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Loosing Function


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#1 stillgotswag

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 12:48 AM

The beginning of '08 i lost my left wrist extension. Later that year it was determined I had a Syrinx in my c-spine that was compressing my spinal cord...blah, blah, blah. It was removed and my spine was fused. The surgeon told me these things come back, so I wasnt surprised oct 25 when now my right wrist quit. (the left came back immediatly after surg.)
I just had an M.R.I. and they say nothings wrong. Before I was in Houston with the 'experts' now I'm in a less knowledgeable community, and I'm really thinking I need a second opinion right? Can anything else be causing these problems? Should I be worried? (I am.)

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#2 spot

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 01:11 AM

I wish I had some answers for you. You are further along in this than I am. Your experience makes me nervous. I lost function slowly but steadily for the first 16 months. I would call the surgery center and ask, "What's happening?" They would have me come in for an MRI and just say, "Normal progression." Never an answer as to what that meant. I have no idea how long things continue to get worse. When does "normal progression" end? Now I'm losing all feeling in my left leg, just as it went in my right leg a year ago. I, too, am worried. No one seems to have any answers.

Best wishes to you. Keep bothering them. They don't have the same stake in the game. It's easy for them to say things aren't that bad or you are imagining it. Can you get back to the people who know what is going on?

#3 Soryfam

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 01:17 AM

I have problems with my spine below the original injury and have had to have a couple of surgeries. My surgeon has told me to expect more deterioration in th future. If I was in your shoes I wouldn't accept "nothing's wrong." How can nothing be wrong when you've lost function? Definately a second opinion is needed. Best of luck.

Sandy
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#4 stillgotswag

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 01:44 AM

Thanks, I'm going to try to get in touch with my original doc's. Sorry youre in this boat as well spot/soryfam. Weve lost enough. :head_brick_wall-1:

Edited by stillgotswag, 15 December 2010 - 01:47 AM.

I never did like snakes... so I got out the gutter.

#5 Tetracyclone

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Posted 15 December 2010 - 02:03 AM

just a note of solidarity, people. I am worried for you, too, and never take, "nothing is wrong" for an answer. This is the very definition of idiot, where a person cannot say the words, "i don't know".
Look! It's a snail! It's a sloth! Able to creep short distances before lunch!

#6 Millard

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Posted 19 December 2010 - 12:27 AM

View Poststillgotswag, on 15 December 2010 - 12:48 AM, said:

The beginning of '08 i lost my left wrist extension. Later that year it was determined I had a Syrinx in my c-spine that was compressing my spinal cord...blah, blah, blah. It was removed and my spine was fused. The surgeon told me these things come back, so I wasnt surprised oct 25 when now my right wrist quit. (the left came back immediatly after surg.)
I just had an M.R.I. and they say nothings wrong. Before I was in Houston with the 'experts' now I'm in a less knowledgeable community, and I'm really thinking I need a second opinion right? Can anything else be causing these problems? Should I be worried? (I am.)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Hello stillgotswag,

I too am a C5-C6 Quad/Tetra. I noticed the last few months that my forearms were losing muscle mass. My PCP sent me to a neurologist. After testing, he determined that my years of walking with forearm crutches had damaged the ulna nerves in both my arms. He told me not to bend my arms tightly for any length of time, ie: hands behind the head while in a recliner, bending both arms close to my chest when sleeping on my side and etc.

It's been about six weeks now and my arms are regaining some size and strength. I hope yours can be determined as something similar.

Good luck.



Millard

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Life's tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid!_ _John Wayne

#7 Tetracyclone

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Posted 18 May 2011 - 01:38 AM

View PostMillard, on 19 December 2010 - 12:27 AM, said:

View Poststillgotswag, on 15 December 2010 - 12:48 AM, said:

The beginning of '08 i lost my left wrist extension. Later that year it was determined I had a Syrinx in my c-spine that was compressing my spinal cord...blah, blah, blah. It was removed and my spine was fused. The surgeon told me these things come back, so I wasnt surprised oct 25 when now my right wrist quit. (the left came back immediatly after surg.)
I just had an M.R.I. and they say nothings wrong. Before I was in Houston with the 'experts' now I'm in a less knowledgeable community, and I'm really thinking I need a second opinion right? Can anything else be causing these problems? Should I be worried? (I am.)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Hello stillgotswag,

I too am a C5-C6 Quad/Tetra. I noticed the last few months that my forearms were losing muscle mass. My PCP sent me to a neurologist. After testing, he determined that my years of walking with forearm crutches had damaged the ulna nerves in both my arms. He told me not to bend my arms tightly for any length of time, ie: hands behind the head while in a recliner, bending both arms close to my chest when sleeping on my side and etc.

It's been about six weeks now and my arms are regaining some size and strength. I hope yours can be determined as something similar.

Good luck.

Millard,

I am wondering how your arms are doing. I too have an ulnar nerve injury in my right arm. i had surgery to move the nerve (to the inside, where stretching cannot bother it)and the surgeon said it was worn away to a thread. It was ok for awhile, now causing pain again so i try hard not to overuse it.

So how are you?

Look! It's a snail! It's a sloth! Able to creep short distances before lunch!




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