Quilting with disabilities

[cutup]

Went to a wedding this weekend up in Eagle River, WI I forgot to take the anti-inflamatory and muscle relaxor and boy was I paying for it. That satand up MRI sounds like a good idea I think I will find 1 of those. THANKS....Jean

[cutup]

Good morning everyone, I've had several doctors and some I dearly loved (like the ones in Atlanta). Wish I could bring them to my town. Also have a neurologist that is absolutely an angel. One day after my botox injections (in my back....not in my face for wrinkles!!), I asked him to lay hands on me and pray and he did. Afterward, he told me he was not really comfortable praying in public, but that didn't stop him. I can go a year or two and not see him and when I do see him, he'll say 'hi, Sharon, how you doing?' It just amazes me that he can remember people and their circumstances.

Anyway, to the point of my message. I think a lot of the younger doctors just getting started in their practice are healthy and don't have a clue how chronic pain feels. It's hard for them to relate to us who do have chronic pain. Sometimes I think they just want to 'get us out of their hair'. And then there are the folks who say they have chronic pain just to get pain pills. They are making it harder on the ones who need them. I just started with a new GP and his policy is a drug test at every appt. to see exactly what's going on with the drugs. Thank goodness I had the documentation of my problem with me and it was also on the computer , so he knew I wasn't blowing smoke.

Well, I feel better now!!! I'll get off my soapbox and get on with reading messages.

Hope you all have a painfree and blessed day, Sharon in NE TN

[Fangdoc]

Hi all,

I am blessed enough to not be in unmanageable chronic pain right now, but I have a history of disc problems, right-side numbness, hip problems, and a family predisposition toward carpal tunnel and back problems. Since my job requires a great deal of dexterity and stamina, and puts postural strain on my neck, shoulders, back, and hips, I am doing my best to work and quilt as safely and ergonomically as possible. I honestly don't know what I'd do if I couldn't work and quilt.

So: I have set up my machine, pressing surface, and cutting surface at the proper heights for me as established in "Creating Your Perfect Sewing Space" by Lois Hallock. I sit in a good, armless office chair from Ikea with a "Quilter's Whoopee Cushion" on the seat (actually one of those rubbery inflated excercise balance pads they use at the gym, but I bought mine at a quilt show.) I took Dierdre McElroy's hand quilting class to learn to hand-quilt ergonomically, and I use the fattest-handled tools I can. I've also had to face up to the fact that I probably can't go to quilt retreats any more, because I always hurt after sewing all weekend on tables and chairs that are invariably the wrong height.

Hopefully all these things will keep me quilting well into old age!

[Fangdoc]

Good morning, all, I had my cervical MRI and it shows that the bone spurs are definitely into the spinal cord. I could tell that last year by looking at the x-ray films - too bad the doctors couldn't. I think if it was 'their' neck, something would have been done, and fast!

I have so many questions and worries going through my head right now. I want the most conservative surgery possible, not open back surgery. The places that specialize in that are not considered hospitals and therefore insurance doesn't pay much at all.

Then there's the thought that if there's a slight slip of laser, or whatever they use, I could be paralyzed.

I really need prayer right now. I need guidance in even the smallest detail of this problem.

Thanks, all and have a great day, Sharon in TN

[TQSWizard]

Sharon,

I am so sorry to hear of your chronic back pain. My husband has had neck and back pain for about 15 years. Two neck surgeries and one VERY painful back surgery later he is doing much better. His goal was to get off of the HUGE amount of medicine needed to function each day.
As I don't have this going on personally I am definitely not one to tell you what to do. However, after he tried everything (accupuncture, therapy, etc.) surgery was the last option. It will be a year this weekend. His pain is 50% less and he will this month once again be able to golf and ski.

His surgeon spelializes in back and neck operations. We would only have been able to do this with insurance. We met with several doctors before he made the decision. All said, he thinks it was worth it to be in less pain on a daily basis. Oh, and he gets a weekly deep tissue massage. You might check if that is something covered by your insurance. Best of luck to you.

[TQSWizard]

Sharon,
In your earlier post you mentioned that your neurosurgeon was an angel. He will also be your best friend when it somes to this situation. You already trust him, right? Find out his "educated" opinion since he could be responsible for your treatment.
My prayers are with you.
Denise in cool Minneapolis

[TQSWizard]

Hi Denise and TQS Wizard, thanks for the replies. I just got home from the doctor who prescribes my meds and mentioned that no one had called me with my neurosurgeon's appt. The nurse practitioner looked on the computer and the neurosurgeon had posted a comment yesterday that my problem wasn't bad enough to be seen again and I should try a pain clinic. My reply to her was, yes, but it's not HIS neck."

Wizard, I'm glad your husband is doing so much better. Chronic pain has to put a strain on relationships in a household. I, too, am wanting to get off the medicine, and I'm only doing about 1/2 of what was prescribed. I'll probably have to do the prescribed dosage if I get any decent pain relief. How did accupuncture work for your husband? Did he get any pain relief at all from it?

Denise, I got your private email. Thanks so much for your support and number. What time zone are you in? I don't want to call too early or too late at night.

I'm going to investigate Vanderbilt Univ. in Nashville, and some other places. One of the problems in living in 'small town USA' is that the medical community isn't up to the standards of the larger cities.

I talked to my chiropractor a while ago and she said that around here, the doctors wait until the patient is mostly paralyzed before doing neck surgery. Then, because it is such a delicate surgery, if anything bad happens during surgery, they can just say, 'oh, the patient was so bad it would have happened anyway."

Well, as usual, I've written an novel.

Everybody have a great weekend, Sharon in NE TN

[TQSWizard]

Sharon,

Accupuncture and the chiropractor only helped my husband for a few days. I will say that he had a very stressful job which probably didn't help things regarding his neck and back. My husband has been a real trooper over the years, never complaining, he just refuses to let this keep him from living life. Yes, there have been adjustments (no more skiing and golf), but we have found other things that we enjoy together (gardening, hiking with our three dogs).

One thing he did do that helped with some pain was to lose and keep his weight at a level that is better for him. He is now weighs the same as he did when we got married.

Pain is such an individual thing. I would visit other options regarding your neck. Oh, my neighbor who also suffers from back pain swears by yoga and a hot tub. She goes three times a week to a yoga class and has a hot tub in her back yard.

Best of luck,

Lilo

[TQSWizard]

Hi Lilo, I think the acupuncture might help the fibro more than the neck. Almost everyone says do exercise for fibro, also. It's hard to do exercise, because when I stand, the pressure on the disc makes the pain worse, so I have to lay down or use my little pump up traction collar.

The weight thing is okay with me. I was 124 today, and around 5'5". With all my discs blowing out, I'm getting shorter and shorter!

Did your husband get depressed along with the chronic pain? That usually goes hand in hand. However, most of the anti depressants I've tried make the depression worse for me, so I try not to take any.

So long for how, got to get to other things.

Sharon in TN

[snowplow3840]

I too have chronic back problems but am fortunate not to have the significant debilitating pain that others have. (I count my blessings) I found that the best advise and treatment that I got for my back was an orthopedic surgeon even though I never had surgery. I am essentially missing three vertebrae they are that collapsed so short at 5'4'' has become bairly five feet. Table height and the design of a chair are the two things that can make all the difference in my comfort level.

My advice to you, Sharon, is #1 stash your pills everywhere you can think so you never leave home without them I keep some in the glove compartment of the car so they are available even if I do not take a purse. And I have no shame I carry chair cushions almost every where I go ---especially to a church or a room where I know there will be folding chairs it isn't the total answer but it sure helps. And then keep looking until you find a doctor that will work with you, explain things to you, and listen to your questions. I went through three doctors last year because none of them would address my chronic anemia with anything but periodic blood transfusions. Currently I have a good DR in Chicago for when we are here in the summer and I have a new one in Texas wil see how she does but at least she listens and gives you understandable answers.
Keep the faith, my prayers are with you and remember that you know your body better than any doctor so stick to your guns until you get some relief.

thinking about you from Ann in Minnesota where it is "cold" tonight

[snowplow3840]

Hi Ann, could you send some cooler air toward the south, please?!

I'm thinking about an orthopedic doc, but I'd rather have a neurosurgeon since the spinal cord is involved. I don't want surgery at all, but I know these bone spurs continue to grow. They don't shrink or disappear without Divine Intervention (which I've had before with my lumbar area). The more these bone spurs impinge on my spinal cord, the harder it will be to do surgery (I think) and I really don't think I can go on like this for years. Besides, after the spinal cord has been damaged, it probably won't go back to it's previous state, so I'll have numbness, possibly paralysis, who knows.

I'm going to send my report and films to various places.
It should be interesting to get the opinions of endoscopic surgeons.

I recently bought bed risers for my cutting table and that helped so much.
I had to cut squares for 'hobo' packs for the children at church and the added height was great. My back went into spasms, but not as bad as it normally would.

Also, Ann, our church has theater-type seats, not the fancy rocking ones, just padded, comfortable seats with arms. We're a contemporary style church and the lights are somewhat low during the service, so if I need to, I cross my legs in the seat, take my shoes off, whatever I need to be comfy!

I totally agree with you about sticking to my guns on doctors. I did my research with the lumbar pain and found doctors in Atlanta (5 hours away) who would actually listen and not treat me like I was nuts. I really don't think a pain clinic is going to do a lot of good. Sure, it will treat the symptoms briefly, but the problem remains that I have a 'spear' going into my spinal cord.

If I don't like a doctor, I just don't go back. I'm not assertive enough to tell them what I think, but I certainly don't go back for more of the same!
So I'll do my research on the computer and pray lots for wisdom and guidance in every little detail and when it's right, I'll know it.

If you think of anything else that might help me out in my quest for info, please let me know.

Have a great weekend, Sharon in TN

[GloriaH]

I'm a nurse and I guess the best advice that I would give would be to pursue every avenue available. If you are not satisfied with any doctor, move on. There are too many good ones out there for you to stay with someone who is not helping. With microsurgery, lasers, minimally invasive procedures etc the options are growing. Don't ignore pain clinics, they are developing more procedures and treatment options than just cortisone injections and medication. My prayers are with you and all the rest of this community who are hurting or disabled. Gloria

[GloriaH]

Gloria, I will pursue all avenues. Maybe the pain management will help the pain long enough for me to feel like sitting at the computer for hours trying to find someone or something that will fix the problem.

The last time I went to pain management was is the mid 90's with my lower back. I had steroid injections. I don't want to keep having those because the steroids aren't good for your body and they stay in your body for a long time. Hopefully, there will be something better now. I'll at least go and see what they have to offer. If I don't want it, I don't have to do it.

Thank you to everyone who is praying. I'm doing the same for the people on this board, that you'll receive the grace and strength to make it through whatever issues you might have.

Have a great weekend, Sharon in TN

[RuthMcI]

Sharon--

When I had bone spurs in my heels, my chiropractor cousin recommended that I drink apple cider vinegar (something like 2T/day) because she said it helped your bone reabsorb the spurs somehow. Maybe it will help for back spurs, too. It certainly wouldn't hurt, as long as you like sour! And don't give up on divine intervention, either...

Ruth

[RuthMcI]

Hi Ruth, thanks for the reply. A lady who worked in a health food store told me the same thing. She said she had heel spurs and drank organic vinegar (with the mother in it) and water. I bought some and did it for a while, then forgot about it. You're right, bone is bone no matter where it is. Maybe I'll start doing that again. I like the taste of vinegar, so that won't be a real problem, but it's not really good first thing in the morning! Wouldn't it be wonderful if such a simple thing would work? I'm not ruling out Divine Intervention either. The Lord has done so many things for me that only He could do, and He is the Great Physician, so if it's time for me to be completely healed, He will do it. If not, then He'll see me through.

Have a great Sunday, Sharon