Some background first. I have a prolapsed disk in my neck, that unfortunately squished inward and is now crushing the spinal cord. I wasn't detected till 6 months after the initial injury when an MRI was eventually done.
An appointment with the specialist basically says that I HAVE to be operated on to remove the disk and cement the two disks together. The prognosis without the operation is eventual total paralysis from the neck down. It hits home when both your specialist and your doctor tell you call an ambulance if you lose power or control of your arms, legs, bowel or bladder. The surgeon would operate tomorrow, but the anesthetist won't risk it. He wants my BMI below 40. He WILL operate if my condition makes a sudden dive, but he asked me to pretty please lose as much weight as I possibly could first, its a balancing act. Hence the diet, its working, I'm back in for another MRI next month and probable surgery before Xmas.
Apart from the pain caused by having the prolapse, I also have nerve pains caused by the crushed spinal cord, the pressure causes wrong signals to be sent to anywhere in my body, at the moment only 2 fingers on my hands are properly working, the others have pins and needles in some and numbness in others and my back is locked in a solid cramp. The worst nerve pain I have ever had was 3 hours of feeling that someone had slit my arm from elbow to wrist with a knife, I kept looking at it to see if there was any blood. The brain interprets weird impulses in whatever way it feels is closest (it would have been better if it had interpreted it as soft warmth or even the taste of chocolate).
I am on anti inflammatory tabs which give me constipation. Tramadol for the pain (more constipation) paracetamol to fill the gap before the Tramadols take effect and a drug called Pregabalin which acts as a nerve blocker. The problem with the Pregabalin is that they block other nerve impulses as well. I am clumsier than I was, I am definitely thicker than I was ( I estimate a 10 point I.Q drop at least) and they make you put on weight (I'm still managing to lose weight).
I also am forbidden to exercise, at all, in any way or form, my local gym has barred me from doing anything there as their insurance wouldn't cover me. Seeing that a sneeze, a trip, or even rolling over in bed could cause the prolapse to slip even worse, it makes sense that any exercise could jar it. I'm not even supposed to be doing any gardening, but if I didn't, I would go potty. I do have a masseuse I see regularly, she is a qualified sports injury therapist, in fact so highly qualified she trains other therapists, she also has a handful of other therapies she can bring to bear, even so, she doesn't go anywhere near my neck, just does what she can to stop the rest of my muscles being damaged by muscle spasms and cramps.
So what I am hoping for is some hints and tips for pain management.
An appointment with the specialist basically says that I HAVE to be operated on to remove the disk and cement the two disks together. The prognosis without the operation is eventual total paralysis from the neck down. It hits home when both your specialist and your doctor tell you call an ambulance if you lose power or control of your arms, legs, bowel or bladder. The surgeon would operate tomorrow, but the anesthetist won't risk it. He wants my BMI below 40. He WILL operate if my condition makes a sudden dive, but he asked me to pretty please lose as much weight as I possibly could first, its a balancing act. Hence the diet, its working, I'm back in for another MRI next month and probable surgery before Xmas.
Apart from the pain caused by having the prolapse, I also have nerve pains caused by the crushed spinal cord, the pressure causes wrong signals to be sent to anywhere in my body, at the moment only 2 fingers on my hands are properly working, the others have pins and needles in some and numbness in others and my back is locked in a solid cramp. The worst nerve pain I have ever had was 3 hours of feeling that someone had slit my arm from elbow to wrist with a knife, I kept looking at it to see if there was any blood. The brain interprets weird impulses in whatever way it feels is closest (it would have been better if it had interpreted it as soft warmth or even the taste of chocolate).
I am on anti inflammatory tabs which give me constipation. Tramadol for the pain (more constipation) paracetamol to fill the gap before the Tramadols take effect and a drug called Pregabalin which acts as a nerve blocker. The problem with the Pregabalin is that they block other nerve impulses as well. I am clumsier than I was, I am definitely thicker than I was ( I estimate a 10 point I.Q drop at least) and they make you put on weight (I'm still managing to lose weight).
I also am forbidden to exercise, at all, in any way or form, my local gym has barred me from doing anything there as their insurance wouldn't cover me. Seeing that a sneeze, a trip, or even rolling over in bed could cause the prolapse to slip even worse, it makes sense that any exercise could jar it. I'm not even supposed to be doing any gardening, but if I didn't, I would go potty. I do have a masseuse I see regularly, she is a qualified sports injury therapist, in fact so highly qualified she trains other therapists, she also has a handful of other therapies she can bring to bear, even so, she doesn't go anywhere near my neck, just does what she can to stop the rest of my muscles being damaged by muscle spasms and cramps.
So what I am hoping for is some hints and tips for pain management.
