Here's another on Holly from Anita

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December 19, 2004 Health Sciences Visit the HSI website Contributing Editor: Health Sciences Institute e-Alert, 10/3/2003 This week in the HSI Forum Those who are familiar with the discomfort caused by a herniated disc will sympathize with this Forum posting (on a thread titled "Herniated disc") from an HSI member named Dee: "Does anyone have any suggestions for eliminating the pain of a herniated disc? My treatment has consisted of anti-inflamatory and pain meds And phys. therapy or surgery is recommended. I have numbness, tingling and muscle cramp type pain from hip to toes." When the cushioning material (a disc) between the spine's vertebrae extrudes, spinal nerves are compressed, prompting sharp pains that typically affect the back and lower body. Fortunately for Dee, several members have responded to her request with advice seasoned by painful first-hand experience. First: What not to do. A member named Deana gets right to the point: "Please don't buy into the surgery thing because it doesn't seem to help anyone, and once you let them operate on you, there's no turning back. My mother did and her back surgery led to hip surgery and on and on and on. Just don't do it. Go directly to a chiropractor and let him put you on a program It does get better...believe me." A member named Glenn agrees with Deana, offering this example: "My brother-in-law was going to both MD and Chiropractor for a herniated disk. Guess what. The Doctor told him the Chiropractor will only hurt you. The Doctor talked him into an operation. As of now he cannot sit for very long, nor can he stand very long. He is in constant pain." After a fall at work that created severe back problems, a member named Omie was frustrated at first, but eventually found relief: "The physical therapists were of no help, only exacerbated the pain. Finally they said I had to live with it, closed the file, and I went to a chiropractor. It took a couple of months, but the pain diminished and I could walk and sit again. Today I can do just about anything, mow lawns, trim trees, get on the roof, fix the cooler, with only an occasional twinge." A member named Delphia offers options that worked for her: "Two things have helped me the most with my back problems, which include herniated discs: 1. Massage therapy 2. Yoga. When I slack off on my yoga practice, my back tells me right away about my sin of omission! It's best to take a class first, then continue DAILY at home. Go slowly, listen to your body, and never do any move or position that causes pain." "I am certain that inversion (hanging upside down) will work for you," writes a member named Jerry. "Inversion allows gravity to elongate your spine and take the pressure off your discs. This allows healing to take place. I have an inversion table and love it." Describing herself as "someone with a close acquaintance with back pain," a member named Jo says, "Please do the things others have suggested in this thread - Chiropractor, inversion, yoga. Also, please see an acupuncturist; one trained in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). This therapy is as important for you as chiropractic." After all of this helpful advice, Dee has one question: "Any suggestions how to find a good chiropractor?" Absolutely. A good place to start when looking for a practitioner of any alternative therapy is the web site for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (nccam.nih.gov). Click on "Health Information" and then "Treatment Information" where you'll find specific advice on how to find a licensed practitioner. And you can search for chiropractors by zip code at the American Chiropractor Association web site (amerchiro.org). Dozens of other health issues are being discussed on the Forum this week, in threads with titles such as... Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - any advice? Cold Sores What about soy? Rheumatoid Arthritis Cataracts Low Blood Pressure Alert And in a thread titled "Healing wound after surgery," a member named Gadamska wonders if there's a way to help his surgery scar heal quickly. If you have information or an experience that would be useful to Gadamska or any of the other Forum participants, log onto our web site at www.hsibaltimore.com and join in. And for those of you who are health conscious AND football fans... My Ravens have a "bye" this week. Time to take stock and reflect on a 2-2 record that really should be 3-1. As much as I hate to say it, the Ravens continue to be their own worst enemies. Come on, boys. You simply can't afford to fight tooth and nail to earn a solid win, and then hand it over to your opponent with thoughtless mistakes. Ouch. But no time for regrets. Next stop: Arizona on the 12th. Taking on our former quarterback in the hunt for a Purple October. Copyright © 1997 - 2004 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C. Alternative Market Health Disclaimer! The information provided on this site should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this site. Readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. Re: another animal story -HollyI am sorry to hear that you are not doing well. Being in pain is a very hard way to live and it certainly contributes to depression. What can you do about the bulging disk? My husband had one years ago and I can still remember all the pain. He was constantly wanting to lie down. Sitting really was hard for him. Would physical therapy help? Have any of your symptoms improved since explant? Have you done any more detoxing? Sometimes it can take a really long time to see a difference. I remember that dimonds tried alot of detoxing at first and got very depressed when she got no results. She quit posting on this site for a long time. Then much later, she came back and she was actually improving. I think it had been close to two years. Though not in perfect health, she has made great strides in getting back a life. I will be praying that you will too. I can understand your depression though, It has been one of the hardest foes I have ever fought, much harder than any of my more physical symptoms. And like my other symptoms, it waxes and wanes and I often don't even know what triggers it. Until I got sick with these implants 3 years ago, I was never chronically depressed. Depression is a vicious cycle--it is caused by our illness and the illness itself further depresses us In other words, it is both part of the illness, and a reaction to our loss. I bet your Nikky is there for you. I know there have been many days when I cried and my smokey jumped right on me and stuck his little face right in mine to try to get me to stop! It always made me so aware of how loved I am and that in itself made me feel just a little less down. God bless you as you seek relief from your pain.Love, kathy-- In , seabrez@a... wrote:> Dear Patty,> > Thank you as always for your kind words. It is always wonderful to > re-connect.> > I am not doing well. I hurt my back moving furniture in April and have > been dealing> with alot of pain as well as the usual symptoms. I was unaable to climb > stairs and then unable to walk.> We did a MRI and found that I had a bulging disk. It suddenly got worse > about 6 weeks ago> and I have been in bed on ice and pain pills ever since. I have had 2 > epidurals .> > Sometimes the pain is sooo unbearable I can bearly take it anymore.> I feel like such a burden to everyone in my life.> Between the pain and major pain medication I am very depressed.> So..I find it difficult to write. Sometimes I just delete all messages > because it's too much to read and respond.> I hate feeling this way...but its the truth.> > I am so glad you and others are doing so well . I send good wishes and > a hug to those that continue to stuggle.> I wish you all could come out here to Hawaii. It's always nice to know > I'm not alone.> Thank You to all of you that share your stories of the good the bad and > the ugly.> > Happy Holidays to you all.... Love, Holly>