Mother, father, brother, and I

<I keep forgetting to post when I come here to read Navigator's posts>

Navigator, I hope you get some information you can use from your mother's MRI.

You're doing quite an amazing amount of work with your family. I'm always glad when you take some time for yourself and come talk to us.

Hi again, and thanks to you all.

I’ve come now from hospital, and I’m going to bed. Man I’m tired, it’s true

that hospitals have beautiful chicks but it’s tiring thing. Ok, I’d like to leave

you with the MRI report, and then I’ll tell you what had happened later.


Image Requested: LUMBAR SPINE MRI

Dear Dr.

Thank you for referring your patient to imaging department. (Don’t worry

about this sentence).

Description:

Lumbar spine MRI:

Technique: Sagittal and axial T1, T2 W images with a 1.5 T GE Echo speed

MRI machine

Findings:

L4-L5 discs show annular bulging with narrowing of neural foramina on

both sides , predominantly on the Lt side and posterior central protrusion

with compression on thecal sac.

L3-L4 discs also show annular bulging and narrowing of inferior aspect of

neural foramina and mild posterior central protrusion and impression on

ventral surface of thecal sac. Posterior peripheral hypersignal intensity in

the disc is due to annular disruption. Rest of the lumbar discs are normal

in signal intensity and appearance. Spinal canal and thecal sac diameter

are normal. Conus medullaris is normal in signal intensity and appearance.

There is no intramedullary or intradural mass lesion. Anterior wedging of

T12 vertebra is seen due old compression fracture. Vertebral alignment,

bone marrow signal and paravertebral structure are normal.

Impression:

Degenerative disc disease with annular bulging and disc protrusion at L4-

L5 and L3-L4 space more marked at former level, with compression on

neural elements.


(End)


Doctor said surgery. However, mom walks well (at least to my eyes), and

doesn’t have this tingle in her feet or thighs or this coldness. Perfectly fine ( apparently, not sure though )

so I have this suggestion of putting her in physio and see how she is

doing. But, I think the surgery is a must anyway.

Tell me what do you think? before that could somebody explains some of

the incantations above.

See you later, now sleeping time.

and hi ehBeth, THANKS.

Navigator - if your mother can avoid surgery through work with a good physiotherapist, encourage her to do so. Very good results can be achieved that way.

Your spinal cord is threaded through an sequence of spongy discs (cartilage) and vertebrae (bone).

Over the years, the discs loose their ability to cushion the bones and hold them in place. The vertebrae get out of line and can even rub against each other--which is very painful.

Surgery can replace the faulty discs.

Physiotherapy can strength the muscles in the back so that the vertebrae tend to stay in place.

Mr. Noddy just had an operation to implant an electrical electrode in the spinal cord which cancels the impulses that the brain interprets as pain.

Your family is certainly endowed with interesting medical conditions. I hope you don't get sick! Who would take care of the others?

That's good news, sort of, Navigator. I'm with you, I think physio is the best first step and I would at least defer surgery until you can see if therapy will help.

I'm glad she finally got the MRI. Get some rest and keep us posted.

navigator , it seems that your mother and brother need help that you alone cannot provide - you'll wear yourself out !!!
try to find a local "health community clinic" that can provide assistance. is there any "social services agency" that can help you finding help ?
i'd suggest you use the "yellow pages" and google to try and track down any available services. even services that may seem remote at the moment may point you in the right direction.
you say that your mother does things that the physiotherapist/physician asked her to stop - if i read you correctly. you may have to enlist the help of those people to try and persuade your mother to stop doing things that'll only make things worse - both for her and the whole family.
sure hope your family will get the help necessary.
have you asked the physio/physician were you might turn for additional help ?
good luck ! hbg

Sorry to hear about Mr.Noddy, I didn’t know this but now.

It will be a bit burdensome to get her in a schedule of time for physiotherapy.

I don’t care about myself, but it’s time trouble. We’ve just started working

over ( new year ) . The question is, can a physiotherapy be a replace for

the surgery ?. Mean, the problem ( degenerative, bulging , protrusion ) will

be there despite the physiotherapy good result, and it might come back

later.

Hmm, now I’m in double minded. Yes hamburger, I should ask a

physiotherapist first , I will do this.

Till now, I’m fine



I appreciate everything you write, it helps alot definately

Navigator, most people over the age of 20 have some degree of degenerative disc disease. It's simply a factor of aging. The bulging and protrusion are different. You, and your mother, need to speak to a physiotherapist about whether treatment alone will be able to prevent surgery.

There are certainly a number of conditions of the spine which can be handled very effectively without needing to make the move to intrusive surgery.

I've had many clients over the years who've been able to make good recovery without surgery - worth discussing the specifics of your mother's MRI with the people involved in her treatment.

You are right ehBeth, I must see a physiotherapist. The problem it will be

difficult to reach one here ( a bit far ). But, I will see what I can do .


I'll try to keep you updated but enough time what I don't have .

Good morning everybody, and in case, Good after noon, good evening and

good night. I've good news, but not now later

Good evening from here, Navigator. Any good news from you is good to hear for me.

It is late on Saturday night here, just about an hour before midnight.

Take care of yourself in all of this, buddy. Rest a bit.

Hi again, mom and I went to see the orthopaedic surgeon as scheduled. I

was surprised by the result. Ok, I had to cancel the first appointment and

reschedule for a new one. I was really busy. It’ a private hospital that we

went to. When we met the doctor, he wasn’t interested in the report I

mentioned before. He asked specific questions, and looked at the MRI. I

told him the same story that she slipped and fell to her back, MRI,

injections, the pains. He then examined her; see if she can bend easily,

walk, and other things. Then, he asked if she has diabetes, no, high or low

blood pressure problem, no, other things no. Then he said; “oh yah, it’s

compressed muscles the main problem “. He said it’s true that she has

discs problems, but don’t worry about that. I said what about the MRI and

the report. He said as a scientific piece of information that if I went out and

asked a bunch of healthy people to do MRI, the result would be that many

of them would have problems with their back (discs)! This doesn’t mean

that all of them need surgeries.

Well, that I didn’t know. He said she only needs physio and then

everything will be just fine. Since physio is expensive there, I took the

responsibility of doing this to her at home, after all I can do this and did it

before. Of course, he taught me some exercises, and said don’t worry.





Everything seems to be normal. But, the question is, when it’s proper or

sensible to have MRI for a patient?

So she's better? That's great. Goodness, though, when do you have any time for yourself?

Hi FreeDuck, thanks. Well I can manage, plus everything now is pretty

fine. This is really a relief. We have a saying here ; If you wanted your

kids to take care and love you when you get old and helpless, you should

take care of parents and help others. God, then will help you.

That's a good saying. You are definitely a good son and a good brother. Hopefully, God will continue to help you.

Thanks for the words FreeDuck. Still the question that puzzling me, when

should a doctor ask for MRi? I mean sometimes it's deceiving maybe, or

that doctor doesn't care about his patients only the money. He didn't talk

about other option and there is no need for the surgery absolutely!!

I don't know, but I do know that a good doctor is hard to find. So if you like the one you went to before, keep going to him.

You are right

Is this bad, cuz father has recently lost two nails. Both the big toes nails