I will try again today

[SadDucky]

I have another appointment today at 4:15 with my Dr.

If you recall last time I sat in the parking lot freaking out and left like a dork. This time somebody is taking me so that I have no choice but to go in. Hopefully I can do it without a full blown panic attack in front of the entire lobby. *sigh*

I'm  having nerve problems in my right leg and my left arm now. So it's going to be a bundle of fun. I'm terrified of what he's going to say.

[sixpack]

I think you will be fine.

curious---

do you have actual diagnosed nerve problems or have you decided this on your own?

[SadDucky]

No I haven't had a diagnosis but when I set my appointment my Dr had a nurse call me and make it very clear that I was to do next to nothing cause he suspects a herniated disc in my lower back.

On the other side I have had problems with my shoulder for years but now I have problems with numbness and pain in my left arm. If it's my shoulder I don't care I can live with it. But with all the stress I am under I just want to know for sure it's not my poor heart. We will find out today. I had an ekg some 8 years ago and it was abnormal so I was admitted and they did an ultrasound on my heart. I guess they didn't find anything cause nothing was ever said other than to follow up with my Dr.

[sixpack]

well

I have herniated disks in my lumbar, thoracic and two in my neck.  Most folks do have herniated disks to some degree.  In most cases PT solves the issue.  In exteme cases surgery is done to fuse the spinal column.   I've been walking around with my disk stuff for many years.  I just can't ride roller coasters anymore.  which is tragic as I love them.  My hubby just finished up PT for suspected bulging disk.  I have a friend who herniated a disk in her neck--since it was from a trauma--she attempted to lift a concrete fountain  , she had a pretty bad issue with weakness etc.  She had to have surgery to repair it.  Most people whose disks are herniated comes from basic wear and tear and don't require surgery to repair it.  My neuro told me some day I may need surgery to repair my neck issues.  Until then I just go about my life as per usual.

I get sciatica from the lumbar. I also have diminished nerve conduction down my left leg. My thoracic disk damaged a few nerves in my mid back.  so some of my skin is numb--12yrs now.

my neck is a mess.  I get pain and shocks down my left arm from time to time AND I have some diminished nerve conduction.  This means that my arm tires out more quickly and I'll cramp. My upper back is also often crampy.  Generally speaking when my issues in my neck are acting up I get pain down my neck, shoulder and the back of my arm. 

On the whole, I'm not that bothered by it all.  I get more issues if I've been stressed---those ole msucles end up impinging on those nerves more.

Regarding your heart---well it certainly wasn't anything major if all you were told was to follow up with your doctor AND it has been 8 yrs.

[SadDucky]

This is the logical side of me:: My lower back is pretty much a given. I lift kids all day long. Huge sacks of potatoes they are    So that doesn't surprise me at all. Still a little scary until he give me his diagnosis.

My shoulder for years had a pinched nerve in the back. I did PT and it never got better. Recently it stopped  but now other parts of my shoulder act up. I can pinpoint the spots in my arm where the nerves are either in pain or just acting up. I have to agree with you about the muscles making it worse cause it seems when my anxiety gets higher the discomfort in my arm gets worse but it never goes away. I'd like to think I haven't been having a heart attack for over 2 weeks now 

After that ultrasound I followed up with my Dr 1 time. He did another EKG and said it was normal. After that I have never had anybody check my heart other than the normal listen to it during visits. THEY always check my oxygen flow because of how high my heart rate is but it's normal too.

However now days I have a defiant child that is a stressor from the time she wakes up till the time she goes to bed. I know the first thing that will help is getting my anxiety under control (Dec 15th is that appointment) but I still can't help but worry that "what if" on my heart. And worse the "what if" for everything else. My nerves my pains.... my blah blah blah.

Suffering from health anxiety is such a drag ESPECIALLY when you can talk about the logical but can't put the fear aside. In all I think I am ok. Really. I do. I just hate Dr's offices, medical people and the likes so getting myself in there is the biggest hill to climb.

[sixpack]

sad

it was hauling my young ones around--either in utero or on my hip that did all this to my back.  My son, who will be 16 in Jan, is the bean who blew out my lumbar.  I remember walking in the mall and having my leg shock each time I stepped down.  Yeah really pleasant.  Nowadays, I get the sciatica on the left.  Last year it was my right leg.  I was perplexed and mentioned it to my neuro--his explanation was that I had an unstable or jiggly disk.  eh--okay.

my thoracic was from holding my newborn mostly on my chest leaning backward while chasing toddlers ( I birthed five of my kids in just a little over 8yrs)  Oh I remember the burning I felt in my back and the tickle feeling. then, hell, those nerves just quit feeling anymore.

my neck---i remember going to the EMG neuro.  he looked at my MRI report and said "GOD what did you do to get your neck like this?"    UM haul kids around for years.   When I was still carrying toddlers I carried them on my left.  I know it put pressure on that poor neck of mine.  If I moved my arm a certain way---zap---like I stuck my finger in a socket.  You know how kids like to get their hair braided so you can crimp it?  Well I can't braid them all now--I'm good for about 5 braids.  AND sometimes when I'm opening a can my hand cramps up like a claw for a minute or two. 

This may sound scary but honestly it doesn't affect me all that much.  the last time I got a shock was the 4th of July because of me craning my neck towards the sky for 45 minutes.

right now my neck and shoulder hurts.  I think I've gotten used to it.  so I'm not bothered by it.  I know the cause and it won't kill me so whatever.


disk stuff is sooooo common--it is almost always shown somewhere on a persons back.  It is just when it pushes on a nerve that you can get symptoms.

I really don't think you are going to have any big issues with all this.   

[SadDucky]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the information.

Either way good or bad I WILL find out today whats going on. Or at least an idea to start looking in the right direction.

How did you end up with a neuro? I'm just going to my regular Dr.

[sixpack]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the information.

Either way good or bad I WILL find out today whats going on. Or at least an idea to start looking in the right direction.

How did you end up with a neuro? I'm just going to my regular Dr.

I've seen three neuros.  in '97 our insurance required a referral from the pcp.  which she gave me.  the other two I just called.  my last one was the easiest cuz two of my kids had a neuro appt the following day.  I called the office wanting to talk to his wife (who is a doc herself but runs his office now).  Got her and first thing I said was "natalie,    I'm either crazy or I have MS".  lol. I mean I was a loon.  I even argued with her--    I don't know how she didn't jsut tell me to shut up.   oh boy her poor hubby was a bit nervous when he saw me the next day.  I know she told him to be nice and kind (which he always is) and that I was so scared.  lol   This neuro is a very nice man--I have his cell phone number actaully.     However I had issues with his record keeping that started to bother me, so my daughter's other neuro--who does her botox stuff got me a different neuro for her.

You know what is really cool?  My next door neighbor (behind us) is a neuro surgeon.  If I ever need that neck surgery, I'll just knock on his door.  lol.   

[SadDucky]

LOL That is awesome.

However this time my Dr was the epic fail. Cause the blizzard last night he didn't make it into the office. I actually went inside and everything.... Just to be told I have to go back in 2 weeks. Ugh.

[Wishingforcalm]

You have GOT to be kidding me!!   
Poor ducky.  Keep us updated. 

[Grandma]

Oh no, that is too ironic..........

Look at this way - you completed a totally successful trial run!

By the way - where do you live to already have had a blizzard?  In Rhode Island, it is so unseasonably warm that people are out in shirtsleeves.  Gotta love that global warming.

[sixpack]

LOL That is awesome.

However this time my Dr was the epic fail. Cause the blizzard last night he didn't make it into the office. I actually went inside and everything.... Just to be told I have to go back in 2 weeks. Ugh.

oh man.

that stinks.