People have been calling my friends and asking whether I will ever walk again so I figured now was as good a time as any to clear things up. Before I start the answer is, I am walking now so I don't think it will be a problem.
A few weeks ago, Eden came into my bed in the middle of the night and I woke up with an extremely sore neck/back. The pain lasted a few days and my awesome cousin ST the PTgave me some advice on how to sleep better (one pillow only, mobilize the neck) and it cleared up. Last week the pain started again. I finally went to the doctor on Friday and based on the x-ray they took that day, he said I had two broken bones in my neck. First of all, that is still up for debate, second of all, before you ask- I have no idea how that might have happened. So basically people around town heard that I "broke my neck" and imagined the worst but I can happily say that the fantasy was worse than the reality. The doctor put me on steroids an ordered an MRI.
Fast forward to Sunday. I had the MRI which went fine. I kept my eyes closed the entire time and I strongly recommend that method of combatting potential claustrophobia for those of you who may need an MRI in the future. On Monday, the pain started to get really really bad and by Monday night I realized I couldn't sit or stand comfortably for long (or really short) periods of time and I had pain in my neck, back and arm. On Tuesday morning, we decided to call a different doctor- a family friend and physiatrist extraordinaire (I am starting the Dr. R. fanclub if anyone wants to join) and he ordered some heavy duty pain meds for me and officially took over the case.
That brings us to today. The radiology place finally faxed him the report and I went in to see him. It turns out that I have Cervical Radiculopathy with Myelopathy- basically (if I understand it correctly) a herniated disc in the cervical part of my vertibrae (my neck) that is compressing my spinal cord. It is extremely painful and because of the spinal cord compression potentially dangerous. So it looks like I will most likely be needing surgery.
I haven't been able to get in touch with the Neurosurgeon yet because my appointment with Dr. R. was over after business hours today but first thing tommorow morning, we'll start calling the surgeons he recommended.
In the meantime, I have been having a grand old time hanging out with my mother's laptop in bed and Greg has been amazing. He didn't go on an important business conference and I know that was hard for him. To top it off, he hasn't been feeling 100% himself yet he is such a trooper.
I'll be keeping y'all posted on the happenings, but I wanted to clear things up in case anyone heard the nasty (and false) rumors. :)
Posted by peninah at May 30, 2007 11:23 PM | TrackBackRefuah Shelama!
Posted by: Jon Jacobson at May 31, 2007 02:38 AMI drove in yesterday...lonely.
Posted by: AlanLaz at May 31, 2007 06:44 AMThis is so not good for my desire to be entertained during work hours.
Posted by: Lanie at May 31, 2007 09:08 AMRefua shleima!
Posted by: David G. at May 31, 2007 09:24 AMSorry to read...We hope you have a Refuah Shelaima!!!
Posted by: Tobey and Avrumi at May 31, 2007 12:05 PMThere is so many different ways I can go with this.
1. Can we start asking Greg the ever great lawyer question of "when did you stop beating your wife?". There is just no way one can answer that and come out looking good.
2. Your financial worries are over; do you even know the street value of those drugs that Dr. R gave you. you'll be in the bling in no time.
3. Most importantly, what are you going to do when the new Harry Potter Movie comes out?! We should start a petition right now for a private viewing. I know some people in the "industry."
4. Of course in all seriousness, Refuah Shelema. If you ever need to dump the kids off just give us a call. We can have a speacial Non-Eating contest between Ez and Aharon (will see who can stare at their food longer without touching it. Think of the fun)
I didn't know a thing! So sorry to hear and wishing you refua sheleima. I started the Dr. R fan club 3 weeks ago when my Mom herniated a disk in her lower back and I came to take care of her. He's awesome!
Posted by: SaraK at May 31, 2007 01:19 PMThe Dr. R. fanclub was started a little over 58 years ago. I think you're member number 100 million. Congratulations.
By the way, we don't get any drugs. I can barely get an aspirin out of him.
Posted by: Walter Sobchak at May 31, 2007 01:21 PMHave you tried seeing Dr. Jakob on Old Court? he has a lot of success in herniated discs in the back and neck and uses a very sucessfull form of treatments (not surgery) to minimize the herniation. Hes in the Eruv book. I know my doctor refers to him as well as some nurosurgeons to see if surgery can be prevented. And from a few people I know it has been.
Posted by: Oy! at May 31, 2007 01:23 PMwow... sounds serious, more serious than post-nasal myopialitis (eyeball dripping down the back of your throat). yup, glad you got that checked out. i've never had that, but i'll bet it is resistant to tylenol by now. turds. well, if you need a third opinion, we're coming in tonight and staying at lara's til tomorrow when we head down to the spring. can we come by fri? i'll bring avrumi's stethoscope, some mylanta, and some needles. should do the trick. refua sheleima dear! my real prescription: a steady supply of office dvds. if you don't have them, rent 'em baby.
Posted by: Tobey & Abe at May 31, 2007 01:25 PMRefuah Shleimah! Please don't hesitate to call me if there's anything I can do to help, seriously.
Posted by: Jewboy at May 31, 2007 02:01 PMRefuah Shlayma - i had heard some rumors via Princess Di - so glad you're gonna live. if you want ezra and gila and eden to come over. i am brave enough to have them all. i may even find s/t ezra will eat (like pancakes, LOL)
Posted by: Devorah at May 31, 2007 06:46 PMhey neighbor! I had no idea - i was just by the house and i would've stopped in. feel better soon!
Posted by: rikki at May 31, 2007 08:56 PMThe upright mri has a ZERO rejection rate for claustrophobia etc. you can use click my name for my site to search neck or surgery etc. whatever drs say that the tube mri scans miss or overlook the complete pathology 50% of the time
Posted by: Beverly at June 1, 2007 04:21 AMRefua Shlaimah.
What's your Hebrew name?
my poor penny!! you have caused much anxiety and inter-state communication regarding your status. see, you are joining ppl together...how beautiful...may that be a zchus for your total recovery. amen.
feel better hon.
E
Posted by: es at June 1, 2007 03:04 PMOriginally I thought my problem was my neck muscles. The pain would be in my arm, shoulder and chest. It turned out that my problem was pain from a herniated neck disk. NO FUN! Please, if it ever gets to the point of surgery, it may sound silly at first but before surgery, I suggest considering acupuncture along with physical therapy. It helped my herniated neck disk. Also, at the risk of sounding like a spammer, consider pillows I invented, the SquidFace and ComfyRest pillows, that alleviates my disk problem when the pain reappears. Lying on my back or facedown it corrects the herniation and alleviates the pain and the muscle tension. It helps people with back pain also. It is strange but it works wonders. Good luck, Bob www.SquidFace.com
Posted by: Bob Cuddy at June 2, 2007 04:00 PMRefuah Shleimah!
Posted by: aishel & aishellette at June 3, 2007 12:21 AM