Out of Whack Back

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Getting Back At It

Pain Management. Been there, done that. But the last two weeks have proven effective. Syringomyelia and chiari are notorious for their respective ability to circumvent pain management attempts. A more detailed explanation of my latest PM will follow...

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Friday, February 1, 2008

Focus (continued)

I am cracking up! Began a series on "focus" in December and continued today. For anyone who might ever read this blog this should serve as evidence that my advise will be about as consistent, and as beneficial, as Dr. Phil is to Britney.

I will continue this weekend and see where it all leads.

P.S. Since I have relocated to Ohio I am allowing myself an excuse!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Focus

Did you ever have a headache that was brutal but because your day continued along you suddenly realized that it is gone? Do you think it may have a lot to do with what you were focusing on, or in other words, "not focusing on"?

So, how do we do focus on, not the pain, but life's joy? These are things I want to spend the next several months working toward. Shifting focus from that which is disabling to those things which are enabling. And so, the journey begins...

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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Pain - Does Size Really Matter?

Staying on topic (regarding syrinx size), I have heard many concerns from other SM sufferers who have been told by their physicians that their syrinx is too small to be causing pain (or symptoms). I also remember an OB/GYN telling my mother that she had a tumor much to my mother's disagreement.

Regarding size... Let's just say I take an ice pick and a sewing needle. Now, for arguments sake, I am going to stick each of these two foreign objects into a disbelieving person's (translated - doctor's) thigh. Certainly the size of the ice pick would frighten (and hurt) most people. So, let's just put that away and go with the sewing needle. Why? Because, according to a LOT of physicians, that little needle will not cause symptoms. Yeah, right. My money is on "OUCH!"

Not being a MD, I can only say that I believe anytime you insert something into a mass of nerves, you're going to get pain. Period. So, if you ask my opinion about second opinions when you have a doctor who insists size "does matter", I am always going to suggest that you keep seeking until you find someone who understands YOU and YOUR PAIN.

That's what my mother did. By the way, she named the tumor Amy. :-)

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Rosanne Cash - Article in People Magazine Regarding Her Chiari Surgery

Rosanne Cash Recovering After Brain Surgery

FRIDAY DECEMBER 07, 2007 03:45 PM EST

By Tim Nudd and Eileen Finan

Rosanne Cash Photo by: Jemal Countess / WireImage

Rosanne Cash is recuperating after undergoing brain surgery late last month.

More... http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20165042,00.html

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Friday, December 7, 2007

Syringomyelia... Say hello to my little friend!

It might help if you've seen Scarface.

The purpose of this blog is to educate and allow myself the opportunity to share resources, insights, and to rant a bit.

Hopefully, as the blog grows, so will my capacity to deal with syringomyelia. I am blessed. More to follow...

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Syringomyelia - What the Heck?

What is Syringomyelia?

Syringomyelia (sear-IN-go-my-EEL-ya) is a disorder in which a cyst forms within the spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, expands and elongates over time, destroying the center of the spinal cord. Since the spinal cord connects the brain to nerves in the extremities, this damage results in pain, weakness, and stiffness in the back, shoulders, arms, or legs. Other symptoms may include headaches and a loss of the ability to feel extremes of hot or cold, especially in the hands. Each patient experiences a different combination of symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has significantly increased the number of syringomyelia cases diagnosed in the beginning stages of the disorder. Signs of the disorder tend to develop slowly, although sudden onset may occur with coughing or straining. If not treated surgically, syringomyelia often leads to progressive weakness in the arms and legs, loss of hand sensation, and chronic, severe pain. In most cases, the disorder is related to a congenital abnormality of the brain called a Chiari I malformation. This malformation occurs during the development of the fetus and causes the lower part of the cerebellum to protrude from its normal location in the back of the head into the cervical or neck portion of the spinal canal. Syringomyelia may occur as a complication of trauma, meningitis, hemorrhage, a tumor, or arachnoiditis. Symptoms may appear months or even years after the initial injury, starting with pain, weakness, and sensory impairment originating at the site of trauma. Some cases of syringomyelia are familial, although this is rare.

Is there any treatment?

Surgery is usually recommended for syringomyelia patients. Recurrence of syringomyelia after surgery may make additional operations necessary; these may not be completely successful over the long term.

In some patients it may be necessary to drain the syrinx, which can be accomplished using a catheter, drainage tubes, and valves.

In the absence of symptoms, syringomyelia is usually not treated. In addition, a physician may recommend not treating the condition in patients of advanced age or in cases where there is no progression of symptoms. Whether treated or not, many patients will be told to avoid activities that involve straining.

What is the prognosis?

Symptoms usually begin between the ages of 25 and 40 and may worsen with straining or any activity that causes cerebrospinal fluid pressure to fluctuate. Some patients, however, may have long periods of stability. Surgery results in stabilization or modest improvement in symptoms for most patients. Delay in treatment may result in irreversible spinal cord injury.

What research is being done?

Investigators have found that as the heart beats, syrinx fluid is forced downward. This finding suggests a role for the cardiovascular system in syringomyelia.

Surgical techniques are also being refined by the neurosurgical research community. It is also important to understand the role of birth defects in the development of hindbrain malformations that can lead to syringomyelia. Dietary supplements of folic acid during pregnancy have already been found to reduce the number of cases of certain birth defects.

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Out of Whack Back

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Getting Back At It

Friday, February 1, 2008

Focus (continued)

Monday, December 17, 2007

Focus

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Pain - Does Size Really Matter?

Rosanne Cash - Article in People Magazine Regarding Her Chiari Surgery

Friday, December 7, 2007

Syringomyelia... Say hello to my little friend!

Jeff

Syringomyelia - MRI

Awareness Sheets

Syringomyelia and Chiari Links

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Syringomyelia - What the Heck?