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From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-09-2005, 10:03 PM (1 of 31)
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Yep...I was cleaning out my 'stash' when I bent over (nothing in my hands) and couldn't stand back up.....waddled out to the livingroom and my husband asked me what I'd done now...I just said I'd hurt my back and since I was seeing the Dr ( 6 days later) I'd wait, rather than go to the ER. (theres an officious little MAJOR who runs the ER at the base and he's a s***, not only MY opinion). So now my husband is aggravated at me for not going sooner. My Dr is mad (and has told me my pain threshold IS WAY TOO HIGH). I have some good drugs (even pain pills this time....and yes I AM taking them) and I get to have a physical therapist come to my home. ( I drive a standard shift car and it's like torture to get my feet on the clutch and brake/gas pedal) I can't even sit down for very long...oh well...maybe it's time to get away from the computer every night...all night long sometimes. (theres nothing on t.v.   )See you all once-in-awhile...(not every night, as usual) Kath Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Catalina
Date: 09-10-2005, 05:58 AM (2 of 31)
| Ugh, sorry to hear that. It sure doen't take much to aggravate the back- one wrong move and ouch. Hopefully with rest and Pt you'll be better soon. Sitting is hard on the back- I'm in PT now for neck and back issues- learning stretching, streghtening and working on posture. Take those pain pills if you need them, no sense being in pain. A lot of times most pain is from the muscles themselves trying to protect the injured site. Take it easy and hope your feeling better soon. |
User: Catalina
Member since: 01-06-2005 Total posts: 119 |
From: Magot
Date: 09-10-2005, 06:48 AM (3 of 31)
Sorry to hear of your ouchies Kath, can you train the little guys to do massage  get well, sweetpea. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: grandmasue
Date: 09-10-2005, 10:30 AM (4 of 31)
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I feel your pain. After having fractured 3 vertabre and ruptured 2 discs six years ago I have never forgotten the pain that came with it. Do whatever the therapist says. they got me back on my feet and able to live a 95% normal life, which I said was pretty good... I was not normal to begin with!
Grandma Sue
------------ At the end I am not showing up at my grave all pretty and well preserved...I am coming in sliding, yelling "What a ride!" |
User: grandmasue
Member since: 10-26-2004 Total posts: 138 
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From: ninifav
Date: 09-10-2005, 10:46 PM (5 of 31)
| Poor Kath, maybe the last few monthe of the annoying neighbor, your share of hurricanes, and losing your sweet little pets just finally caught up with you...your body is saying...whoa!!! take it easy...hope you recover soon...Paula |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: esrun3
Date: 09-10-2005, 10:54 PM (6 of 31)
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OUCH! Hope you are feeling better real soon!
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 09-11-2005, 07:03 AM (7 of 31)
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Chrys, I can imagine you are not having a lovely time at all with your back. Hopefully you are able to get some help with things around the house and 'pampered' for a bit. Hope everything comes out ok, take care.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: MyGirlFriday
Date: 09-11-2005, 10:31 PM (8 of 31)
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Chrys~ Sorry to hear that you have a back issue. I know what it is like to not want to go to the dr, but sometimes you just have to do it. Pretty neat that they can come to your house for the PT. Hope that gives you some relief. Can't take the drugs forever. Beware of your movements....even the slightest thing will often get you.  I don't know about you but I seem to have had more trouble with my back since I had an epidural with my 2nd daughter. Have you had back trouble before? Good luck~ mgf~
Blessings & Smiles
Frogs have it easy....they just eat what's buggin' them. |
User: MyGirlFriday
Member since: 12-05-2004 Total posts: 288 
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From: Sancin
Date: 09-11-2005, 11:18 PM (9 of 31)
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For those of you who don't like to take pain pills, remember that pain causes muscles to tense and impair healing. Better to take them, relax and let oxygen and other good stuff to heal the tissues. Also take them before pain is too bad or you need to take more, for some reason. Now the bad side - sometimes the usual pain medication will not work if pain is due to some types of spasm. In that case either heat or cold application is best. Unfortunately cold seems to work best but heat sure makes one feel better about the world doesn't it? Back to the womb. I had a severe headache earlier in the day -took some meds and lay down for about an hour and thought, what a waste of time pain and illness are!!! The headache did go away. I hope your back pain does soon. Hang in there Chrys. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-11-2005, 11:24 PM (10 of 31)
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2 yrs ago I had a muscle spasm in my back...before that, nothing. Now I'm having reactions to the meds the Dr gave me and I've had to stop taking them. (oh boy...here we go again). Yep...I do notice that when I make a 'wrong' move I want to scream...and then I can't walk for a few mins. (till I straighten out, again). wwwhhheeee this is fun... Once I getting walking around. (upright, posture straight) I can walk just fine. Once I sit or stand however, I get 'stuck'. (I'm not mentioning trying to get in and out of bed... )Thanks for all your support...(anyone have an extra 'walker' their grandmother isn't using ??? )Kath Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Bama
Date: 09-12-2005, 05:40 PM (11 of 31)
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Sorry to hear that Chrys. I hope you get better soon. My BIL had a ruptured disk a couple of months ago and had to have surgery. You'd better take it easy. |
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: Longblades
Date: 09-19-2005, 04:23 PM (12 of 31)
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Chrysantha, your medication is probably meant to not only relieve the pain but to reduce inflamation at the site which will aid in healing. Take it. Also be aware that you can have adverse effects if you stop taking some medications too quickly. Check with your doctor if you are having side effects or want to stop the meds for some other reason. Our 12 and half year old Labrador Retriever has just been diagnosed with invertebral disk disease and spinal spondylosis (sp?), not unusual in older dogs. We are told xrays show it is a chronic condition that she has had for some time but she experienced a very scary acute episode two weeks ago. She is on Dexamethasone, which is also prescribed for people and for the same reasons. All the caveats from above apply to this med. and she will not be weaned completely off it till late November. Your episode sounds very similar to our dog's. |
User: Longblades
Member since: 07-14-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-19-2005, 07:49 PM (13 of 31)
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Lets see....the meds I WAS on gave me terrible side effects. I got dry and I kept drinking water (fri and sat I was on the drugs). In an hour and a half I drank 4 bottles of water...I didn't pee...I gained 8 lbs of water in 2 days and never got rid of it. I saw 'things'. (one of side affects) I lost my voice, I couldn't walk due to the water. Everything tasted of copper pennies and my husband said I smelled like copper pennies. I got a ring stuck on my finger (from the water, took me 3 days of water pills to get it off.). This was all last week end...I lost the whole weekend. I don't remember what I did. (but I DO know I didn't drive, I couldn't). So Sun I quit taking the pills....I wasn't making myself sicker. I called the Dr mon, of course it was her week off..I saw another on on wed. (when they could fit me in) The Dr I saw said if I hadn't stopped taking the pills on my own, I might have died. He took me off all my 'back meds' and now I'm on nothing but water pills...it's nice to pee again. I've been regulating all my meds since I was 5...If they give me bad side effects, I stop taking them and call the Dr. (usually they can't give me anything else...and if they do, well we go round that merry-go-round again). So I deal with the pain....try to behave myself (hahahahahahahaha, yeah right) and get on with my life....I'm actually cleaning out my sewing room, cause I got a new machine on Sat. (the new Janome 11000) and I have 'stuff' to finish...back pain or no back pain...
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Longblades
Date: 09-20-2005, 10:02 AM (14 of 31)
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One of the side effects of the Dex tabs is increased thirst and supposed to be accompanied by increased urination. I really haven't noticed either with Jet but she is in the weaning off stage now. From what I have been told by the Vet and read on the internet Dexamethasone is produced naturally in the body and when it is supplemented artificially the body can think, "Ok, got enough of that stuff", and stop producing its own. So sudden withdrawal of the med. can leave you with NO Dex. being produced or provided and in worse pain than before, also with nausea and headache. Of course not everyone experiences that. Probably more of a concern in the dog too, as she can't tell me, "hey it hurts more now", if I take her off it. I've had good luck calling my pharmacist with drug questions. They are often much more knowledgable than the physicians about possible interactions, dosages, quitting etc. And I can reach them on the weekend. Glad to hear you are coping with the back. Does sound like you had awful side effects, was it DEx you were on? |
User: Longblades
Member since: 07-14-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-20-2005, 06:44 PM (15 of 31)
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Nope...Baclofen and vicodin...one for muscle spasms and one for pain. Now I'm having a reaction to either the water pills or the celebrex I was given..so I gotta quit taking them and see which one it is. (by taking one, one day and one the next...) I now am the proud reciepient of a electronic muscle stimulator..which I use twice a day for 40 mins, each time. It's so compact I can carry it in my hand if I need to walk around...wwwhhhheeee...what fun I'm having...
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: Magot
Date: 09-22-2005, 10:24 AM (16 of 31)
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Hey Kath, can you use it on the tummy as well!!!!!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: Reba Hewitt
Date: 10-11-2005, 02:48 PM (17 of 31)
| NOT FUN. I too have slipped disc's...was at work and bent over to get into the med cart, apon standing to an upright position I heard a tearing sound in my back, this happened 2X and then the pain went down my leg. The pain is worse than having a baby!!! Being that I had a fusion at L4-L5 in 2001 I did not want surgery again. (I had only been at this job for 6 wks and the insurance had not kicked in and the back surgery I had in 2001 cost $50,000). I wanted to do EVERY THING possible to prevent another surgery. My family Dr. put me on pain meds (which made me constipated) I would set and watch the clock to see when I could take the next dose---the med was not holding me and cry!!!! I slept on the floor in a fetal position for two weeks as I could not sleep in bed...I went to a chiropractor and could hardly walk into his office, but he 'healed me'. The body has the inherent ability to heal itself if we let it. After a couple of treatments I was off all pain meds and I could walk and sleep in my bed again. I REALLY feel your pain and I am OH SO SORRY!!!!!! |
User: Reba Hewitt
Member since: 10-10-2005 Total posts: 14 |
From: gm23237
Date: 11-20-2005, 09:50 PM (18 of 31)
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Take it from someone that learned the hard way. I told my patients when I was nursing if they could avoid any back surgery so what did I do? Went to a doctor about back pain, he said I needed surgery and told me that techniques had changed and in 6 months I would be so glad I had the surgery. At the time of the surgery I was not even taking pain meds. I had the surgery in 1997, 3 disk fused an 18 inch rod and a lamenectomy. I have been on pain medication everyday since! Now I can not even dress my left foot and I have been having trouble sleeping, starnge aches and pains in legs andtrouble even walking at times. |
User: gm23237
Member since: 11-03-2003 Total posts: 145 
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From: paroper
Date: 11-20-2005, 10:24 PM (19 of 31)
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Thank you for those words of encouragement, gm23237! I have had problems with my back for over 25 years! I've heard every excuse in the book as to why they didn't see anything wrong with my back. I FINALLY changed to a 20/80 insurance and guess what? Now I know I've blown all lumbar disks between and including L1 through L11. At least L12 is fine. I also have 3 bad cervical disks. The pain has been excruciating for the last 8 years and over the last 6 months it has become difficult to walk for the pain. Before my legs would just fail. As for the neck? I do wierd stuff like suddenly crush styrofoam cups full of drink...real fun stuff...but I've decided to wait on the neck because the back pain is so much worse. I don't know exactly what they plan to do for it because it is like things have dissolved. Right now they are doing the epideral injections. It has helped so far but only lasts about 10 days out of 14. They are only offering 3 and I think that there are physical reasons why they don't do more. We can't afford to keep shelling out money for such temp. relief anyway. Tomorrow is my last. After that? Who knows? It doesn't look just real good. At least I've enjoyed the 20 or so days of relief it has brought. I still have the numbness and when the cold fronts come through the pain is still horrible, but on nice days, I've had a bit of welcome relief and I've been able to sleep.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 11-21-2005, 04:48 PM (20 of 31)
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[[[ ]]] Pam... Geez...now I feel like a cry baby.  I understand surgery works for some and not others...but I'm thinking if you NEED it, do it...I saw some poor little girl having back surgery on Discovery Health channel the other night...her brain was squeezing down her spinal collumn and the first vertabrae in her neck was pushed forward. The Dr's kept telling her nothing was wrong, Her mother PUSHED till she got an answer and it was surgery...it worked. Gloria Estefan (the singer) had her spine fused after the buss accident. It hasn't slowed her down. One of the women who works at my quilt shop/machine dealer has had 3 spinal fusions...she works full time and the only thing that bothers her is cold weather. She says it was the best thing she's ever done. So I guess it's one of those things where you take a chance and it comes out right, or it doesn't.. I hope you find someone to help you.... Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: mamahoogie
Date: 11-21-2005, 05:38 PM (21 of 31)
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Sorry about your back problems and I can relate. In 1988 I bent over in the movie theatre to get my drink and felt the pain rip thru my back. Had the usual treatments- traction, physio, etc. (no pain pills for me thank you except the odd tylenol) and finally had to have surgery. The disk was not slipped it had ruptured. My back is fused up about 1/3 of the way but I seldom have pain unless I over-do it in the garden. Good luck. Violet I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: paroper
Date: 11-21-2005, 05:56 PM (22 of 31)
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There's a fine point between being in a wheel chair and being careful about choosing an acceptable treatment. There are so many things being done and discovered about the back that I want to steer clear as long as I can.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Sancin
Date: 11-21-2005, 09:01 PM (23 of 31)
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For those of you with back problems Spine-Health.com is an excellent site and gives objective info about back surgeries and the lastest findings. I subscribe to their newsletter and it is one of the better ones on the web. They have links and articles on almost everything related to back pain and are written by physicians.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: MotherInLaw
Date: 11-21-2005, 10:44 PM (24 of 31)
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Sorry Kath about your back. I had back surgery back in the 70's and it's not fun hurting with a back ache. You don't realize that even leaning over to brush your teeth affects your lower back. The last time my back went out and I had to have the surgery, there was no more getting better, I was sewing alot and I reached up to the top of the bar in my kitchen to get my scissors and that thing just popped and felt like a bolt of lightning going through my back and legs and then my back quit hurting and my leg had a burning pain that wouldn't let me sit or lay down I had to stand. After two days of it killing me I went to the doctors and he put me in right away for surgery. The disk slipped out of place into the spinal column and was hitting nerves that ran down my legs. I haven't had any trouble with that part of my back since the surgury so it was a good choice. Now the top part is giving me fits if I work on the puter too long but not the lower back. Take care and don't sit too long. Keep the stomach muscles strong and it will help. Hugs susie I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 11-21-2005, 11:18 PM (25 of 31)
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Thanks Susie...thats why I have my new friend...the muscle stimulator.... Your back sounds JUST like what happened to me...(except the surgery part) The pain the in legs, not being able to walk..it's weird...but luckily I managed to slip my back into place MYSELF last week. ( I felt it..did it sunday and monday...once sitting and the rest laying down.) I can walk now and I'm trying to behave myself....  ...yeah...right...
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: debsews
Date: 11-22-2005, 09:11 AM (26 of 31)
| My only comment is to find a really good neurosurgeon not an orthopedic (sp?). Dh has had two back surgeries and first one with the ortho and second with the neuro. Second time around much better. He now needs to lose some weight and get his stomach muscles strengthened up and I think he would do better. But then I need to lose some weight and blah blah blah. Hope you find what you need and soon. Back aches aren't fun |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 11-22-2005, 06:46 PM (27 of 31)
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My back surgery was done by a neurosurgeon too - I was transferred by the Ortho! The disk that ruptured in my back was floating in spinal column and hitting nerves too. If I moved the wrong way I would drop! I lost some feeling in the lower half of leg and foot and that's when they decided to do surgery. Surgeon said if I had let it go I would have had a dropped-foot problem and would have ended up wearing a brace. Violet I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: trini
Date: 11-22-2005, 07:28 PM (28 of 31)
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Sorry to hear of your back problem Chrysantha; I too suffer similarly from time to time. Today I stopped and lay on my back for awhile,then did the exercises when I thought that I had rested enough. I find that back exercises do help, but finding time to do them three times per day is not always possible. Do hope that you feel better soon. Take care. Leila. |
User: trini
Member since: 09-17-2005 Total posts: 74 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 11-24-2005, 01:22 AM (29 of 31)
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Wow Kath, that's great you can do that with your back. I'm not that lucky. I only did the back surgery thing with me kicking and screaming all the way to the operating room. I didn't want to have it I was afraid I'd be cripple the rest of my life but boy was I wrong. I'm so glad I had it done now. Violet, those that slip out of place and float in the spine like yours and mine could paralize you if you don't watch it, we were lucky that didn't happen to us. I had a drop foot for a while but with exercise it's not as bad as it was in the beginning. I still get muscel spasms in that one leg from time to time if I stretch it out too long. I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: paroper
Date: 11-24-2005, 07:12 AM (30 of 31)
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I lost the ability to walk and feel my legs completely when I was pregnant with the twins. I was in a wheel chair (along with being bedfast) for about 3 weeks. (I was actually in bed six weeks).
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 11-24-2005, 05:52 PM (31 of 31)
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You are so right Mother-in-Law...we were both lucky indeed. I got the feeling back in my leg and foot and with several weeks of physio, no drop foot either. Hope you are feeling better soon Crysantha Violet I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
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