35:35 PM8/30/10
to OPLL
Any updates? I am still struggling but am hanging in there.
N
N
rockdoc
Aug 30, 2010, 9:40:23 PM8/30/10
to OPLL
I'm still here!! In pain, but still here. I just got back from 10
days in Alaska doing field work. About wrecked my back doing it
though. I've been wondering what everyone was up to - always figured
that no news is good news. Hopefully everyone else is doing well?
BrianS
days in Alaska doing field work. About wrecked my back doing it
though. I've been wondering what everyone was up to - always figured
that no news is good news. Hopefully everyone else is doing well?
BrianS
Nancy McInally
Aug 30, 2010, 10:10:05 PM8/30/10
to opll_di...@googlegroups.com
Hey Rocdoc,
I have changed my email recently and was updating my contacts so I thought I might check in. I go back to work tomorrow ugh! I am kind of excited but concerned it is going to be more painful. During the summer I am more able to pace my activities. I continue to have quite abit of pain daily. About 3pm everyday it seems my pain comes on with a fury and I need to take some pain meds. I went through a SCS trial this summer but it didn't go well. I am going to trial a different brand during Thanksgiving break. Hope it helps! If I decide to get a permanent implant I will have to have a Lamy to place the paddles and be off work for 6-8 weeks. Hopefully by then I will be covered under STD as I have to be covered for over a year with a pre existing condition. (new plan at work) That will allow me to pay for my med. insurance under COBRA. Hope everyone else is doing well. I wish there was more research about this condition. Lately I haven't found much new. Try to take care of yourself!
N
I have changed my email recently and was updating my contacts so I thought I might check in. I go back to work tomorrow ugh! I am kind of excited but concerned it is going to be more painful. During the summer I am more able to pace my activities. I continue to have quite abit of pain daily. About 3pm everyday it seems my pain comes on with a fury and I need to take some pain meds. I went through a SCS trial this summer but it didn't go well. I am going to trial a different brand during Thanksgiving break. Hope it helps! If I decide to get a permanent implant I will have to have a Lamy to place the paddles and be off work for 6-8 weeks. Hopefully by then I will be covered under STD as I have to be covered for over a year with a pre existing condition. (new plan at work) That will allow me to pay for my med. insurance under COBRA. Hope everyone else is doing well. I wish there was more research about this condition. Lately I haven't found much new. Try to take care of yourself!
N
ksopll
Aug 30, 2010, 11:38:11 PM8/30/10
to OPLL
Hi Nancy and Brian,
Not alot new with me. I can't remember when we all spoke last. I am
the lady with OPLL in neck and thoracic spine. Had surgery in 06 in
neck. I got a Pain Management doctor this past winter, which is a good
thing so far. He gave me 2 steriod injections in my thoracic spine in
Feb, that relieved my numbness and tingling
and pain in my chest for the most part. Hope this lasts for years!! I
still have pain in my thoracic spine, which comes and goes. If it gets
worse the plan is to get more injections or a nerve block to see if it
will help. I also had a cervical spine steriod injection about a month
ago. Think it helped till the last few days. I had it cause I was
having pain in my arm. The pain has been gone for the month, until the
last few days and it is hurting off and on. I am waiting to see if it
gets worse, if it does will talk with my Pain Management doc about it.
I have been playing in my neighbors pool all summer and the water has
been toasty, so it has been good for me to get into the water and move
my arms and legs around while hanging onto a noodle. It is going to
get cool, so I am joining our Physical Therapy place that has a pool
that they keep the water at 92 degrees, which is great to help relax
everything it seems like. I am lucky, I don't have much weakness in my
body from the OPLL. Just the pain and other sensory nerve problems-
numbess, tingling. I am in no hurry to have surgery again until I have
too. Good to hear from you two. Hope we hear from others. Wonder
how everyone is doing good or bad. I don't know if I ever told, but I
quit working in 06 due to other health problems, then this also came
along about the same time and so I gave up my career. I am blessed
however to get longterm disability thru my former employer. You two
are still doing what I don't anymore, work. I don't know how you do
it. All this pain messes with my brain it seems, as I can't think as
clearly as I used too. I try not to take narcotics because since the
neck surgery my stomach and bowels move more slowly. Which means
nausua and constipation. Narcotics slows the stomach and bowels
further. Just can't win it seems, but I am doing the best I can and
pray daily for not too much pain to bear. Nancy, hope the trial helps
and please let us know if it does or doesn't. Brian, Hope you are
feeling better very soon. If you are like me, you can't get away with
doing much without causing more pain. I have enjoyed the summer and
hate when it gets cold, as the cold makes me hurt worse I think. I
about forgot to mention that a doctor recently xrayed my pelvis area,
and the xray report said I had extra bone on my hips. Ug... Going
Wednesday to have follow me MRI's on my neck and middle back. I'm
praying nothing is encroaching to close to the spinal cord. Wish me
luck.
Pam
> > > N- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Not alot new with me. I can't remember when we all spoke last. I am
the lady with OPLL in neck and thoracic spine. Had surgery in 06 in
neck. I got a Pain Management doctor this past winter, which is a good
thing so far. He gave me 2 steriod injections in my thoracic spine in
Feb, that relieved my numbness and tingling
and pain in my chest for the most part. Hope this lasts for years!! I
still have pain in my thoracic spine, which comes and goes. If it gets
worse the plan is to get more injections or a nerve block to see if it
will help. I also had a cervical spine steriod injection about a month
ago. Think it helped till the last few days. I had it cause I was
having pain in my arm. The pain has been gone for the month, until the
last few days and it is hurting off and on. I am waiting to see if it
gets worse, if it does will talk with my Pain Management doc about it.
I have been playing in my neighbors pool all summer and the water has
been toasty, so it has been good for me to get into the water and move
my arms and legs around while hanging onto a noodle. It is going to
get cool, so I am joining our Physical Therapy place that has a pool
that they keep the water at 92 degrees, which is great to help relax
everything it seems like. I am lucky, I don't have much weakness in my
body from the OPLL. Just the pain and other sensory nerve problems-
numbess, tingling. I am in no hurry to have surgery again until I have
too. Good to hear from you two. Hope we hear from others. Wonder
how everyone is doing good or bad. I don't know if I ever told, but I
quit working in 06 due to other health problems, then this also came
along about the same time and so I gave up my career. I am blessed
however to get longterm disability thru my former employer. You two
are still doing what I don't anymore, work. I don't know how you do
it. All this pain messes with my brain it seems, as I can't think as
clearly as I used too. I try not to take narcotics because since the
neck surgery my stomach and bowels move more slowly. Which means
nausua and constipation. Narcotics slows the stomach and bowels
further. Just can't win it seems, but I am doing the best I can and
pray daily for not too much pain to bear. Nancy, hope the trial helps
and please let us know if it does or doesn't. Brian, Hope you are
feeling better very soon. If you are like me, you can't get away with
doing much without causing more pain. I have enjoyed the summer and
hate when it gets cold, as the cold makes me hurt worse I think. I
about forgot to mention that a doctor recently xrayed my pelvis area,
and the xray report said I had extra bone on my hips. Ug... Going
Wednesday to have follow me MRI's on my neck and middle back. I'm
praying nothing is encroaching to close to the spinal cord. Wish me
luck.
Pam
>
> - Show quoted text -
Dawn Campbell
Aug 31, 2010, 1:29:10 AM8/31/10
to opll_di...@googlegroups.com
Hi all,
So sorry that I haven't written for so long. I am still trying to get it all together. Since my fall I have had 4 operations this year and none of them on my neck or back yet. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in April and have had a real rough go...I am in stage 4 and they had to remove my ovaries too. Still waiting for the pathology report and should know if the cancer spread there. I hear my neck squeaking and grinding all day long, but have been so immobile that I have not been able to get my EMG and Nerve Conduction Test done...hopefully soon.
I hope all is well with all and I have you all on my prayer list...I am positive that I will beat this!!! I just can't go through the neck surgery this year, due to many surgeries already. I am gearing up for next year to get it done, before I fall again and risk paralysis...pray for me...I need it :-)
Hugs,
Dawn
From: rockdoc <bshe...@mac.com>
To: OPLL <opll_di...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 9:40:23 PM
Subject: Re: Is anyone here?
So sorry that I haven't written for so long. I am still trying to get it all together. Since my fall I have had 4 operations this year and none of them on my neck or back yet. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in April and have had a real rough go...I am in stage 4 and they had to remove my ovaries too. Still waiting for the pathology report and should know if the cancer spread there. I hear my neck squeaking and grinding all day long, but have been so immobile that I have not been able to get my EMG and Nerve Conduction Test done...hopefully soon.
I hope all is well with all and I have you all on my prayer list...I am positive that I will beat this!!! I just can't go through the neck surgery this year, due to many surgeries already. I am gearing up for next year to get it done, before I fall again and risk paralysis...pray for me...I need it :-)
Hugs,
Dawn
Take Care, God Bless and Have a Great Day!
From: rockdoc <bshe...@mac.com>
To: OPLL <opll_di...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 9:40:23 PM
Subject: Re: Is anyone here?
Big George
Aug 31, 2010, 9:13:09 AM8/31/10
to OPLL
Hello Everyone,
It must be the time of year to experience a setback. I have been
enjoying the warm weather this summer and lifted something the wrong
way-felt a pop in my lumbar spine and have had nerve pain and some
weakness in my legs. I have been seeing my pain management doc with
good success to control pain. Now I am awaiting an MRI to decide plan
of action to treat lumbar pain. I have been resting and trying to
stretch,which is what PT will do. I might be a candidate for traction
table- worked with a herniated disc in 1990's. Sorry to hear about all
the setbacks, and will continue to keep all of you in my prayers. The
pool has been a good therapy- buoyancy and restricted movement are a
good combination. My best to all of you.
Big George
On Aug 31, 1:29 am, Dawn Campbell <waynesc...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> So sorry that I haven't written for so long. I am still trying to get it all
> together. Since my fall I have had 4 operations this year and none of them on
> my neck or back yet. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in April and have had
> a real rough go...I am in stage 4 and they had to remove my ovaries too. Still
> waiting for the pathology report and should know if the cancer spread there. I
> hear my neck squeaking and grinding all day long, but have been so immobile that
> I have not been able to get my EMG and Nerve Conduction Test done...hopefully
> soon.
>
> I hope all is well with all and I have you all on my prayer list...I am positive
> that I will beat this!!! I just can't go through the neck surgery this year,
> due to many surgeries already. I am gearing up for next year to get it done,
> before I fall again and risk paralysis...pray for me...I need it :-)
>
> Hugs,
> Dawn
>
> Take Care, God Bless and Have a Great Day!
>
> ________________________________
> From: rockdoc <bsher...@mac.com>
It must be the time of year to experience a setback. I have been
enjoying the warm weather this summer and lifted something the wrong
way-felt a pop in my lumbar spine and have had nerve pain and some
weakness in my legs. I have been seeing my pain management doc with
good success to control pain. Now I am awaiting an MRI to decide plan
of action to treat lumbar pain. I have been resting and trying to
stretch,which is what PT will do. I might be a candidate for traction
table- worked with a herniated disc in 1990's. Sorry to hear about all
the setbacks, and will continue to keep all of you in my prayers. The
pool has been a good therapy- buoyancy and restricted movement are a
good combination. My best to all of you.
Big George
On Aug 31, 1:29 am, Dawn Campbell <waynesc...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> So sorry that I haven't written for so long. I am still trying to get it all
> together. Since my fall I have had 4 operations this year and none of them on
> my neck or back yet. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in April and have had
> a real rough go...I am in stage 4 and they had to remove my ovaries too. Still
> waiting for the pathology report and should know if the cancer spread there. I
> hear my neck squeaking and grinding all day long, but have been so immobile that
> I have not been able to get my EMG and Nerve Conduction Test done...hopefully
> soon.
>
> I hope all is well with all and I have you all on my prayer list...I am positive
> that I will beat this!!! I just can't go through the neck surgery this year,
> due to many surgeries already. I am gearing up for next year to get it done,
> before I fall again and risk paralysis...pray for me...I need it :-)
>
> Hugs,
> Dawn
>
> Take Care, God Bless and Have a Great Day!
>
> ________________________________
Kiwi
Aug 31, 2010, 4:25:21 PM8/31/10
to OPLL
We must all be on a wavelength as I have been thinking of you all and
wondering how things were going. Thought that you were probably all
enjoying the northern hemisphere summer as much as possible. I
still feel blessed to be living in the Solomons where the warmth makes
it easier to exercise and we have had the gift of a yoga teacher
taking free classes 3 x weekly. Can you believe that? It makes such
a difference and the body moves freely in the warmth. Sadly she
leaves the islands on Friday but 2 others have promised to lead our
group. As you say George, the pool makes exercise easier too.
My biggest problem is an arthritic left knee which I don't think is
connected with OPLL (it probably doesn't help but can't be
blamed!). The neck is good - stiff but not painful, and the new hip
is the best bit of me!!
I do think of you all often and send you my positive thoughts that
your daily lives will be as high quality and painfree as possible and
may you all be surrounded by the love and support of family and
friends.
Jane
wondering how things were going. Thought that you were probably all
enjoying the northern hemisphere summer as much as possible. I
still feel blessed to be living in the Solomons where the warmth makes
it easier to exercise and we have had the gift of a yoga teacher
taking free classes 3 x weekly. Can you believe that? It makes such
a difference and the body moves freely in the warmth. Sadly she
leaves the islands on Friday but 2 others have promised to lead our
group. As you say George, the pool makes exercise easier too.
My biggest problem is an arthritic left knee which I don't think is
connected with OPLL (it probably doesn't help but can't be
blamed!). The neck is good - stiff but not painful, and the new hip
is the best bit of me!!
I do think of you all often and send you my positive thoughts that
your daily lives will be as high quality and painfree as possible and
may you all be surrounded by the love and support of family and
friends.
Jane
James Louder
Sep 1, 2010, 8:40:28 AM9/1/10
to opll_di...@googlegroups.com
Good Morning All,
I was surprised to get so many messages from each of you. My OPLL can be traced back to 2005 before I retired. It was not diagnosed until the fall of 2009 and I like you tried to find information about the disease. There is not much out there. After satisfying my curiosity I agreed to surgery on 7 Jan 2010. I had a corpectomy removing c5 and c6 disks and vertebrae. I have a Globus xpand insert and of course wore a neck brace for 12 weeks. UGH! Numbness is gone in the right arm. My Neurosurgeon also prescribed an Orthofix Cervical Stim devce to wear 4 hours per day to stimulate fusing of the bone inside the Globus device. I will continue to wear it for at least 9 months. I like most of you have other arthritic issues but life is great. Hope to hear from you.
Jim
James Louder
Sep 1, 2010, 9:11:26 AM9/1/10
to opll_di...@googlegroups.com
Good Morning All,
I was surprised to get so many messages from each of you. My OPLL can be traced back to 2005 before I retired. It was not diagnosed until the fall of 2009 and I like you tried to find information about the disease. There is not much out there. After satisfying my curiosity I agreed to surgery on 7 Jan 2010. I had a corpectomy removing c5 and c6 disks and vertebrae. I have a Globus xpand insert and of course wore a neck brace for 12 weeks. UGH! Numbness is gone in the right arm. My Neurosurgeon also prescribed an Orthofix Cervical Stim devce to wear 4 hours per day to stimulate fusing of the bone inside the Globus device. I will continue to wear it for at least 9 months. I like most of you have other arthritic issues but life is great. Hope to hear from you.
Jim
On Aug 31, 2010, at 9:13 AM, Big George wrote:
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