Just saying hi..

[JoanB]

Hello all...just wanted to update. Life has been fast and furious lately, so I've had to put my pain problems on the back burner.

If you remember, I was going to see a neurosurgeon about the bone chip on my MRI, and if that could be a mechanical cause of my pain. Well, that was a bust. He said no, that could not be causing my symptoms, and wouldn't listen to much or answer my questions really. So on goes the saga. I just want an explanation that doesn't sound like a little kid made it up.

I've been doing home health & personal care duty and finding a new job (my old contract job project was over), so I've just been kind of overwhelmed for a while. But I hope you all are doing well. If anything changes, I'll let ya know.

[fionab]

Good to hear from you! I think a few of us are playing catch up right now as many of us have been distracted by other things going on in our lives. But it's always great to know that no matter how long we "drop out" that we're always welcomed back with open arms and concerns on how we're doing.

I sure hope and pray that you get some answers soon. I know it can be very frustrating

[Rrae]

Thanks for the update Joan. Fiona said it well, distractions can lead us away, yet we are always 'together' in this bond we share.

So, the neuro couldn't even spend a bit of time with you to listen or offer other possibilities. . This I do not like. I hope there is a 'special' place in the great beyond for these high and mighty ducks. I better shut up while I'm ahead here......or a bolt of lightning might get me.
I'm so sorry. We were all hanging on to the hope that you'd get a breakthru. I'll continue to hang on to this hope tho....

I hope things will work themselves out on the job prospects. I know what it's like to feel overwhelmed. We all care for you, Joan....

Rae

[JoanB]

Thanks fiona and Rrae. At least it's Spring, though. At least there's that!

[Mark56]

................you shoulda known you needed to be armed with your mandolin when you went to see Dr. "No time for ya darlin" so you could whack im a good one!!! Let him know what a good old, or new, bone chip feels like from a well strung mandolin.... well preferably an old one so your orchestral instrument is not damaged.

You know what I mean. Little hammer doesn't work, get a bigger hammer..... what is it with some of these people? Can't they spare a moment for compassion or did that go out with Milburn Stone and Gunsmoke [testing your trivia here]?

Darn it,
There,
I wrote it,
Prayin anyway,
and about my anger too,
Mark56

[JoanB]

Sorry I took so long to get back. It's been a challenging time lately, but to update, I'm seeing another neurosurgeon next week. I have a pretty strong inkling that he won't be any more open-minded than the other, but I have to keep trying.

In the meantime, someone convinced me to ask my neurologist for a brain MRI in case I have MS, which he agreed to. I had it done last week, and saw the report, which sort of sounds like there might be something to that theory, or maybe not:

"Mild region of abnormal T2 signal within the white matter in a
configuration concerning for demyelinating process."

Of course, there's no reason that I couldn't have a bone chip and MS. Just sayin'. Doc hasn't called yet, and I've been too busy to pester.

And thanks Mark for the mando-as-weapon idea, but I think I would have liked clobbering with something heavier that has more leverage. Maybe a bassoon would have been the thing...

[JoanB]

Gunsmoke--we never watched that in our house, so I always feel somehow uncomplete when faced with cultural references to it. Is that the one that had Chester?

[Mark56]

Yup, Chester, who retired so very near my hometown....... an icon that old western.

Interesting about the bassoon idea, but one might actually consider using it in another way........ [evil grin]

So, anyway, there is this local friend of mine who was told by his surgeon "No, a bone chip can in NO WAY cause the pain." Then the surgeon met his wife, also our friend [and a rider in the Obama motorcade at inaug 2009]..... she being a retired public school principal does know the meaning of buzzsaw very well, and you know? After she had used said buzz saw effect on said surgeon said husband was set up for the surgery removing said chip and leading since to a totally lumbar spine pain free life!!! So, my friend, how would you like to rent a "buzz saw" wielding friend's services? OR, maybe you have such a someone nearby to you????

So very good to see you back, and I am wondering what will come of your brain MRI???? Mine for a post concussive brain demonstrated many white matter spots indicative by my neurologist of something differernt than you received; however, your diagnosis is the important item to follow to conclusion with your doc.

Prayin still,
Mark56zzzz

[Rrae]

Thank you so much for the update Joan!

You are important part of this little forum, in case you were unaware!
It sounds like you've been having a time of it lately and I'm sorry to hear this.
You are right - you must continue on searching out the culprit. I feel in my heart that you WILL pin this down.

It's always hard to tell what the heck those MRI readings mean.
Please keep us informed!

Caring,
Rae

[JoanB]

Thanks, Mark & Rrea!

Mark, you are a very nasty boy--in my time I've heard of that venerable member of the reed family called many things, including the farting bedpost, but never, ever have I entertained nor heard of anyone else express thoughts of using one that way. Oooooocchhh!

Actually, I think the best weapon/musical instrument is the banjo. The bodies of those are heavy, and the long neck would give you one heck of a swing. But if you wanted an instrument that would provide offense while you're just playing it, nothing beats the bagpipes.

Buzzsaws--sometimes that works for some people, but I also suspect it causes them to write bad things in your record so that your reputation precedes you. I dunno...

But from the little I've read, it looks like the bit in that MRI report about "demyelinating process" might have something to do with MS if it's in your brain. But it also said that there were no visible leisions, so maybe not.