Harry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Harry London) (02/27/91)
Index Number: 13694
FW> I missed the first message but almost always the doctors never want
FW> to
FW> commit themselves.
It's funny if that's the right word: While doctors don't like to commit
themselves, what they are really thinking comes out incidentally and
probably without their realizing it. Example: "Vasculitis" was always on
the list of possibilities, along with tumor, stroke, arterial/venous
malformation, etc. But just yesterday in passing, the doctor said a
particular symptom was probably due to a vasculitis. So I suspect he
really is much closer to the truth of it than he lets on. Is it something
they learn at med school? Or on doctors' bulletin boards? Anyway, thanks
for your posts to all and sundry--they are very helpful in many ways.
Harry
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Harry.London
Internet: Harry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.orgHarry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Harry London) (02/27/91)
Index Number: 13694
Harry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Harry London) (02/28/91)
Index Number: 13701
JB> have received by the persons with MS that I know.
JB> Also as MS can be set off by a traumatic experience, it does seem to
JB> be it, as I did experience such an occurence in 1982 when my wife
JB> needed surgery, and one month later my son was in a car accident, and
JB> sustained a major head injury.
Hello, Jean-Pierre...
...interesting that you mention a non-related traumatic experice as a
possible trigger for MS. I know that in my case 1987 started with my
brother's being hit by a pick up truck, and my visiting him in the
hospital every day, and then watching him get in to the nujrsing home
process, and decline and decline and decline. Then in mid 1987 diagnosis
of coronary artery disease treated by a successful angioplasty. The right
leg began dragging in late 87, without a diagnosis, unti early 1989 when
mri showed a marked widening of thel spinal cord at T-10. My wife and I
were both attuned to the impact of other events on health, and often
wondered whether the early stresses set off what has basically been
labeled as an inflammatory process in the spinal cord, not tumor, not
sarcoid, not cyst. Except for the difference in terminology I am as
frustrated about my lack of pinpointed diagnosis as you are, and I can
well understand how you feel. Keep the faith.
Best,
Harry
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Harry.London
Internet: Harry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.orgHarry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Harry London) (02/28/91)
Index Number: 13703
I like what somebody once said: Neurologists know a lot but can't do
much. Neurosurgeons don't know as much but they can do a lot. I found
that to be true. If I had it to do over again I would not have undergone
surgery even though three neurosurgeouns agreed it was a must before any
treatment for any of the suspected problems could be given. At the time
the risks of surgery and non-surgery were already equal. Even knowing
that I don't think I would have submitted. Not to say that I don't have
confidence in the doctors; just that I have to place more confidence in
my own instincts. Say no to surgery might be a good slogan, except as a
last resort, if then. I haven't overloaded you on this, have I?
Regards,
Harry
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Harry.London
Internet: Harry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.orgFrank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Frank Whitney) (02/28/91)
Index Number: 13708 >Also as MS can be set off by a traumatic experience, it does seem to be it, >as I did experience such an occurence in 1982 when my wife needed surgery, >and one month later my son was in a car accident, and sustained a major head >injury. There are generally five factors that are considered necessary to bring on MS according to several of the books that my wife has given me to read. I know that generally its also when you live in the more northern regions of the earth but generally a traumatic event is listed as one of the five. I can't remember all of the other required things but stress is definitely listed. >The process of making a diagnosis with neuro-muscular disease, is a process >of illimination. I guess they have not ruled out several diseases. >cheers, J.P. Have them give you an magnetic resonance imagining better known as the MRI that is generally considered now to be pretty much of a definitive test. Frank. -- Via Opus Msg Kit v1.11 -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Frank.Whitney Internet: Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org
Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Frank Whitney) (02/28/91)
Index Number: 13709
One of my old girlfriends has a problem with her back but her doctor
advised her not to have anything done until she was to such a point
that she was no longer able to walk. He said that if they went in and
operated on her now she would 1 stay the same, 2 get worse or 3 maybe
get better. Needless to say she hasn't had surgery yet. The only time
that I think that surgery is required immediately is if a bone in the
neck or back could move causing the cord to be cut or damaged. No,
you didn't overload me with this message.
Frank.
-- Via Opus Msg Kit v1.11
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Frank.Whitney
Internet: Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.orgHarry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Harry London) (02/28/91)
Index Number: 13710
FW> that I think that surgery is required immediately is if a bone in the
FW>
FW> neck or back could move causing the cord to be cut or damaged. No,
For the record if anybody keeps one: My problem was already in the spinal
cord, not something impinging on it. I would have been leery of surgery
for the latter. But the right leg had already come to a halt, and so had
some underneath functions, which is what propmpted surgeon to use the
same risk with as without surgery. Bottom line is: Nothing works down
below after surgery. Nothing would have worked down below without
surgery. But at least they were able to rule out tumor, a risk nobody
wanted to take. Thanks.
Harry
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Harry.London
Internet: Harry.London@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.orgFrank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Frank Whitney) (02/28/91)
Index Number: 13717 >Can you list the titles/authors of some of these? I'd like to see if >the local library has them. > >Re the MRI and MS - I realize that the MRI seems to be considered >'definitive' as an indicator of MS if it shows the necessary things, but >is absence of MS-indication also considered 'definitive?' I've had a >set of symptoms that are very MS-like for the past 3 or 4 years, but the >MRI I just had didn't 'show anything,' and I'm trying to figure out >whether this is meaningful. She got a lot of her information out of technical journals but this is what she considers to be the best book. Multiple Sclerosis A Guide for Patients and Their Families edited by Labe C. Scheinberg, M.D. this book she feels gives the most realistic picture. It's written to be easily understood by the lay person so that they have a better understanding of what to expect, ask their doctor and have an idea of when their doctor is trying to slide by and skirt the issues. Apparently the MRI is not always the definitive indicator of MS but I know that it is used many times to help in the diagnosis of the disease. I hope that this information was of some help to you. I doubt if your library would have this book but you might be able to get it through inter library loan or have a local book store order it since it's a paperback it probably wouldn't be that much. Frank. -- Via Opus Msg Kit v1.11 -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Frank.Whitney Internet: Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org
StEpHeN.wHiTe@p1.f853.n681.z3.fidonet.org (StEpHeN wHiTe) (03/20/91)
Index Number: 14075
JB> the doctors were not specific in saying it is MS, but I did
JB> see several neurologists. My own neurologist does not do
GB> His words have prevented a lot of flare-up brought on by
GB> neurologist-generated stress.
You people amaze me! How do you put up with all this abuse from the doctors?
I would have throttled the doctor or stated not-so-succiently what a bloody awful job that I thought they were doing. At high volume.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!3!681!853.1!StEpHeN.wHiTe
Internet: StEpHeN.wHiTe@p1.f853.n681.z3.fidonet.org