Ruben,
That is part of the isolated feeling - not being able to get out like we
used to, and having so rare a disease that no one can understand
what you are going through. When the doctors get your
pain/numbness/discomfort under control, your life will open up more. Just
keep bugging them to help you control these problems as much as possible.
They don't know unless you tell them.
I have found that I have improved, even past the 2-year mark. It takes a
lot of physical therapy and it doesn't hurt to be on a
medication for depression. I wasn't depressed in the sense that I would
not respond to anyone, I just needed a boost to
accept what has happened and help me to WANT to keep working to improve the
situation if at all possible. Things do get better,
but it takes time. Be patient and work hard - you can do this. There
are a lot more of the TM'ers that are worse off than you seem
to be and they have improved even past the 7th year.
Good luck and keep emailing in to us. We want to hear from you whether
questions or comments or advice.
Janice, Missouri
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Towery, Ruben Dale" <rdtow...@southernco.com>
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 5:40 PM
To: "Jan Hargrove" <jmh1...@sbcglobal.net>
Cc: <tmic-list@eskimo.com>
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Thanks
Thanks Jan, I know I still have a long way to go as I am new to this. My
body is going through so many things right now. I can only thank God that
I was able to get into the hospital and get the solumedral (steroids)
within 24 hours of my attack, and also that I am still able to walk even
though it is with a cane. I still have the numbness, pain, and the
pins/needles in mybuttocks and my upper legs.
I do have a question for all of you TMers out there. How has everyone
learned hoa to deal with th isolation of being stuck at home all the time
and unable to drive? I am a 31 year old husband and father who has always
been very active with my family, and I feel like this has really been
taken away from me. Besides all the pain, this is the hardest thing that I
am dealing with. Thanks to all out there for the support.
Sent from my iPod
On Jun 4, 2010, at 11:04 AM, "Jan Hargrove"
<jmh1...@sbcglobal.net<mailto:jmh1...@sbcglobal.net>> wrote:
WOW!! You've really been put through the 'diagnostic' wringer!! I'm
glad that you've finally received a diagnosis and the right help.
I'm also glad you found this site.......I'm sure there are some folks here
who
can relate to the varied problems you've had. I know the pain can be
debili-
tating at times........but as you know, some days are better than others.
They say that laughter is the best medicine.....lauch as frequently as
possible.
My hubby had a collection of Johnny Carson tapes, and when things seemed
unbearable he'd bring Johnny out and things would be better........could
be that
I was thinking about something besides the pain??????
Keep a positive attitude! When you need to 'scream', write to the list,
we'll
understand and it won't be quite so difficult for your family to see you
down.
Know that we care, and if you have questions, ask away..someone on here
will relate. As with snowflakes, no rwo of us (flakes) has the exact
problems,
we share some with everyone..........
Welcome to our world!!
janh Stillwater, OK
________________________________
From: "Towery, Ruben Dale"
<rdtow...@southernco.com<mailto:rdtow...@southernco.com>>
To: "tmic-list@eskimo.com<mailto:tmic-list@eskimo.com>"
<tmic-list@eskimo.com<mailto:tmic-list@eskimo.com>>
Sent: Fri, June 4, 2010 8:28:06 AM
Subject: [TMIC] Thanks
I just wanted to thank everyone for their responses to my questions. I
am so happy that I found this email list.
I wanted to elaborate on myself and how TM has affected my life with
you guy/gals.
As I mentioned before I have been dealing with chronic back pain since
about February of 2009. I saw multiple doctors for this and and a
bunch of MRI's, other scans, and tons of blood work done and none of
them could figure out what was going on. Finally back in November my
rheumatologist and my physical medicine doctor decided, very
reluctantly I must say, that I had Fibromyalgia. So myself and my wife
along with my doctors started treating my symptoms as this. Although
going through this process of treatments, nothing was getting better
and my upper back was seeming to get worse at times. I just started to
learn how to deal with the pain and mental aspects associated with the
Fibromyalgia. During all of this time, I went into a deep depression
and started having major anxiety and panic attacks and this really
started affecting my relationships with my wife and kids, and also
started causing major issues at my work to the point where I was
almost terminated from my job. Luckily I have a great boss who went to
bat for me knowing that I had something medical going on that the
doctors had just not been able to determine yet. Then on April 22 of
this year, I woke up with numbness, pain, and tinkling in my upper
legs and buttocks area. I dismissed this as the Fibro had just moved
to a different location. I drove myself to work and after parking my
truck in our deck I started walking towards our crosswalk and got to
where I could no longer control my legs and basically felt paralyzed.
Two gentleman where nice enough to get my truck for me and I was able
to drive myself to the emergency room. When I arrive there I was
having a full blown panic attack and was scared to death. The doctors
there calmed me down and sent me home and dismissed it as being fibro
pain. I called my rheumatologist and he told me to see my physical
medicine doctor. I got in to see him the next day and after an MRI
they saw the inflamation in my spine and it was located on the conus
area of my spinal cord. They immediately admitted me into the hospital
and started me on steroids and did multiple MRI's, a spinal tap, and
tons of blood work. I spent 4 days there before they sent me home
under the care of my neurologist.
After spending time recovering at home and also seeing a nuerology
specialist at UAB, I was seeming to be getting better. I was able to
start getting around with the assistance of a cane. After 3 weeks my
neurologist decided that it would be appropriate for me to drive again
and go back to work. After a week of this, I was starting to get
worse. Also during the time I was off work I saw a neuro psychologist
to try and determine what was going on with me having the memory loss
and other cognitive issues. After his testing it was determines that I
am suffering from major anxiety and depression and reccomended I start
back seeing my psychatrist and psyxhologist to deal with these issues
and to not return to work or drive until these problems get better. My
wife, myself and my neurologist decided that staying at home and
continue recovery, both pysically mentally. My pysical pain has gotten
worse over the last severla weeks, but I have started my therapy with
my psychologist and feel like the mental side of things are starting
to get a little better. I am starting PT and OT today at home and hope
this will help with my balance and strength in my legs, cause this has
definitely gotten worse over the last week.
I justed wanted to elaborate more on myself since people have asked.
Hope this was not to long, but I am having to learn how to be more
expressive with my feelings to cope with my problems. I am so glad I
found this list and feel blessed that I am now a part of it. I would
just like to ask every one to keep me in your prayers as I start this
difficult journey to recovery. Thanks again for all of your support.
Thank you so much.
Ruben Towery
Mount Olive, AL (Birmingham, AL)
Sent from my iPod
