FreshFluff

@LivingnLA Thats what I was thinking, but I’m now back in my regular city. @Rudynate PRP I’mm glad PRP worked for you. I’m willing to spend the money even if level I evidence is lacking. It’s just that every injection into the cervical spine is risky.

So the steroid injection into my neck worked. The massive inflammation along the nerve (which was sensitive to the lightest tough) started going down the next day and improved further afterwards. But I feel like Charlie in Flowers for Algernon in that I know the effect is temporary. For those who’ve had the injections, how long does the effect last? I’m so afraid of going back to waiting out those long hours of acute pain before each dose of medication.

Pain flared again so I had to do an epidural. We'll see how much pain, if any, it relieves. If none or not enough, I have to try the riskier selective nerve block. I'm going back next week so if I need another round, I either find an NYC anesthesiologist at the same level or fly back here.

I've only been dealing with it for only 11 weeks so far (not that I'm counting), and it's like it has always been this way. It has sucked everything out of me. I'm so glad the spine surgery worked out for you and that you can walk again. That must feel great. I've tried. I've also read the physician specialty sub-forums. I've learned a great deal that way that I didn't pick up from reading the literatue

@BnaC Sorry you had to del with the neCMy doctors totally agree with you on doing epidural first. Pinch is bad especially since it’s due to bone hypertrophy but the surgeons keep telling me I have a decent chance of relief with no surgery. @LIguy I have stenosis too. I’m sorry about the Prednisone. I hope you find a solution soon. The radiculopathy sucks esp when it’s hard to walk.

@Funguy Thanks for this extensive post, which will be helpful for all others with nerve pain as well. I'm sorry that you had such severe pain that you had to let go of your practice. I'm glad it's finally healing, but that must have been a long 15 years. Hypnosis sounds like an interesting option, and I've heard about CBT too. The ablation your doctor did sounds intriguing. How did you/your doctor learn about the scar tissue around the nerve? Did imaging show it? Surgery: As you said, not happening now, especially given that the pain has decreased. I'd only do that if the pain increases again or there's progressive weakness. In the near future, it's going to be massage/whatever PT I can tolerate or epidurals or both. About the epidurals: I consulted several anesthesiologists, all referrals. I asked about about volume of injections for the c-spine and what complications they had seen. After all, practice makes perfect. I think I found the best anesthesiologist/pain doc in the area. As you said, you definitely need the fluoroscopy and contrast. Even with that, there are a range of techniques involving which views are used, etc. (I got most of that from a site where trained PM docs discuss this stuff anonymously.)

There was a thread years ago that discussed this issue. The takeout is that some escorts are reluctant to agree and others may back out after thinking on it. The world has changed since then though, and it’s definitely worth a try.

I heard the same thing. See d like a lot of risk for the benefit. @sniper and Rudyhate, I’m on a similar medication regimen. I found the long acting formulation better. But I have to cut it back now to see how the underlying pain is.

I hadn’t known that you did PM. Did you do c-spine injections often? Transforaminal or interlaminar? My understanding is that ESIs are It’s much riskier there, even ifthry do interlaminar and stay at C7/T1. Doctors appear to rely on finger feel as much as imaging to figure out where they are.

Long story short: 10 weeks after this began, the tingling on index/middle has mostly away, the elbow pain is decreasing (maybe 3.5-4/10), and I can stand without terrible scapula pain. But the arm pain still flares when I use the armagainst any sort of resistance, like arm wrestling surgeons neuro exams. Any real PT is thus impossible for now. The surgeons/PM docs almost all told me (1) good chance the pain improves on its own and (2) if it doesn't, get an epidural first before I consider surgery. The issue is that, even in good hands, cervical epidural steroid injections are risky and chance of temporary benefit is 50-60%. So I have to be certain this isn't improving on its own. To check, I've reduced both meds 50% over the long weekend. The pain is up and down and it’s hard to know the trajectory. Also, I'm going back to NYC and am still scheduled for unrelated surgery w/a long recovery time. If I still need a steroid injection I'd need to fly back here or else start consulting from scratch there. BTW, I give a lot of credit to the doctors I've seen. All have been really honest and have not tried to sell me anything. Thanks for all your support and responses. Will respond soon.

Thanks for sharing this. Was this in the neck or lumbar spine? How much relief did you get from the epidurals, and did they cause any problems? My experience with the meds is the same. Maybe it's because I took a low dose, but it has barely takes the edge off when the pain is unbearable. There's no high either. In fact, there was a sort of anti-high when you get barely any pain relief.

Hope you like sloppy seconds. Uber is screwing them already.

I appreciate the detailed post. So here’s the thing: This was meant to be a Hail Mary in case I fell in love and suddenly wanted to reproduce. I admire those who have and raise kids on their own but it's not for me. If I wanted it more, it would be different. Maybe I'll live to regret it. Also, I thought about doing another round but even the low dose hormones we used exacerbated one of my issues. (That’s a known side effect and I knew going In.). Also, at this point, I’d need multiple cycles as you said.

Thanks, Walker. I went through with it a few days after I posted that. It was a lot easier than I expected. I only did one cycle though.

If a CC student excels, he can transfer to a good or even great 4 year public. Many start out planning to do so. But given the often poor advising and other factors, it’s very easy to lose focus and drop out instead.

Per the CDC, it became available in the US in 1995. The FDA moved at a snail’s pace back then. Maybe you took part in the trial? I remember when a friend’s dad got it at age 48. He became really ill.

I had no idea that it came out so early. I had chicken pox at the start of 1985. I remember because it began on my birthday, while we were on vacation. I’d seen my (excellent) pediatrician a few months before and heard nothing about a vaccine.

Which lasers do you use on the face? Any issues? I keep hearing that many can cause fat atrophy.

I'd be concerned that this would just encourage him. "No, I meant you, Leon. I thought you knew." Better to just not reply.

This is what I’m thinking. I spent my childhood being brainwashed against mj, and the doctors so far have kind of scoffed at the idea. But at this point, it makes sense to try everything. Any recs for good high CBD strains? Would prefer edibles or capsules if poss.

Thatnks for thisreply! Thats exactly what my imaging showed and I have the same pain. What a great outcome on the Prednisone. How long was your course and at what dose? Has the pain returned at some point!?

When you've apparently misunderstood the pain scale. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XlTnpTSio8:560 This is a cop who was shot once in the face and twice on the hand.“Pain is a 7 out of 10.” I’m still not sure if I’m overestimating my pain or they’re underestimating or both. (The officer lived and surgery on his jaw was successful.)

I just want to thank everyone for the responses and the support. I've told a couple of people IRL but I'm not the type who posts this stuff on FB. So your support means everything to me. Will respond individually as soon as I can.

Out of surgery. On my way home with a fall risk bracelet.

I got a second opinion from an anesthesiologist today. His spin was slightly more positive. He told me, yeah, this usually happens later, but this case is not two standard deviations out. He sees younger people all the time. Recommended that I try prednisone and traction first, then do the injections if that doesn't work. . Also, I was upfront and asked him, "We're talking about my neck here. I want to go to the best person nationally. If Bill Gates had this problem, where would he go?" He gave me both local and national recs. He also agreed with @sniper and said, "The fact that the MRI looks scary doesn't mean anything. Your right side looks bad too and it's unaffected." Even said that while he does the injections one way (translaminally), it might make sense to take the slight additional risk and do it the riskier but more effective way transforaminally (from the side). I'm trying to decide which is less scary: Oral prednisone (acne/weight gain, yuck) or the nerve block injections into the neck part of my spine. Thank you @Rudynate @playwrestler @WilliamM @Reg Rudynate, You get it. If a wheelchair would help, I would do it. The weird thing is that walking around is often better than sitting up on a straight-backed chair. Yes, whenever I can travel back home, I will definitely get a flat-bed seat. I was in real trouble on a flight recently (due to the first issue) and sat there, looking at the flight attendant, wondering whether I should have the pilot ask an EMS crew to meet me at the gate. I decided that they'd look askance at that for anything that wasn't life threatening and took an Uber to the ER from SFO. William and Charlie, thank you. Truly. @not2rowdy Thanks, I will take a look at the US News list. @OneFinger, Again, I'm glad you're working hard on the PT. I hope it works out. The physiatrist recommended CBD too. I'll look into it. The second guy was like, "Smoking marijuana isn't going to help you." @Chris1976 , I know exactly what you mean about the pain. I am thinking of you and hope you find relief soon. @playwrestler , I'm glad the PT worked out for you! That is a great outcome. I know there are several people I have forgotten but I am a little tired and prepping for surgery tomorrow. About to take a second dose of a drug that caused serious abdominal pain but stiffens up the organ to avoid puncture. Good thing I'm on pain pills already.