POSITIVE with PARKINSONS

      Today I went to see my pain management doctor.  My PT thought I had spinal stenosis. I looked it up on the internet because I am an anal internet searcher.  I thought the symptoms I had matched that diagnosis.  I saw the PA before my doc came in/  The PA thinks I have Neural Foraminal Stenosis.            I had never heard of that before but I have been reading about it today.  It is a type of stenosis but it doesn't seem to happen in the spinal canal.  I am going to get a shot in the sacrospinal ligament in two weeks! That is exactly where my pain originates so I hope it tales away some of the major pain!         Neural foraminal stenosis  refers to compression of a spinal nerve as it leaves the spinal canal through the foramen (the opening between the vertebrae through which spinal nerve roots travel and exit to other parts of the body). Neural foraminal stenosis...

        My PT is wonderful!  She is the person who suggested that I most likely have spinal stenosis in addition to piriformis syndrome.  Her group has weekly meetings and they discuss their patients conditions(no names of course).  The 8 physical therapists she works with all think I have spinal stenosis.  Tomorrow I see my pain management doc so I will talk to her bout it.  I also have an appt in July with s neurosurgeon to also discuss m surgical options if any!       Computer artwork of a brain affected by Parkinson's in which human neurons ( green structures )   are studded with the Lewy bodies ( orange balls ) that characterize the disease.  Credit:  David Mack   Getty Images My PT told me that she and the other PTs she works with went to a convention in the city held by a top movement disorder specialist.  She told me the doc's name but I forget it!  This doc is c...

          Today Dan and I and Olivia went to a Marvel Comic Book exhibit at a museum in the city.  We had so much fun!  I actually never heard of Stan Lee until I watched the Big Bang Theory! He was quite an amazing talent. My sciatica was really bothering me so I took two Tylenol and packed my walker.  I had gone 14 days without using my walker but I had to use it yesterday and today.  My sciatica pain is just awful.  I try to forget about it and focus on other things but the pain keeps rearing its ugly head!!I tried to go without my walker but I didn't get very far.  Dan went back to the car to get it for me.    All of the costumes were so intricate and had so much detail. They were just amazing! I was never a Marvel Comic Book fan  but I just loved the exhibit! I really learned a lot about comic books.  I am so glad that I went to the exhibit. The Tylenol barely worked so I had to take a lot of sit dow...

        Yesterday I took Tylenol because I was in so much pain!  I know I am not supposed to take it because I am prone to get pancreatitis if I do but the pain was so bad that I just didn't care.  I wonder if that is how addicts feel when they need to take a drug.  When my sciatica pain hits 10+  I just need some relief.  Tylenol just takes the edge off. The Parkinson's disease is annoying but I can deal with it. Someone told me that there is a link between Parkinson's and Round Up weed killer.    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2315057/Is-worlds-popular-weed-killer-causing-Parkinsons-New-study-shows-Roundup-herbicide-linked-cancer-infertility.html   This article really shook me up because I thought that stuff was safe.  I used that every summer to kill the weeds in all of my gardens.  This summer  my gardens will be weed city! Devastating illness: MRI of Parkinson's Disease, a degenerative disorder o...

         Today I was in so much pain. I had to use my walker. I had gone 14 days without it! I thought I didn't need it any more but I DO!😩 The pain started after I did my PT exercises. I always knew that 😣there had to be a down side to exercise! I hate doing the PT but I will do anything to get rid of my sciatica!!    I had a boring day  because I was in so much pain from sciatica. I really think it has to be something more than sciatica.😖 The surgeon's office called me and scheduled an appointment at the end of July but at least I have an appointment now! Olivia keeps telling me not to have surgery, that I don't realize how painful it will be but I just can't imagine it being more painful than it is now. I don't even know if I will be a surgical candidate or not.         When I blog, I totally forget that other people are reading it! I guess that I sort of think💗 I am journaling.  My sister-in-law Pennie told me ...

         I started my day with in-home PT.  I was in pain before the PT and in more pain after the PT.  I think I definitely have spinal stenosis!! I have an appointment  with my pain management doctor on Tue  and I am going  to discuss it with her. Then  I had a chiropractor appointment and was in even more pain. I had to take Tylenol just to function.  Then I went to pick up my Paneras order that I ordered online the night before. Apparently I ordered it for tomorrow instead of for today so I had to wait while they made it.         My PT thinks I should go back to using my walker.  She thinks it will take some of the stress off of my back and off of my hips. I want to stay walker free for as long as I can(14 days so far).  My chiropractor walked me out to my car because he thought I was going to fall.  Today was a bad day for pain and for Parkinson's.  There is no rhyme or reason for ...

         Today I went to Silver Sneakers Chair Yoga!  I thought it meant we would be sitting in chairs doing yoga.  It just meant that there was a chair next to each person for balance if needed!! We sat on the chairs for the last five minutes to cool down! I liked the class but I was NOT very good at it. I do think I will go again next week!  The stretching made my leg feel better.........after it ached for an hour or so!  After yoga I wen home and cleaned.  I had a lot of energy and cleaned my kitchen and appliances. My balance was really off yesterday and today! I guess that is just part of Parkinson's. Dan came home early and went with me to pick up Olivia from Cosmetology school.  Then we went to Acme and got items for dinner! I have difficulty carrying heavy bags now so I like to have Dan with me when I food shop.       Yesterday I picked up Olivia from Cosmetology school.  Dan was working so he co...

        I had my primary care doctor fax my medical records to the neurosurgeon.  Now I have to wait to see if he will consider me for a patient!  I hope they schedule me in the next few months.  The more I read about spinal stenosis, the more I am convinced that I have it. I have all of the symptoms In the lower back (lumbar spine) Numbness or tingling in a foot or leg Weakness in a foot or leg Pain or cramping in one or both legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you walk, which usually eases when you bend forward or sit Back pain         This morning I went to Drumming Class. Everyone in the class is so nice!! My left leg was killing me from what I thought is sciatica. Now I think is spinal stenosis.  I am sure that doctors hate internet searches but I am the type of person who needs to know!  I enjoyed the drumming class.  The woman next to me was someone I sort of remembered from the swim ...

     Today Dan took off half a day because Olivia was off from school and we wanted to do something fun! We were planing to go to a museum to see a superhero exhibit.  Olivia didn't feel well so we just went to a park and chatted and enjoyed the beautiful day and fresh air!       My PT thinks I might have spinal stenosis. I have been  reading about it all day long.  I have had sciatica for over a year. I have tried everything. I have had 5 injections in my back, a cortisone shot in my hip, and 5 steroid shots near my piriformis muscle. I am still in pain. If I don't take two Tylenol every few hours, I just can't function.  I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!! I went to PT last summer for 30 sessions, I am doing in-home PT now, and I go to a chiropractor  a few times weekly. I just want the pain to stop. I can deal with the Parkinson's if I can get rid of or decrease  the sciatica pain. My pain management doctor had g...

  Sandy, our Granddog! We had Noah take the photo below about  20 times, we kept trying to find a photo where we didn't look as fat!! We finally had to settle on a fat photo that only showed us from the chest up! Then we all started joking around about inventing a camera that takes off twenty pounds!! Adam said we could call it fatchat instead of snapchat.  Kathy said we should call it fatless photo! Could you imagine?? We'd be so rich!!!!!!         Dan and I went to the cemetery to visit Amy after Easter brunch at Renee and Adam's country club! .  I cut down a small branch of the white flowering tree next to her grave and added it to the vases at home. Other people might think that is strange but bereaved parents want to include their deceased children any way they can.  I lit three candles on the table with her photo on them.The stupid deer ate all of the flowers off of the plants we left at Amy's grave.  We brought...