What ails you today?

[D41]

Yep....concussions suck. Like my learned colleague wrote, what happened??

[Kwacky]

Yep....concussions suck. Like my learned colleague wrote, what happened??

He's got concussion, maybe he doesn't remember

[D41]

I had one years ago....it was the strangest experience. Even back at home in my bedroom I didn't really know where I was.

[Kwacky]

I didn't recognise my wife because she turned up in a different car.

The brain is weird

[Itchy]

My shoulder aches.

some pretty heavy stuff

Yeah, nah, never mind!


Keep us all posted Kiwi mate.

[D41]

Yep....it's like that old sci-fi movie 'Doppelganger' where there's an "opposite Earth" the guy finds himself on. I couldn't remember my friend's name.

I think I cussed my boss out over the phone as a crank caller!!

[D41]

Yep....it's like that old sci-fi movie 'Doppelganger' where there's an "opposite Earth" the guy finds himself on. I couldn't remember my friend's name.

I think I cussed my boss out over the phone as a crank caller!!

[D41]

See!

[kiwikrasher]

Long time no speak..

I've been out of action for a while now as I've been suffering concussion since getting whiplash at a waterpark.

I've had a neck x-ray and all is fine and have an appointment in October to see the Neurologist. I'm still suffering but am back at work today for the first time in a couple of months. Hopefully I'll be around a little more frequently now.

Hopefully the recovery keeps progressing ok mate

[Cav]

Cheers guys.

In short, it was an unfortunate combination of changing from downhill to uphill with added rotation, my head whiplashed backwards and I blacked out before my head went all the way back. I went rag-doll for more than 5 seconds, managed to stay in the dinghy then came round at the end of the slide holding my neck in pain and pretending to continue enjoying the ride. I only did the latter because everyone was staring at me and I felt embarrassed.

I staggered to the cafe and ate some sugary snacks then had to clear the table and cling on to it as I was certain I was falling. About 30-45 minutes later I was well enough to leave.

I suffered severe short-term amnesia for a few weeks and am still suffering from it a little bit now. I'm now suffering with "post-concussion syndrome".. basically the same symptoms but it isn't clear why.

[kiwikrasher]

So had a call from the neurosurgeon late last night. She had me get a second MRI on my neck last week as she wasn’t happy with the quality of the first set and she wanted better imagery for surgery.

On review of this second MRI (and conferring with another neurosurgeon and a neuro-radiologist) she now is less confident it’s a tumour in my cord, but still a possibility. There is significant swelling in my spinal cord from C5/6 down causing all my symptoms and she is still unsure why. She doesn’t want operate on Thursday now as she doesn’t want to go into the cord and risk damage if it’s not warranted.

So the plan is to wait two weeks, have a further MRI, analyse any changes and hopefully get a clearer idea what’s happening. If it’s confirmed there is no tumour then no spinal cord surgery. If there’s still significant swelling of the cord then discuss a laminectomy (removal of part of the vertebrae) to unload the area and a spinal fusion.

So back to the start again. Wait and see.

[C00kiemonster]

So had a call from the neurosurgeon late last night. She had me get a second MRI on my neck last week as she wasn’t happy with the quality of the first set and she wanted better imagery for surgery.

On review of this second MRI (and conferring with another neurosurgeon and a neuro-radiologist) she now is less confident it’s a tumour in my cord, but still a possibility. There is significant swelling in my spinal cord from C5/6 down causing all my symptoms and she is still unsure why. She doesn’t want operate on Thursday now as she doesn’t want to go into the cord and risk damage if it’s not warranted.

So the plan is to wait two weeks, have a further MRI, analyse any changes and hopefully get a clearer idea what’s happening. If it’s confirmed there is no tumour then no spinal cord surgery. If there’s still significant swelling of the cord then discuss a laminectomy (removal of part of the vertebrae) to unload the area and a spinal fusion.

So back to the start again. Wait and see.

Jeez - i guess you'd wound yourself up to get it done this week and now have to wait. I suppose its less worrying if its not a tumour perhaps. Sounds like your surgeon is top notch though.

If it's any comfort - my father was one of the first to have a spinal fusion in the UK (in the late 1970's) and he's been a diver, mountaineer and runner ever since!

[duke63]

So had a call from the neurosurgeon late last night. She had me get a second MRI on my neck last week as she wasn’t happy with the quality of the first set and she wanted better imagery for surgery.

On review of this second MRI (and conferring with another neurosurgeon and a neuro-radiologist) she now is less confident it’s a tumour in my cord, but still a possibility. There is significant swelling in my spinal cord from C5/6 down causing all my symptoms and she is still unsure why. She doesn’t want operate on Thursday now as she doesn’t want to go into the cord and risk damage if it’s not warranted.

So the plan is to wait two weeks, have a further MRI, analyse any changes and hopefully get a clearer idea what’s happening. If it’s confirmed there is no tumour then no spinal cord surgery. If there’s still significant swelling of the cord then discuss a laminectomy (removal of part of the vertebrae) to unload the area and a spinal fusion.

So back to the start again. Wait and see.

Sounds quite similar to brother in law who has not dissimilar issues. He has been diagnosed and then referred back more than a few times. It seems his spinal chord has wrapped its way around two damaged vertebrae.

Despite the fact he can barely walk and screams out with pain at night, our wonderful social system deemed he was fit for work as he could lift his arms to chest level. Obviously they gave him no assistance with finding a job that would suit even though they stopped his benefits and so he ended up being evicted from his flat once his savings ran out. Now living back with his mum but has no financial assistance at all so she is having to fund his very basic living expenses, even though she can barely afford too.

This Country stinks.

[kiwikrasher]

Crap Duke, that sounds like a complete shite sandwich. Feel for your BIL, doesn’t seem fair at all.

[Kwacky]

You're on a bit of a rollercoaster aren't you Kiwi?

I presume it is good news if it's not a tumour?

[kiwikrasher]

You're on a bit of a rollercoaster aren't you Kiwi?

I presume it is good news if it's not a tumour?

Tumour is still up in the air. I have a bunch of canal stenosis but disproportionate amount of spinal cord swelling for what’s there. So even though the new imagery looks less like a tumour it’s still a possibility. Also investigating demyelination, which is a break down of the insulation around the nerves. The major cause for this is MS, but chemical exposure is also a cause.
I spent years inside aircraft fuel tanks being exposed to Avtur & FSII (military additive to Avtur, Fuel System Icing Inhibitor) which is a known Central Nevous System carcinogen.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-3 ... es/6583982

So just wait for the new MRI in two weeks and hope we get some solid information to work with.

[kiwikrasher]

So on the weekend I ripped up to Brisbane and saw Uncle Rog, the super dooper Physio.

He did a fully analysis on me, as you’d expect for a clumsy accident prone middle aged muppet, he found a fair bit wrong. But specifically to my current issue he confirmed I have nerve traction in my right arm. Nerves are not very stretchy, greater than 7% and you start having issues. So he’s certain I’m tugging on my spinal cord with that arm nerve and highly suspects the mass showing up in my MRI is actually scar tissue from the trauma from that. He said obviously he can’t totally discount a tumour, but said it would be highly coincidental to have one at the exact point of the stress on my spinal cord from the traction.

He did a bunch of work on me and taught me a bunch of self rehab exercises and movements. I got about 20% reduction in symptoms just over those two days. He said I’d probably still need a op for the canal stenosis but that’s a lot better option than spinal cord surgery.

He’s writing a bunch of clinical notes for the neurosurgeons review next week.

Regardless of what is going on with it all, I feeling a ton more positive about it all after the weekend and it was great to reconnect with Rog and hear some crazy stories of high profile athletes he’s treated over the years

[Kwacky]

A mate of mine was a decent 800 and 1500m runner in the 80s. He used to represent England.

His stories about events after the athletes had competed made the tales of Roman orgies sound like a teddy bears picnic. "Just imagine, you're in peak physical condition, you're young, you're surrounded by the fittest people going, you've done your event, there's nothing for you to do for a couple of weeks and you're all cooped up, together, bored"

Anyway, I'm really pleased to hear your positive news. That sounds very promising indeed.





/wonders where he's going to get a used Multistrada from for free, checks Dukes posts for possible health issues

[kiwikrasher]

/wonders where he's going to get a used Multistrada from for free, checks Dukes posts for possible health issues

Have you ridden one yet? You might not like it.. but I’d be keen to see a review from you on one.

[duke63]

Good news, KK. Let's hope this is the route back to good health.