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Post by scintor on Dec 2, 2008 14:57:13 GMT -5
How did you do that Rob?
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by Divides the Waters on Dec 2, 2008 20:03:58 GMT -5
With great skill. I'll tell you when I can use both hands again. Till then, posts must be brief.
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Dec 5, 2008 8:52:19 GMT -5
Oh, no, Rob! Is your job in danger if you're out?
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Post by scintor on Dec 5, 2008 11:58:55 GMT -5
Update:
I have to wait tiull Monday to get the referrals to make the appointments to get my shoulder seen. Luckily I have found a way to pop the shoulder that releases the pressure inside the arm that has been causing much of the pain. I have to do it every 5-10 minutes, but it b beats being in severe pain all the time.
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by Divides the Waters on Dec 5, 2008 13:47:30 GMT -5
Oh, no, Rob! Is your job in danger if you're out? Not yet ... I'm hoping that they'll be understanding (it did happen at work, after all) for the few weeks it takes to heal, and not downgrade my pay while I do lesser jobs. Praying for you, Mark. I'm getting a little concerned.
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Post by scintor on Dec 5, 2008 18:29:47 GMT -5
It's a bother now, more than anything else. You're probably more hurt than I am right now. The only real problem is sleep, but you can't have everything.
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by scintor on Dec 12, 2008 1:16:24 GMT -5
Update:
This is my last update unless I get some good news.
I have basically had to accept that I have done permanent damage to my arm and shoulder.
The main problem seems to be that the blood is not leaving my arm properly. Putting my arm out in front of me seems to cut off the flow of blood leaving my arm, which causes the pressure inside my arm to build up. After a certain point, this becomes extremely painful. I have learned to snap my arm out in a way that seems to relieve this pressure before the pain gets too bad. This relief only lasts until I move my arm wrong again. A side effect of the blood flow problem seems to be that my right arm is always noticably colder to the touch than the left.
Besides that, I seem to have damaged some nerves as well. I have always been right-handed and now I have to adjust to that being my weak arm. I can no longer rely on it to hold up under any weight anymore. I have also lost some of the coordination as well which makes for more typing mistakes. The sensations in my arm has changed as well, especially in my index and middle fingers. They always feel strange and any pressure on them is painful, which makes things like opening a soda can very hard.
My doctors and Chiropractor have basically written me off as a hypochondriac andf I have hit a dead end there. I have been able to adjust so that I can perform most routine tasks normally, and I have decided to be content with that.
I am always willing to take advice and will continue to pray and search for a cure, vut I am content with the grace that the Lord has shown me,
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Dec 12, 2008 8:28:31 GMT -5
Mark, this is grim news, brother. I'm glad you're able to do routine tasks and find temporary relief, though. I can't imagine living with constant pain.
For the typing, can you try out some dictation software? I'd hate to see this injury cause you to be unable to write your stories or communicate through type.
Jeff
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Post by metalikhan on Dec 12, 2008 10:21:08 GMT -5
Grrrr -- doctors like that get my hackles up; there are too many of them. Is there a way to kick someone's butt with appropriate Christian love? Sounds like you need to fire your doctor.
Scintor, have you thought of trying a certified acupuncturist for your shoulder? Or how about a doctor that specializes in sports injuries?
God does give us the grace and fortitude for enduring physical problems -- first-hand experience talking here. It's good that you're not giving up the search to get it fixed. I'll keep praying for you -- the long battle needs a different kind of prayer than what the short skirmish requires.
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Post by scintor on Dec 12, 2008 12:52:21 GMT -5
Jeff I have an old version of Dragon Naturally Speaking, so if the problem gets any worse, I'm prepared. I've found a position that I can type in that is workable, so progress on my story continues. I actually managed to get over a thousand words down yesterday (which is harder on the fingers than the shoulder.)
Metalikhan I'm on a Medicare managed health program which limits my ability to fire my doctor or try other approaches. I keep finding that the doctor and specialist are playing a big game of pass the buck with me. If they can find anything about my problem that isn't their specialty, then they pass me on to someone else and quit trying.
I thank you for your prayers and kind wishes.
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by scintor on Dec 12, 2008 21:12:32 GMT -5
I finally found something that describes what is going on with me:
Venious and Nerological Thoracic Outlet Syndrome of the Costoclavicular Triangle!
What does this mean? No one seems to really know. Every site I visited has a different definition and massively different recomendations. These range from amputation of the first rib to angioplasty to physical therapy to chiropractic and ostiopathic manipulation.
Well at least I have a name now.
Unfortunately, none of this explains why leaning against my shoulder blade puts me in extreme pain. Oh well, you can't have everything.
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by metalikhan on Dec 15, 2008 3:36:25 GMT -5
Back to the idea of kicking butt with appropriate Christian love...
Oh, well. At least they have more descriptive names for these things now. When I was in my late twenties, I was diagnosed with severe (drumroll, please) Chest-Shoulder Syndrome. It was triggered by a combination of injury and repetitive motion; and it took a while to settle down. It recurred about a decade later (repetitive motion on the job) so acutely my boss thought I was having a heart attack. Both times, it was actually easier to deal with than the fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis -- those two are my chronic pain battlegrounds.
Somewhere in my book collection (translation: 28 boxes plus four floor to ceiling shelves of books currently being shuffled, moved, and streamlined), I have one that was particularly helpful for some of the arthritis problems. I think the title was something simple like Accupuncture for Pain -- the ones I tried helped a lot -- but you can use the same accupuncture locations to do accupressure for relief. No needles needed. I'll add it to my list of Books I Need to Find and let you know the actual title and author if you think you might be interested.
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Post by scintor on Dec 15, 2008 23:25:54 GMT -5
Any help is always appreciated.
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by scintor on Dec 22, 2008 1:02:25 GMT -5
Update:
Well, I said that I wouldn't update until I had some better news, and I have it. Through a lot of research and trial and error I have come up with a set of exercises combined with biofeedback and self-hypnosis techniques that have managed to counteract my symptoms.
I am no longer in constant pain and the feeling is slowly returning to my arm and shoulders. Although I have to go through these techniques several times an hour, this is now meerly an inconvienience rather than a trial.
I want to thank everyone for all their kind words of encouragement and prayers.
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com AKA Mark McDonald
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Dec 22, 2008 8:33:11 GMT -5
Wow. I'm so glad you've found some relief, Mark.
Is self-hypnosis just a form of meditation? Any kind of hypnosis scares me from a spiritual perspective, but I suppose this is quite different?
Jeff
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