Where is everybody? You're makin' me paranoid that something's broken!!

At the risk of setting myself up for criticism for posting during school hours, I am letting everyone know that I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. Even if I don't post, I check the Webb Board frequently to see if there is anything new. I don't have anything really to contribute right now. I will say, though, that Tony and I are planning to make a weekend of it for the Knoxville show. We are definitely looking forward to that. Yesterday morning I had an MRI done, and I passed what could have been the longest 20 minutes of my life trying to imagine the set list for this coming Saturday night, reciting all the words to "Human Cannonball", and counting backwards from 100 TWICE.
Susan
P.S. In case anyone is wondering, one of our guidance counselors is here in my fourth-period class, discussing courses for next year. Therefore, even though it IS class time, I am still not harming the education of any children in the process of posting this message.

Susan, have you tried using the RSS feeds? I recommend using them with Google Reader. Makes it a piece of cake to see the latest additions.

BTW, I hope the MRI stuff all turned out OK and you are healthy!

Hope all is well with the MRI Susan... can't wait to see you guys Sat :-)

~Christina

I have been having some problems with my right shoulder. The pain radiates down my arm. My fingertips go numb at times. And there are some other issues associated with it. I assumed the problem was nerve damage, but my doctor said last week that there is a possibility I have a torn rotator cuff, so he set me up to undergo an MRI. I will know this Friday what the results are. After that, I guess I will be off to an orthopedist. I have heard that even though surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff is an outpatient procedure, it take a while to recover. Has anybody here had to undergo this procedure? My initial thought was that this--if I have to have the surgery done--will put me out of commission for about a week (one day for surgery and the rest of the time to recuperate to the point I can start getting back to a normal routine), but after hearing other people talk about it, I am not sure what to expect. Please, regale me with your stories if you don't mind and have time. Thanks, folks, for the concern. I am sure everything will be fine, no matter what. If I have to have surgery, the best part will be having Tony play nursemaid for a while. Won't that just be the cutest thing anybody ever saw?
Susan

Susan,

I have the exact same symptoms and it turned out to be a herniated neck disk. I was supposed to have surgery last week, but at the last minute the surgery center called and said "oh yeah, we need the dedectible and estimated 10% so can you send $2100 today?" The answer was no.

Good luck with it.

omatic, I do not use the RSS feeds; however, I have been looking into them. I don't mind searching for new messages the old-fashioned way, though. I check the Webb Board almost as often as I check my school mail throughout the day, and that is quite often (and yes, I DO find the time to teach--again, in case anyone is wondering).
Susan

well -- I do work for an ortho practice here in Roanoke. I'm not on the clinical side of course.... but I can check around. I think usually you can be light duty for 6-8 wks depending on the complexity of the procedure, and you'll have frequent visits to the PT office. I've got some great shoulder guys down here if you don't mind the drive!

~Christina

My Mom had pain in her shoulder for many years. They finally figured out that it was her rotator cuff and she had the surgery when she was in her 70s. She had to do a LOT of physical therapy but the pain did go away and she was able to use her arm a lot more.
Good luck!

Good luck with the shoulder, Susan. My youngest sister has similar problems so I know it can really be troublesome and painful.

My first thought was that it was nerve damage, but I am selfishly hoping that if there is something that requires surgery, it will be the rotator cuff. I am not the least bit interested in having back surgery. Back surgery is a lot scarier to me. Incidentally, both my dad and my sister may need surgery on their backs (my dad for pinched nerves, my sister for bulging disks) soon. Christina, thanks for the information. Oh, and I guess I will stick to therapy in Bristol--if I need it (lots of ifs here).
Susan

Good luck Susan - hope all goes well. I'm trying to picture Tony as a nurse... kinda scary to be honest.... but I'll bet he's perfect for a big old bear hug to make you feel all better.

You guys have fun in Knoxvegas .... doesn't look like I'll make it ... going to be Brrrrrrrrrrrr cold ... single digits. That ain't right for down here in good ole TN.

E

The good news is that I don't have a torn rotator cuff. The bad news is that it is a pinched nerve. I was really hoping for the torn rotator cuff.
Susan

Pinched nerve... Ever seen a chiropractor or D.O.? Maybe it can be manipulated somehow.

>> for a big old bear hug
Just watch out for the shoulder when you do that, Tony!

I second the chiropractor suggestion ... I swear by mine ... and sometimes AT her, but that's another story ...

I actually enjoy it when they make my bones go CrAckLy-crUnCH-POP! Satisfyin'.

Agreed - I never went to a chiro until a couple years ago ... glad I did... all the minor back issues I USED to have - seem to stay away now.... and my softball throwing shoulder - that I thought was a torn rotator cuff - doesn't seem to bother me nearly as much anymore - in fact, even though I do tend to "baby it" when I throw sometimes.... I played all summer and fall last year and didn't have any real issues.... The best part of it al is ... I didn't start going to the chiro for the throwing shoulder at all... just a bonus I guess.

I once called them "quacks" but now I'm on the bandwagon...

Susan - you may want to check on one up in Bristol... (Rachel goes to the one here in Piney Flats - lady doctor)... even insurance plans cover some of the costs to go see them.

E

There used to be a place called the Tokyo Sauna that did some manipulating, but Im not sure what school of Chiroprackty, Miko went to, but thats another story.

try some laudnum for that throwing shoulder Eric............ it always worked for gunshots and stuff on Gunsmoke.

I thought they cured everything with Whiskey on Gunsmoke.

Also, is that Tokyo Suana one of those places where they finish with what they call a happy ending ... I don't think the Warden will like you getting your manipulating "doctor" visits there Mo.

E

I thought they closed all those type establishments that dotted 11w between Bristol and Kingsport.