Ive got Meralgia Paresetica, Maybe.::offtopic:

[Frank McGrath]

I have been having a burning sensation in my right leg for the last 15 years. I have told several doctors about it. Well, just the other day, I had a MRI that showed bulging discs at L4, L5, L6 and S1. With some degeneration in a few. So the Neurologist says I have a pinched nerve and that is the cause of the pain. I went to see an orthopedic doctor and he says the Meralgia thing. So today I go the Pain Management Doc for a shot of cortozone in my spine. How much fun that was! Right now I have sore muscles in both legs and I feel as if I have towed the space shuttle from Edwards AFB to the Cape by rope. I was able to see the needle embedded in my backside on the screen. Lucky me....I have a bone spur on one vertebrae and he has to do it again. I May have to have a few more of these injections before Thanksgiving (American Holiday in Nov for thase in other lands) So, I guess I will have to do my festing at home and will probably not be visiting any this fall. My Cardiologist says no beer. My GP says no beer. My Neurologist is an Asian immigrant that wears cowboy duds to the office. He says, no beer. My ADHD, with a heavy side order of oppositional behavior says I can have all the beer I want. My wife says listen to the docs. I say ADHD rules!!!

I know that after I have back surgery I will be all better. But,I know what I want. Fuse the verts and get back to the bars. int: If there are any doctors out there, I am sure you will agree with the docs and my wife. Thank you all for the time to rant.

Frank McGrath
Poster Child, ADHD:butt

[CDNSushi]

I am very sympathetic, Frank... But you'll never stop drinking beer if it's only because others are telling you "no." I hear you. I also love my beer and I hate anyone telling me otherwise...

But if you look back a little ways on the off-topic forum, you'll see I spent some time on the wagon. The decision to do that was not because the doctor said I shouldn't drink while on my medication. I decided to stop drinking because it would be good for MY health, and it would make ME feel better sooner.

I spent several weeks not even having a drop to drink (which even included several international flights, where they keep you lubricated with free booze all the way)... Then, even after my medication ended, I CHOSE to stay dry for a while longer. I resumed drinking not because I needed a drink, but because I wanted one -- and that's a world of difference.

All you need to do now is decide that your desire to feel better sooner is more important than your desire to have a beer now.

If you want to PM me about my time spent dry, or just to help get your mind off of "stuff" then please, by all means! :-) Otherwise, I wish you the best and a speedy recovery.

[Bigkahuna]

I suggest you take up swimming. Not only will it provide you with exercise, it will also do so while taking pressure off your back and vertebrae and improve your range of motion.

[BroosterB1]

Unlike our Kilted Canadian friend, I stopped drinking for on very simple reason; once I started I could not stop. One always meant more, so many more that it started to take on a life of it's own.

With me the drink became more important than my health, which is nuts. If I was really truthful with my self, I knew I had a problem. I just didn't want somebody else to tell me.

The point is, if you think you have a problem, then you got a problem. If you think you should stop, but can't, you got a problem. Likewise, if you think you don't have a problem and it's everybody else who has a problem with the way you drink, you got a problem.

I am so glad when people find that they don't have a problem, that they can drink because they want to and not because they need to. I am also glad when people admit they have a problem, and decide to do something about it.

There is a solution. Or at least I found one that works for me. God Bless.

[ForresterModern]

Doctor hat on.

It is more likely that you have NEURALGIA than meralgia (which does not show up in my medical dictionary), which simply means nerve pain (redundant if you ask me since nerves are what carries the sensation of pain to our brains anyway). But in your case it is likely due to the spine problems putting pressure on various nerves leaving the spinal cord and supplying your lower back and lower extremities. Since your problems seem to be due to chronic degenerative change (getting old and wearing out) they can treat specific flare ups in specific locations with steroids but the long term treatment is either spinal fusion surgery, spinal disc replacement surgery, neither of which is any kind of free lunch OR guaranteed to fix your problems, or just simply suffering with it and accomodating it and treating the flareups. Not what you wanted to hear I am sure. Surgery is a big deal with long recovery time and may still not fix your problems with chronic pain.

Regarding the beer, that is entirely another issue. If your cardiologist says "no beer" I would take him at his word. As one who suffers from a recurrent cardiac arrhythmia (heart rhythm disturbance) that can be exacerbated by too much alcohol (I drink no more than one or two alcoholic beverages on any given day, and rarely more than 2-3 per week), I would consider the risk of alcohol induced arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death, stroke, or cardiac disablement as a potential and real consequence of too much drinking. You did not say why you are being followed by a cardiologist so I can only assume why. Also, beer is a significant caloric load on the body, making maintaining or losing weigh difficult if not impossible, while also toxic to the liver in particular (a wonderful organ that has far too many important jobs to do for the body to even attemtp to mention), and increased beer drinking is also associated with diminished cardiovascular health and diminished exercise.

I love beer, mind you. But I drink the occasional one, and the occasional nip of scotch, but almost never more than one or two in any given day. I would suggest listening to your various physicians' recommendations, or admit to yourself honestly that you are taking weeks, months, years off your life and the life you share with your loved ones. Sorry to be the black cloud, but somebody needs to tell you the honest truth as from your post it does not seem to have sunk in.

[Jock Scot]

Oh Frank I do sympathise!Listen to what the doctors say get yourself well on the road to recovery and THEN think about adjusting the goal posts! I can tell you that looking at the faces of your loved ones, when they think you are not looking, is all you need to see to get you to tow the line. Their worried, pained, helpless,brave, confused, tired and loving looks are all you need to recognise, just that once, is enough to get you in the right frame of mind. Now here I am bored to tears, telling you what to do and how to do it, can't go shooting, can't go fishing, can't ride to hounds, can't walk 300 yards, but I will do all those things again one day---next year maybe.You WILL get there,easilly---- perhaps not, but you WILL get through it. Good luck.

[Galician]

Frank, all I can add to the above is saying that I know you have a wonderful wife, when I was lucky enough to meet you both last year. So, given what was already said, I hope that you can get through your understandable frustration and think of what you could lose and what losing you would mean for her.

[Frank McGrath]

Thanks for the comments and support. It must sound like I drink a lot of beer. On a heavy week, I might have two beers. 12 oz each. I enjoy what I drink and drink what I enjoy. I have had several discussions with 2 of my doctors about Guiness. I have even turned my cardiologist onto Guiness. I am by no means a lush. I have a beer with dinner and then follow up with Iced tea. unsweetened no lemon. I do most of the driving now because my wife does not like to drive. So I must keep it down, if just for her safety. Gotta go, my measly little break is over.

Thanks again for the comments.

Frank

[Friday]

Frank, now just out of the kindness of my heart if you have a problem with beer give me a call and I will come right over and drink it for you!

On the serious side take care of your self, DSWMBO and I have said a number of times that we need to get together again, now we can talk about our back problems.

Take care.

[BEEDEE]

As Frank remarked at the end of his post,

Thank you all for the time to rant

He was letting off steam and not seeking advice. For very good reasons we have the following rule and I have highlighted the applicable part:

Seeking & Submitting Professional Advice
The X Marks the Scot Kilt Forum is not a trained or licensed medical or legal facility. Nor is it staffed by persons trained in medical treatment or in matters of the law. Please do not submit posts seeking or offering advice in these matters, as this forum is not a professional environment that lends itself to this type of exchange. Posts containing these topics and/or comments will be deleted.

If you want to commiserate with his pain, that's fine, but further posts of medical advice (or quasi-medical "Let's stop drinking advice") will be subject to deletion. Use the PM system if you really must offer advice.



Brian & the Mod Squad.