January 15, 2008

• Don't Let Your Backbone Slip!

  Ain't blogged in several days and I just know everyone in the world is anxiously waiting to hear the results of my MRI.

  The neurologist said that I have two separate things going on,  which is the reason I went to her in the first place,  I already knew I had bi-lateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,  and the hand surgeon and myself wanted the MRI to see what was wrong with the spot on the spine between my shoulder blades which is also causing symptoms in the hands and arms.  

  The MRI showed I have a case of Foramen Stenosis, which is a narrowing of the HOLE that the NERVE ROOT passes through.   This is a normal condition of aging and she used the word "arthritic".  Nothing is wrong with the spinal cord,  which of course is a relief.

  I am lucky it isn't worse.  AND THANKFUL!

  This is why my shoulders, hands and arms are numb and I can only sit at the 'puter for a short time.   I saw the physical therapist last night and he evaluated me and I will be treated with electricity,  sonic heat,   exercise and Ibuprofen. 

   I won't do too well with the Ibuprofen because it constipates me, and I'm most often not actually in pain pain,  but numbish,  cannot carry or hold objects for extended periods and tingly.   Worst thing is I cannot stay at the 'puter very long and there are a couple of Saturdays where I stay flat in bed from massive shoulder ache.

  For constiparory reasons I shun pain pills, however,  almost any other pill I will gladly pop.

  I am lucky the pain is not more severe.  Mostly a bothersome shoulder and arm ache.

  
  The neurologist has prescribed  six weeks of physical therapy for Cervical Radiculopathy,
  which is a compression of the spine.   There is nothing to be done about the stenosis other than surgery to have it scraped out but I am nowhere near that state.   She mentioned a possible steroid injection.

  She was also in agreement about staving off surgery for Carpal Tunnel syndrome,  or any type of surgery for as long as possible, if not forever.

  I know the therapy will help, it helped for the right shoulder and the previous bout of spinal compression...

  I am thinking of getting an inversion board so I can hang myself upside down and perhaps a cervical collar to wear around the house!

  I did notice some neuropathy in my feet last night but I have just started new hiv meds,  which did not make me sick this time (!!!!!) and that can be partially from that,  however,  the nerves to your legs and feet run through your cervical spine in your neck too.

  You can also lose your shit and piss muscles from this neck area too.

  And, during my research,  one of the symptoms of a spinal cord injury in men is an ERECTION,  and EMTS are trained to look for an ERECTION in men in accidents.

  What a great name for a band;

  MEN IN ACCIDENTS

  Speaking of bands,   I splurged on music, which I rarely do,  but Virgin is having a $10 SALE so what did I buy:

  Amy Winehouse (not on sale)
  Radiohead
  Nina Simone, Remixed and Reimagined
  NEXT  (indie compilation)
  Spoon
  and something else I forgot and VIRGIN is giving away a FREE CD that I saw and said I wanted one when not offered,  which has some new and up and coming bands on it.

  I had noticed my radio station at last.fm was playing the same old shit and I need some new stuff.

  Then,  at Housingworks Thrift shop down the street,   I go there every so often to see who as donated their old CD,s and they sell them for a dollar,   I got six CDS to add to my collection which is quickly approaching 10,000 TRACKS of digital music.

  Housingworks is a program that helps sick people with HIV in New York City not get EVICTED and thrown in the street.   Their thrift shops have the COOLEST STUFF TOO.

  you can see them at: http://housingworksauctions.com/program/stores.cfm

  AND they have auctions and you can BID on COOL NEW YORKER CAST OFFS and the money goes to a good cause!

  You can listen to my Ecclectic Radio Station which I think is so COOL.  I am trying to listen on my DASH but I can't make it work.

  Sean808080 says I need FLASH player to hear Last.fm.

  I am semi computer literate but when it comes to listening to my music on the internet on my cell phone,  or setting up a shared wireless connection here in the apartment,  I have reached my LEVEL OF INCOMPETENCE.

  I bought a book on writing in hopes of starting this fucking novel or writing something which has been rattling around inside my head since the 70's.

  This is all I can actually do right now. This is about where the typing ends and the shoulder, arm, hand, finger sensations begin so this is what I have blogged today.

  I feel like a side of beef.

  My upper left quadrant and upper left extremity are all tingly,  ohhhhhhh...

  Shiver me timbers!

  I'm taking the day off to lay flat on a heating pad and listnen to guided visualizations about healing.   I think the therapy last night made it flare up worse,  and today they can spare me....
  
  (on a side note,  I think Britney Spears is going to DIE and THEY are going to BLAME IT ON THE MEDIA!)

  I am dealing with some psychological issues related to writing and my mother's death.
  I am worried that I could not write until after she died because she would never have been impressed, or approved of what I had written...

  ...more about this later
  

  • 9:52 am
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