A questions ...or two!?!

[bethann]

Hi,

Well I have a couple of questions just wondering if I can get some answers from the experts (all of you!).

I had PT the other day (I have been going since a few months before my first surgery so ....a long time now) When I go I always have a deep tissue massage....those of you that have had these know it is no great hour at the spa! My mussels are always so tight. I go every other week, each time I go David (My PT) always comments on how tight my mussels are. When I leave I can always reach my arm up higher than when I came in and by breathing feels better (when my mussels are so tight it feels like it is hard to breath or should I say it hurts to take a deep breath)

I have been having tingling in my right hand lately....granted when this all started it was thought i had Carpel Tunnle... (so maybe I do). I mentioned this (the numbness)to Dave and Dr Grownie (the pain Dr who just gave me my pain injection...mentioned on another post). I had told them when I ride my new bike I find my hand going numb and tingly (now the bike is different form others where I am not putting weight on my hands they are more at my side). They both think this could be meaning something is being pinched. Dr Grownie said if it continues he may send me for another MRI.... I just had my MRI's not to long ago... Do you think this is what it is or maybe I do have carpel tunnel like I was told a few years ago...but that all got better after my surgery~

Then the other thing is my balance... I have noticed this before but thought it may be because of my weight and the surgery.... I have lost almost 30 pounds so I no longer think it is a weight issue.... I do not have any walking problems... just my legs get tired quicker and my reflexes are exagurated...so this is the issue. When I am going up stairs there is no problem but going down well I almost feel nervous... my balance feels off. I have to hang on to something to balance or lean against the wall. This became very obvious to me the other day when we were in bleachers at my daughters graduation. I had to hang on to my husband to get down and I had a hard time (they went down an area where there were no stairs so we were climbing over seats....well they were leaping I on the other hand felt foolish almost sitting on each row to get down! My PT said this was due to the center of the spinal cord having the syrinx or the surgery (He could not remember the name of it). Dr Grownie felt it had something to do with my neck and having to look down when going down stairs..... What do you all think? Does anyone else have this and why??

Sorry for the long post hope someone can stand to read all of this and give me some idea....

Thanks,
Beth

[Joel]

Well Beth, anything we say is just conjecture--there is certainly nothing wrong with another MRI, besides a little time and money right? But--my balance is bad, my tingling is bad, and all of it is slowly getting worse, and sometimes the problems come and go too. So, it may be nothing, or it may be something--best to be on the safe side.
Joel

[cindylee]

Hi Beth. I have that stair balance thing also. Somethimes I think my left leg/knee will just give out. I also have to hang onto something when going downstairs. Some days it's not so bad, others it is. And if I am tired, forget it. I have a hard time walking straight. My legs are always tired. Walking does keep them going, but they are always fatigued. And my ankles are totally shot. I can be walking along, step wrong, and whoopsie, there goes a twisted ankle. so I have to be careful when I walk. And my back muscles are always tight. Sometimes I think it's just from tensing up and trying to concentrate on just getting from one place to another without looking goofy. I have never had a massage. Yet. Don't really know if one would help.

I think another MRI to rule out any problems is a wise thing. You have a good doctor to double-check things. Just remember, the more you know about your body, the more equipped you are to adjust, adapt and heal. Take care Beth, Cindy