reintroducing myself after a while off the board

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I haven't posted in quite awhile but I have been reading the digests regularly.

I wanted to update the group on my flatback situation.

Without going back through all my history (you can search my name to find it I

suppose), I was born with spina bifida and congenital scoliosis in 1959. I had

my fusion in 1968, the diastematomyelia excision and my Harrington rod implanted

in 1970.

I managed extremely well until I began to experience symptoms of flatback in the

early-mid 1980's resulting in a myriad of problems with my feet, SI joints, neck

and shoulder pain, crippling occipital headaches, TMJ and tinnitus as well as

chronic vocal dysfunction. All combined the chronic pain led to depression.

After working for almost 30 years in a variety of clerical positions, I quit my

last full time job in October 2009 and applied for CPP Disability (Canada

Pension Plan) this past October. I must have had all my ducks in a row because I

was approved in January. I began a short-term temp assignment last month for two

days a week and that seems to be enough for me to handle with time to recover in

between.

The most recent symptom began last summer when I came down with a sudden and

severe attack of Vertigo (or Labyrinthitis) that left me incapacitated for

several days during my annual vacation in Nova Scotia. Upon my return I visited

my PCP who suggested it was probably a virus that " was going around " but I am

not convinced because I have had several recurrences of the dizziness (though

not as severe) since then.

It seems to be brought on whenever I crane my neck backwards to look up at

something and whenever I lay down or turn in bed. I am now considering having

her refer me to a specialist to see if it may be related to my cervical spine

issues. I have also been hesitant to return to my chiropractor because of this.

I have also been researching the possibility that I may have developed adhesive

arachnoiditis from the myelogram dye used back in 1970. My records show that the

dye was put up into my neck as well as my lumbar spine. I would be interested in

hearing from anyone else who has arachnoiditis and what they do to relieve the

neurological pain.

I have posted a pictures folder with a few jpegs of my standing xray films and

mri scan taken over a year ago. Dr didn't recommend revision

surgery for me - suggesting that he probably wouldn't get much lumbar

correction. I am sorry I didn't have him explain that in more detail as to why.

Sheila

Ontario, Canada

[Guest guest]

Hi- After my revision surgery, I had some 'vertigo' episodes at home while I

was laying down or turning in bed which were alleviated by sitting up. I also

had a few fainting spells. The problem was low blood pressure. I was using the

same strength medicine that I'd used pre-op and I was possibly dehydrated from

sweating in the summer heat plus I'd lost some weight from all of that walking

in the heat; when my regular doctor lowered the dosage on my blood pressure

medicine, this problem went away. I'm not saying you have the same problem I

had; I just want to share that I had a similar problem and what ended up being

the answer for me. -Beth

>

> Hi all,

>

> I haven't posted in quite awhile but I have been reading the digests

regularly. I wanted to update the group on my flatback situation.

>

> Without going back through all my history (you can search my name to find it I

suppose), I was born with spina bifida and congenital scoliosis in 1959. I had

my fusion in 1968, the diastematomyelia excision and my Harrington rod implanted

in 1970.

>

> I managed extremely well until I began to experience symptoms of flatback in

the early-mid 1980's resulting in a myriad of problems with my feet, SI joints,

neck and shoulder pain, crippling occipital headaches, TMJ and tinnitus as well

as chronic vocal dysfunction. All combined the chronic pain led to depression.

>

> After working for almost 30 years in a variety of clerical positions, I quit

my last full time job in October 2009 and applied for CPP Disability (Canada

Pension Plan) this past October. I must have had all my ducks in a row because I

was approved in January. I began a short-term temp assignment last month for two

days a week and that seems to be enough for me to handle with time to recover in

between.

>

> The most recent symptom began last summer when I came down with a sudden and

severe attack of Vertigo (or Labyrinthitis) that left me incapacitated for

several days during my annual vacation in Nova Scotia. Upon my return I visited

my PCP who suggested it was probably a virus that " was going around " but I am

not convinced because I have had several recurrences of the dizziness (though

not as severe) since then.

>

> It seems to be brought on whenever I crane my neck backwards to look up at

something and whenever I lay down or turn in bed. I am now considering having

her refer me to a specialist to see if it may be related to my cervical spine

issues. I have also been hesitant to return to my chiropractor because of this.

>

> I have also been researching the possibility that I may have developed

adhesive arachnoiditis from the myelogram dye used back in 1970. My records show

that the dye was put up into my neck as well as my lumbar spine. I would be

interested in hearing from anyone else who has arachnoiditis and what they do to

relieve the neurological pain.

>

> I have posted a pictures folder with a few jpegs of my standing xray films and

mri scan taken over a year ago. Dr didn't recommend revision

surgery for me - suggesting that he probably wouldn't get much lumbar

correction. I am sorry I didn't have him explain that in more detail as to why.

>

>

> Sheila

> Ontario, Canada

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila -

I also am from Ontario, near Windsor, and I had surgery with

one year ago. He helped me tremendously. I had flatback really bad, I was

looking at the floor and could not see people's faces unless I craned my neck

sideways. I still have some pain in my lumbar area, my left hip and buttock,

and recently my shoulders and neck. I have to be satisfied at not doing a whole

lot because then I get it flared up and I have to take pain killers and recover

about 2 or 3 days, but at least I can stand straight. That was all I asked of

Dr. .

You can make an appointment to go back and have him explain again what he said.

Also, you can tell him about the new problems. Your post caught my eye because

you said you have chronic vocal dysfunction. What is that like? My speech has

become very slow and certain words get dragged out, some words don't want to

come out. My family doctor is sending me for an MRI of my head. I was

wondering if I might have what you have. I am also dealing with my husband's

pancreatic cancer which was diagnosed about 5 months after my surgery. I'm

thinking my problems may be brought on by stress - I certainly have lots of

that!

Elaine Wilkinson

>

> Hi all,

>

> I haven't posted in quite awhile but I have been reading the digests

regularly. I wanted to update the group on my flatback situation.

>

> Without going back through all my history (you can search my name to find it I

suppose), I was born with spina bifida and congenital scoliosis in 1959. I had

my fusion in 1968, the diastematomyelia excision and my Harrington rod implanted

in 1970.

>

> I managed extremely well until I began to experience symptoms of flatback in

the early-mid 1980's resulting in a myriad of problems with my feet, SI joints,

neck and shoulder pain, crippling occipital headaches, TMJ and tinnitus as well

as chronic vocal dysfunction. All combined the chronic pain led to depression.

>

> After working for almost 30 years in a variety of clerical positions, I quit

my last full time job in October 2009 and applied for CPP Disability (Canada

Pension Plan) this past October. I must have had all my ducks in a row because I

was approved in January. I began a short-term temp assignment last month for two

days a week and that seems to be enough for me to handle with time to recover in

between.

>

> The most recent symptom began last summer when I came down with a sudden and

severe attack of Vertigo (or Labyrinthitis) that left me incapacitated for

several days during my annual vacation in Nova Scotia. Upon my return I visited

my PCP who suggested it was probably a virus that " was going around " but I am

not convinced because I have had several recurrences of the dizziness (though

not as severe) since then.

>

> It seems to be brought on whenever I crane my neck backwards to look up at

something and whenever I lay down or turn in bed. I am now considering having

her refer me to a specialist to see if it may be related to my cervical spine

issues. I have also been hesitant to return to my chiropractor because of this.

>

> I have also been researching the possibility that I may have developed

adhesive arachnoiditis from the myelogram dye used back in 1970. My records show

that the dye was put up into my neck as well as my lumbar spine. I would be

interested in hearing from anyone else who has arachnoiditis and what they do to

relieve the neurological pain.

>

> I have posted a pictures folder with a few jpegs of my standing xray films and

mri scan taken over a year ago. Dr didn't recommend revision

surgery for me - suggesting that he probably wouldn't get much lumbar

correction. I am sorry I didn't have him explain that in more detail as to why.

>

>

> Sheila

> Ontario, Canada

>