Whiterabbit I am so sorry that you've had to go through all of this. Of course if you hadn't, we might not have had your wonderful presence on this forum.

Thanks for the update WR. I also have been looking at old threads. It's like a time capsule of sorts. Seeing all the old posts from many no longer with us. Surprised these forums have lasted this long and hopefully will continue.

In a more altruistic vein, there’s Hope that someday what happened to you won't happen to so many other people…

What happened to you was in great part a result of incompetence, worsened by institutional favoritism towards wealthy corporations, investors, and individuals. Worldwide, populations are starting to vent their frustrations. NOT taking Anything away from the Black Lives Matter & related protests, the underlying issues are anything but new. Very many feel that it’s finally taken hold because of all these other frustrations that have been building, that people have finally taken a good look and the majority [~60% according to polls] said, ya know, they’re right.

People have been increasingly dissatisfied with healthcare industries that are less culpable for misdeeds than the average auto repair shop. In many countries, bumbling missteps during this pandemic have only amplified our concerns, bringing them front and center. In the US there’s been a litany of mistakes, but just one, the prominent campaign to Not Wear masks, born out of fear that hospitals wouldn’t have enough – and not publicly countered anywhere by any medical authorities or experts – is particularly tragic. Published studies say wearing a mask reduces spread by up to 85%, and while non-medical face coverings are not as effective, if you estimate a 50% reduction, that would have meant saving over 60,000 lives just in the US! [I’m staying away from the political aspects -- people in the middle, not the extremes, are upset and worried about this stuff regardless their political leanings.]

Our legal systems are in as bad if not worse shape. It was decades ago that TV shows became popular, teaching us that it was the quality, the ability of the lawyer that determined the outcome in any court case. And that of course means lots of money to hire these legal masterminds. In the US at least, stories about bad &/or biased judges have been popular for well over a century, e.g. hanging judges in the wild west. In the US it’s gotten to the point that the political parties advertise that if they’re in office, they’ll appoint judges biased to their perspectives. Which is all to say that the vast majority of people truly believe that money talks when it comes to justice, as seen by the insurance company tying your case up for years – as seen by the lack of justice when it comes to the poorest communities and people of color in the US. There’s really no excuse for either.

Life has changed for all of us – the pandemic made sure of that. And the popular sentiment revealed by the protests makes clear that we won’t blindly accept a return to the exact same pre-pandemic normal. That doesn’t mean drastic changes overnight, no matter how much some people say that’s the only way forward. But it does mean change – how much change is yet to be determined, in part by if a vaccine to the virus works, which is uncertain… there’s zero scientific evidence that we can become immune, & if so, for how long.

I was looking through some of my old private messages to see if there were any I could delete because my inbox was full. This prompted me to look through some old threads I'd started and consequently I came across this old thread that was last added to a decade ago. After a little thought I decided to add an update as a lot happened after posting my medical woes.

Following the confirmation that my back had been broken in that accident, now almost 15 years ago, I decided to take legal action against the woman who had caused the accident. I was quite shocked when her insurance company contacted me to inform me that if there was any settlement i would only get 50% of the compensation becasue according to their records, I was partly to blame for the accident. I contacted them to ask why they thought this becasue I was hit from behind while cycling to work. I'd been in the correct lane and had been doing everything a cyclist should do when on a dangerous interchange. I was informed that the lady who had hit me had reported to her insurance that I'd moved across from an inside lane to the central lane and she had been unable to avoid me. I replied informing them of and sending a copy of the police report that indicated that the defendant i.e. the woman who had hit me, had reported not seeing me at the time of the accident, so i pointed out to the insurance that how could she report that I crossed over lanes when she'd said at the time that she hadn't seen me.

Several years later I was in conversation via Team Speak with a good online friend who I'd met via this site. Sadly he passed away back in 2013 following chemotherapy for a slow growing cancer (that the doctor had said would take upwards of 30 years to kill him, but had still advised he undergo chemo'); the chemicals they used damaged his heart and he died following a heart attack a few months after stopping the chemo'. He was a pharmacist and after a particular discussion we had talked about regarding our medical issues (we invariably talked about them in the early days), he said I think from what you have said that you are not producing some important hormones (that turned out to be Cortisol, Growth Hormone and Testosterone) and he suggested that I should get my bloods tested, which I did. By this time I'd been seen by several different specialists because that accident had left me with lot of medical issues; some of which to this day have still not been resolved. Anyway, it transpired that I wasn't producing three particular hormones which incidentally are produced in the Pituitary located in the brain. Oddly I wasn't informed of the results and nothing was done about this following the tests, so things continued onward. I was seeing a pain management specialist who had been employed by my solicitor as part of our defense against the defendants (by this time I'd been told that I must involve the NHS in the legal case as it was they who had sent me home with no treatment and therefor were complicit in many of the issues I was now suffering). While being examined by the pain specialist, she noticed the results of my blood tests and was shocked that nothing had been actioned. As I was seeing her privately she immediately booked an appointment with a colleague of hers, who was an endocrinologist. The following week I went to see her and she immediately took more bloods and got the results in less than half an hour. From those results she said I wasn't producing three important hormones. She then sent me for an MRI and before I left the private hospital four hours later I'd been informed that I had received some brain damage at the time of the accident (something I'd always believed myself, but no doctor had listened). Part of the damage was located around the pituitary gland, which explained the almost total absence of those hormones (Growth hormone is important for the repair of damaged cells as well as healthy muscle, how our bodies collect fat, the ratio of high density to low density lipoproteins in our cholesterol levels and bone density. In addition, growth hormone is needed for normal brain function. Testosterone, which apart from its obvious effect on libido is also important for the regulation of bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, and the production of red blood cells. also cortisol, which is an important hormone that regulates a wide range of vital processes throughout the body, including metabolism and the immune response. It also has a very important role in helping the body respond to stress. I now have to take various drugs and inject myself with growth hormone every day for the rest of my life.

We were almost at the end of my legal case when I'd received this new information. I discussed this with my solicitor and was told that if they entered the new information into the legal case it would almost certainly extend the case for a minimum of another 3 to 4 years. We'd been fighting already for several years and were dog tired of all the consultations I'd had to attend on behalf of the defendants who were trying their best to mitigate the compensation. They even searched right back to my teenage years (1970's)to see if I'd had any back injuries that they could then say were the actual injuries I was claiming for; so I decided not to include the brain damage in the claim despite it being a significant injury and would potentially double the compensation I would eventually receive. Two years ater we were finally approaching the time when a court date would be announced. At the same time a beautiful bungalow in a perfect spot came on the market. We had been looking at bungalows for a couple of years, but they tended to be a lot more than a traditional two-story detached home and also way out of our budget at the time. (The cheapest we had seen was approaching (£600 000/$900 000 - exchange rates at the time were hovering around $1.5 to the pound), so I decided to accept the last offer they had made a few months previously. The Queens Council that was representing me advised me to carry on as he reckoned even without the head injury being counted he would get another 50% on top of the offer they had made. However, the bungalow was selling for significantly less than all the others we had seen (£425000), so I decided to accept and immediately put an offer on the bungalow. We moved into that bungalow several months later.

Recently I was seeing another sleep specialist as the sleep apnoea had become worse. My previous interactions with the sleep service had been of little use. They had confirmed that I was suffering from sleep apnoea, but they had determined from some sleep studies where I'd had to stay at the hospital wired up to loads of monitors that it was only mild, so I was discharged with no treatment. On my latest visits they have now changed their diagnosis and I've been prescribed CPAP, which I'm hoping will help. I've yet to receive the equipment. One surprising outcome from this latest consultation was that I was told that it was almost certain the injury to my brain that was causing this central sleep apnoea.

Apart from the above everything is hunky dory. :)

Wow! Reading about what has happened to everyone else makes me feel kind of lucky. My problems are almost over and should be solved for quite a few years. I guess you could say I had a typical childhood. I broke my wrist twice, leg once, collapsed a knuckle once and burned my face playing with black powder. (Sound familiar WR?) As far as I know, none of that led to my problem though.

About a year and a half ago I was seeing a Chiropractor for some back problems. I have had hem off & on for years, but never as severe as others like EZRider. After a few manipulations I started having severe pain in my hip. So severe that I was walking with a pronounced limp. I complained about it to the Chiropractor & he referred me to an orthopedic Dr about an hour & a half away from me. I went to see him & he put me through the paces. I had several months of Physical Therapy & a couple of rounds of steroid therapy. Nothing really helped. I still hurt when I walked (or stood up, or sat for too long, etc...) and the joint would also pop a lot. The most uncomfortable feeling though was when I would take a step & it would feel like it was dislocating. The Dr was finally able to justify sending me in for an MRI. I had it done the Monday before Thanksgiving last year. That Wednesday I apparently received a call from the Dr office telling me to get off my feet. One of the Nurses even kept calling over the holiday trying to get ahold of me. When she finally reached me I was told to stay off of my feet & only walk to the bathroom or my bed using crutches.

The diagnosis was Avascular Necrosis. To put it simply, the blood flow to the head of my Femur was damaged & the bone was slowly dying. This Dr blamed it on my drinking a couple of beers every day then refused to have anything more to do with me. He referred me to another Dr in the area. I am really happy about that because he was a rude b******! I am also happy about that because the Dr he referred me to is phenomenal! He even holds part of the patent on the hardware he put into me. None of the other Doctors I have spoken with agree with the first Doctors diagnosis of the cause, but I have cut my drinking back to a couple of times a month. Better safe than sorry. In fact, I have even been told that this problem could have been caused by the steroid treatment I was given for this or another one given for some back troubles. Either way it goes, I have it & I accept it. Just need to get through it & be done.

On February 13 of this year (a friday) I had the first of two hip replacements. I was back to work as a welder 3 months later. I went through pain management to try and give the first side as long as possible to heal and strengthen. When I could no longer stand it, I went back to the Surgeon and we checked the degradation of the remaining hip. It was bad enough to warrant another surgery, so on November 18 I had the other side replaced. They tell me that the problem is now completely gone and once I am healed I will live a full & productive life again. I just need to find another job that is less physical. That way I make the new hips last as long as possible. Since I am only 36, this makes a bit of sense to me. I was told that I did this at the proper time. Both sides were examined after surgery and they had both partially collapsed and had fractured. Not a severe fracture, just a hairline one, but they were not healing. Right now it is just getting through the physical therapy that bothers me. I know it is a necessary evil though. She should be here to torture me in about an hour, so wish me luck! And I also want to wish everyone well with their own trials. You have all shown me that you do not need to let it get you down. You can find joy even when it looks like there is none to be found.

Yeah, Nice one EZ, I truly hope it works for you as I know what constant pain is like (though thankfully I've only been a sufferer for the past 4 years. I'm still contemplating surgery. I've been advised by 2 surgeons that I'd be making a mistake going for surgery because of the risks. The damaged vertebra are all in the thoracic region and from how they have described what they would have to do, its put me off big time. Two other surgeons have said that it may be worth doing; so I'm at a loss as to who to listen to.

By the way I sometimes wish our family could reunite, but I fear that it's gone past any hope. I've not seen any of my cousins all of whome I was close to when I was a child since my mothers funeral in 1996, and one cousin, whome I'v never seen (who was born in Australia) has recently come over to England and has stayed at my sisters for a few days. I got to speak to him several weeks ago over the phone with a promised visit, but it sadly never materialized.

I do email one of my cousins occasionally, but others I've hardly spoken to since leaving home back in the 70's. My father has only ever once visited me and that was shortly after I settled into my first home after leaving the army in 1978 while I still lived in my home town. The only reason he actually visited was because he'd wanted to visit a local pub that he'd not been to since he was a young man. I don't know what effect this disintigration is going to have on our families in the furure. I feel for my youngest children who barely know any of their cousins.

Good to hear things are going in the right direction for you EZ,you'll be ripping up the roads on the bike sooner than you think.

Ya know what Buckleysmom, I think you just described my family to a tee. I'm not that close to my older brother or my sister, but I do text and email my younger brother on a daily basis. I'm afraid that when my mother does pass, we won't see much of each other. I live in Indiana, and they all live in Ohio. That makes it tough. I hope we'll make more of an effort to stay in touch.

On another note, my neck has healed very well and I am completely pain free in my neck and arms. Plus, I have some great news! The same surgeon operated on my lower back on Nov.11th. He removed the last 3 discs and replaced them with pieces of my bone, and then put in 2 steel rods and a bunch of screws to attach the bottom three vertebrae to my tailbone. He also had to remove a bunch of scar tissue from my previous surgeries. I'm wearing this huge, plastic, ungodly brace for at least 6 to 8 weeks, but he thinks I should come out of this pain free at last. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. There is a good chance that I may wake up one day and be totally pain free for the first time in over 30 years! I would jump for joy, but I'm afraid if I did, I would screw up all of the doctor's great work. Besides, us fat guys weren't made to leave the ground for long, we're built low to the ground for speed! LOL I just wanted to share the good news with you all, and I'll keep you all in my prayers so that maybe someday, somehow, you can be as fortunate as I have been lately to find such a great surgeon.

Love it. :)
And it's true about everyone being scattered now. People used to grow up in their hometown, marry, and stay there, living, working, raising their own children. No reason to leave... family was there! Now we travel and relocate at the drop of a hat, and it's hard to roll that ball of twine back together again, especially all at once.

Copmom....Ya know....our whole family always got together for holidays and such but since mom died we seldom get together. I never realized how much our "staying together" had to do with her until she was gone. I thought we were all close....now I only feel close to my youngest brothers. It's a shame.

That is funny about the UPS guy helping himself to soda...lol

BK

See there.. we do ALL have the same things in common! Since you mention UPS and Fed Ex, our guys know even if we're not home, they just go in, leave the pkg., and go to the refrigerator to grab a soda. And something else you mention WR, that brought back memories, when my grandma was alive, the whole family got together for all the holidays. Since then that generation has passed away, and the cousins, aunts, uncles, all moved to different states. Now we've done the same to our 4 kids.. 2 are on the West coast and 2 are here on the East coast. So we don't really even know our West coast grandchildren. Our son his 3 here here twice since we moved here 19 years ago, and we went there to visit in '96.. Our daughter and her family have never been here yet.. how sad! But we do keep in touch via email and the phone.
Hummm another thought.. if we'd stayed out West, all we'd have been was a place to drop the grandkids off when the parents needed to go somewhere! I say that because we're now watching the 8 & 9 year old here while mom & dad are at work, since it's summer vacation for them, and right now, I'm pooped! Don't have the same energy I used to have. Those 2 don't stop for a minute, but they are good, so at least they'll have memories of grandma and grandpa when we're long gone.

I wonder whats caused it. I do remember as achild all my mothers friends used to come around with their kids and we all had a great time. Even our family seems to have disintigrated since my grandmother passed aaway (same day as John Lennon) and the same goes for my Wifes family. Though back then we all lived in the same town and negbourhood. Now we're scattered across the country.

I think that stems from the politics of the 80's when we were told to move to where the jobs were. I don't know how it was in the US, but in the UK, from the mid 70's onwards right up to the early 90's there were widespread closures of many of the UK's traditional industries (Coal, Steel and Cotton). My home town was a mining and cotton town, both of which no longer exist.

I remember a retired couple moved into the house opposite ours about 12 years ago. On new years eve , shortly after they had moved in, we were invited over for drinks. They only stayed for two years before moving back to their home town because they had felt really isolated. Where they used to live (and moved back to) was a small village community where everyone knew each other. The only reason they had moved here was because one of their children had moved here and needed help with their children while they worked. They were the only couple who befriended virtually everyone on the upper side of the close. Sadly one recently passed away (we kept in touch when they moved).

WR

p.s.

I have more online friends now than friends I see face to face.

Lol! Same here, Buckleysmom... the UPS and FEDEX guys are pals of mine, and I'm more on a talking basis with the mailman than my neighbors. I have been in ONE neighbors house, as we've watched each others pets/houses when gone on vacation. Plus the kids had sleepovers when small. That must be rare nowadays. Other than that, it's waving...waving...waving... "Hi, how are ya!? Gotta run!"

Yeh, I hear you.....it's like that here too. The only reason I know some of my neighbors is because I grew up 4 miles from here and went to school with their kids. But even so we've never been inside their houses or really talk to them unless we bump into them at a store or restaurant or somewhere. Sometimes UPS or FEDEX will stop in to ask if we know where "so and so" lives. Lot's of times I have to say,"Sorry, never heard of them". In fact, it never occurred to me before but I actually know the UPS & FEDEX guys better than my neighbors, I know their names and some of them I even know where they live, how many kids they have, and whether they have a dog and even what kind. Now that's SAD!

BK

Boy.. that's really NOT knowing your neighbors if he lived next door! Then again, we've been here 19 years now, and I've not yet been inside any neighbors houses yet and still don't really 'know' anyone here! When we lived in So. Calif. as the kids grew up, it was common for us to have get-together's, like BBQ's, pool parties, etc. (Amazing how many friends the kids suddenly had since we had an in ground pool! We'd have a buffet in the family room for everyone to help themselves. But here.. everyone's friendly enough, like we wave when driving by as they work in their yards and they wave back or they wave as we're outside. Occasionally we stop and chat awhile with someone, but it's always outside, or on the phone. Most times we meet our neighbors at the grocery store, or post office and chat a bit. Seems like there just isn't any socializing like it used to be. We do live in the mountains, in the country, and my next door neighbors are cows, and no houses are really that close together. The only house I've been in since we've lived here is our neighbor above us, and that's because when she used to have to go out of town she'd ask us to tend to her little dog and cat.. that's about it. People don't just invite anymore to stop by for a cup of coffee!
SO.. my consensus is that lifestyles have changed, or maybe we have changed? This forum now seems to be the only socialization for me.

ouch! Maybe all you need is a little voice training to get it back into shape? I used to love singing, but for some reason it gives me a headache when I try now. Apart from the odd wedding over the years, I hardly ever sing now; which is a shame.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any community spirit left here in the UK any more. Everyone keep themselves to themselves. I've lived in this house since 1992 and we rarely exchange words with the families who live further down the close. There's only 8 houses on the opposite side of the close and four houses on our side. All the neigbours across the road have moved over the last few years, but those who live in the first four houses have lived there longer than we have. I've only ever been inside our next door neigbours house once and the other neigbour who lives about 60 meters away from our house I actually worked with 10 years ago, and only didscovered he was my neigbour when he was curious where I cycled from to get to the hospital (he also cycled). When I described my journey home right up to the close, he stood there shocked and then told me he was my next door neigbour. lol How strange is that.

Hmmm.....maybe we should start a choir. I used to sing in the church choir too....till my vocal chords were badly bruised from the respirator tube during a surgery. Now I squeak a lot but sometimes I do ok especially if it's a song I know well and it has a good alto part.

BK

lol

I used to be in a boys choir until my voice broke (11 years old). I was told I had a beautiful soprano voice. Though, all I can remember was trying to out sing a lady in the congregation that had a loud singing voice, lol.

WR

Gee Midori.. bet it's not like my singing! LOL I'm tone deaf and can't sing worth a darn. In my mind I can hear the tunes/songs clear as a bell.. just gotta keep the mouth shut and not sing out loud! *-)

Why, thank ya there, copmom... I wondered why I've been feeling a tad better lately! I do have a chronic pain problem, but nothing near as serious as these folks are going through,hence not even worth mentioning! (amazing the number who have chronic pain) But your little blessing must've gotten through to me also. And I find singing a lot helps me out! Oh, yeah. *$:-o (from daughter's room)...Mo-om... can you pipe down in there?

Thanks copmom.

ezrider.. you've really summed it all up in what you say about everyone here! What's the point in whining and complaining? It doesn't change the situation anyhow, so might as well make the best of it, and be thankful for what we can do! And laughter is the best medicine of all.. guess that's why hubby and I get along so well, we really enjoy having a good laugh at each others expense. Whenever he gets hurt, he usually says something like "I just did it for your amusement"! OK so we are old codgers, but still able to get a good chuckle about everything we can! Just have to make a point of enjoying every minute of whatever time we have left! We are proud to be members of the 'old farts' club!! *-)
By the way, when I say my prayers, I still continue to ask God to bless all of those whose lives I touch! And, by golly, He does seem to do that!!

Ooh, go easy ezrider......just cause you're feeling better doesn't mean you're superman. Don't over do it and hurt yourself. I've heard a lot of stories about people who suddenly felt better and then went too far and did more damage. Please make sure the doc says it's ok before you do things. Not trying to burst your bubble....just don't want to see you regret your new found freedom.....or should I say your preparation to return to freedom? :)

I'm praying for you....and you too ibwebb, and freebird, cavedweller, and of course Wrabbit, and copmom......and well.......everybody here!

HUGS
BK

Thanks everyone. Your support really helps. Once this thing with my neck heals and settles down, I think I'm going to try and have this doctor do the same with my lower back. That might be a bit more difficult as that injury is handled under Ohio's Worker's Compensation, and noone here in Indiana seems to want to work with them. Except my Pain Management Specialist.
Deserthead I really hope you remain cancer free. It seems to me that those of us who are burdened with constant pain and these different maladies that we have, were chosen to be burdened with them by a higher power for a reason. The one common thread that I have noticed through reading these postings is that we all are sharing what we are burdened with in order to offer support and encouragement to each other, and not a single person here comes off as being a whiner or complainer. We all just face up to these challenges simply because we can. We accept this as our lot in life and instead of crawling in a hole and feeling sorry for ourselves, we all just shrug it off and keep on truckin'. Just because we can. But also because we have this great secret weapon in this group where we can come for encouragement and support when we need it from someone just like ourselves who truly understands what we are feeling. So once again, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. And Deserthead, I'll say an extra prayer or two for you, so just keep on keepin' on! Good luck to you.
I'm going out in the garage and put my bike back together. It's finally time to get back in the wind with the breeze between my knees!
ezrider

Hope all works out well for you EZ,thats a lot to go through.
I've been using the site since it was in beta,rarely posting always lurking around in the background somewhere and now this topic popped up again,I now feel able to mention that I also qualify to be one of the medically downgraded (previously only owned up to being an old codger).My problem was a wee touch of cancer(colo-rectal),several operations,chemo and radiotherapy over the past 5 years seem to have now stopped the cancer from spreading and all I'm left with now are contant pains.During the chemo/radio therapy stage of treatment the 'compulsory hospital infection' over here (MRSA) decided to join in give me a good kicking while I was down,resulting in more nerve and tissue damage(more different pains).Consultaion recently confirmed absence of cancer,but recovery from mobility problems and pain is as good as it will get.
Well,finally got that of my chest,
Thanks all.

Hi, ezrider... I'm pretty new here so haven't been following, but sounds like you've been through a heck of a lot. Sending many positive thoughts for your full recovery, and it must be a relief to see at least some improvement. You were brave to go for the surgery, tho sounds like you didn't have any options, except for the painkillers. I wish you continued improvement and more and more pain-free days!
Smiles of encouragement to you,
midori *&:-)

Good luck ezrider; I hope all is well with you. Please scuze my rushed reply. The kids are snapping at my heels to use the computers in the study, lol

Take care

Whiterabbit

Hi everyone. Well, my family doctor put the brakes on the laser treatment. He said that they were too new, and there was too much that could go wrong with them. He doesn't feel comfortable with them, and doesn't want me to chance it. So he referred me to a Neurosurgeon that he knows and has sent members of his family to. He ordered a new MRI, and when I went in to see him for the first time, he just shook his head. He said that with the amount of damage I had, there were only 3 options and 2 of them were bad. He said that I could do nothing and continue to hurt, or keep taking the massive doses of painkillers to mask the pain, or have surgery. Today is Sat. 6/20, and my surgery was 8 days ago. He went in through the front of my neck and took out at least 3 discs. Then he used cadaver bones to realign my neck which was curved the wrong way, and finally he used steel plates and screws to stabilize the whole thing. I got sent home the following day. I'm very happy to report that everything is going very well so far. There is still a lot of lingering pain and I'm having a helluva time swallowing, but it's getting better by the day. I am actually looking forward to the day when I will be pain free in my neck and arms. My first follow-up appt. with the doctor is 7/14, so I'll get the full report of exactly what he had to do, and I'll even get to see pictures of it, as I have to have x-rays done right before my appt. I will let you all know what he says. I also want to thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement. I think of you all often, and it is very comforting just knowing you are here for me to talk with. Thank you all very much.
ezrider

Good morning everyone.. gee, here it is Sunday morning, and when I re-read all your different situations and mainly your upbeat attitudes, it makes me feel like I'm at a healing service at a Church!! Whenever I say my prayers, I always ask God to bless all of those whose lives I touch.. He knows what all our needs are.
I just found out there's a new neighbor that moved in down the hill from us. I feel that I should go down there and introduce myself. She had/has breast cancer, and had a mastectomy. She's a teacher and her husband a police officer. He couldn't 'take it' after she had the mastectomy, so he left her! I can't believe how some people can be SO shallow. There must not have been any love between them. When I went through all that, it made me and my husband that much closer! Heck, yesterday was our 51st anniversary.. I really don't feel THAT old! Well, yes, there are more aches and pains, but my brain still tells me I'm only 17! LOL Now I've got to go do my daily exercises they gave me at physical therapy so my back won't kill me for awhile.. the exercises do help, but then when I feel OK I tend to do things I shouldn't and viola, it's back again.. sorta like spasms that won't relax. What's funny is I went to the online Mayo Clinic web site and clicked on back pain, and they have the very same exercises there. But I'm not taking any pain meds, they mess up other things, like the liver, etc. Had to stop that Tylenol therapy since that did elevate my liver readings so I stopped immediately and tests came back normal the next time. And Aleve causes swelling.. so one thing leads to another. I still do take methotrexate for my rheumatoid arthritis which does help keep my left hip pain free. I'm starting to ramble now.. so I'll just wish all of you a GREAT day! Remember, it's all in your attitude, and y'all have some great attitudes!!!
{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} ~ Lauri

Sorry guys, I've been a little remise at keeping up with this thread of late. I've been too preoccupied with my gaming project, which is one of the ways I keep the chronic pain at bay. If you haven't tried it please do so. Find some games you think you'll like and play ‘em. I've found so much relief over the last 40 plus months since my accident that I’ll swear by them for a decent analgesia fix. Of course it's only temporary, but it has worked for me. Plus my kids love the extra games they get to play, lol.

I’ll catch up with you all soon and especially the newcomers to the thread; I'd like to say welcome. I hope you've gleaned some comfort from the knowledge that there are a lot of us out there rooting for you and are empathic to your feelings

Warm regards

Stephen