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[personal profile] outsdr
Last week, when I talked to my doctor about how the surgeries on my hands had done very little to help me, and that they were seemingly getting worse, he suggested I get two MRIs, one on my neck, and one of my head. The one on my neck was to check for damage to the spinal disks that may be causing problems.

20 years ago, my mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). For the past two decades, I've watch her health slowly (and sometimes, speedily) get progressively worse, while admiring her stoic bravery in the face of the disease.

The MRI on my head was to check for signs of MS.

Since Wednesday, I've been thinking about what I would do and how I would react if I was diagnosed with MS. How would I tell my best friend, who once told me he would never be able to watch me die? How would I tell my family, and how would I be able to not tell my mother, who would some how blame herself, no matter how blameless she may be. What would I do for the next ten years to prepare myself for the following ten years when I'd be less and less able to care for myself, and how could I possibly live up to the example my mother has set with her quiet acceptance of the disease and her optimistic outlook on life?

I thought about this so much, I reached the point where not only had I accepted the forthcoming diagnosis, but came to realize that it was truly the only possible explanation.


The disk between C6 and C7 in my neck is protruding and placing pressure on my spinal cord.

The MRI of my brain was clean. I do not have MS.

Date: 2009-05-13 12:54 am (UTC)

Date: 2009-05-13 01:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] outsdr.livejournal.com
Yep, that's pretty much my reaction right there!

Date: 2009-05-13 07:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asia-sky.livejournal.com
Well Good News and Bad news.

Glad to hear your head is clear.
So what is the treatment for the protruding disk?

Date: 2009-05-13 07:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] outsdr.livejournal.com
Not completely sure until I talk to the neurosurgeon, but some quick research suggests common treatment is the surgical removal of the disk to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord, and fusing the vertebrae together using bone taken from either a rib or hip, and metal plates.

Date: 2009-05-13 07:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asia-sky.livejournal.com
Aw that sounds bad.
Shit wishing it was just something like a chiropractic thing.
Hope it works out, cause ppl I've known with fused stuff... still taking lots of pain pills cause of it.
Well here's to good thoughts and less pain.

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