NightOwl Cat wrote:
See a brain and spine specialist. It could be possible that like me, you have a disc that is shifting and sitting on the nerve bundle.
I had woken up from a sound sleep after two hours, with pain concentrated in the middle of my left calf. Symptom of a DVT, I went to the ER. ER doc said no, it's a muscle spasm, go home. Two days later, I woke up, and my left leg was numb and tingling from midthigh down. I attempted to get a same day appointment but there weren't any, so I went back to the ER. Different ER doc, told me it was a muscle spasm, go home... I was not accepting that diagnosis, so I logged into the portal, and started looking for docs with appointments the next day, picked a doc, and picked a good one. He ran his fingers down the outside of my legs, asked if it felt even on both sides, and nope. Sent me for MRI and CAT scan, and the two discs showed what they were up to. One of them would move while I was standing still and give me a reminder. Now they're stabilized and no more pain, the numbness is just about gone.
Good luck.
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I will ask my doctor about this on Wednesday. I do have pretty bad disk degeneration, so maybe it’s reached the point where it’s pinching the nerves in my spine. I have to be fully sedated to do an MRI, so we’ll see what happens there…
kwoodard wrote:
Spent the week at Disneyland for my 14th anniversary. Was a lot of fun. Took my Z5 and 24-120/4 with me since I can’t hold the Zf anymore (even with a grip). I struggled so much that I only shot the first day for maybe two hours. My hands were done for the rest of the trip. I got home a few hours ago and while I was waiting for my wife and daughter to finish their showers, I pulled out the lightest lens for Nikon I have and my Fuji XE1 with the first 27/2.8 and it’s not size or weight (although lighter helps)… Just how my hands have to curl to operate the camera just doesn’t work right. I have a special keyboard at work that helps there, but lately I’ve been struggling typing on my phone. I have an appointment with my doctor next week to see if there is anything else to try, but my last appointment 9 months ago said that I’ve exhausted everything. Neuropathy and arthritis are battling for dominance in my hands now. In my legs, mid thigh to the tips of my toes gets worse as you go down. I fell twice in the park for no other reason than my legs said no at the wrong time. I’m 51 trapped in a 100 year old body. If anyone has any ideas, I’m all ears. Acupuncture is on my list for next month. I need some relief. I’m starting to lose my mind. ...Show more →
Sorry to hear about the continued health challenges Kevin. OTOH, glad to hear the anniversary trip was a lot of fun for you and the family; being present with loved ones is great!
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NightOwl Cat wrote:
See a brain and spine specialist. It could be possible that like me, you have a disc that is shifting and sitting on the nerve bundle.
I had woken up from a sound sleep after two hours, with pain concentrated in the middle of my left calf. Symptom of a DVT, I went to the ER. ER doc said no, it's a muscle spasm, go home. Two days later, I woke up, and my left leg was numb and tingling from midthigh down. I attempted to get a same day appointment but there weren't any, so I went back to the ER. Different ER doc, told me it was a muscle spasm, go home... I was not accepting that diagnosis, so I logged into the portal, and started looking for docs with appointments the next day, picked a doc, and picked a good one. He ran his fingers down the outside of my legs, asked if it felt even on both sides, and nope. Sent me for MRI and CAT scan, and the two discs showed what they were up to. One of them would move while I was standing still and give me a reminder. Now they're stabilized and no more pain, the numbness is just about gone.
I keep hearing more and more stories about doctors who just do the usual and customary, and not particularly pursuing answers for patients; perhaps it's insurance processes that are a part of the problem. It's increasingly evident that patients need to be their own advocates like Laura did here; such good news Laura.
It’s probably of minor benefit but give “Lies I Taught in Medical School” a read, it explores the link between metabolism and a host of diseases including diabetes. I thought low carb diets were more of a fad but I can feel better overall health since cutting back. Our bodies don’t need external carbs and the modern diet is way too full of them. Happy to discuss more if anyone is interested. Regardless I hope you find some relief Kevin!
Couple 400mm shots to move things along.
kwoodard wrote:
I will ask my doctor about this on Wednesday. I do have pretty bad disk degeneration, so maybe it’s reached the point where it’s pinching the nerves in my spine. I have to be fully sedated to do an MRI, so we’ll see what happens there…
AdaptedLenses wrote:
It’s probably of minor benefit but give “Lies I Taught in Medical School” a read, it explores the link between metabolism and a host of diseases including diabetes. I thought low carb diets were more of a fad but I can feel better overall health since cutting back. Our bodies don’t need external carbs and the modern diet is way too full of them. Happy to discuss more if anyone is interested. Regardless I hope you find some relief Kevin!
kwoodard wrote:
We have tried PT on and off for a few years now. The nerve damage is from me being diabetic and having an awful course of Covid at its peak nastiness. My heart, lungs, kidneys and nerves all took a big hit. I went from having to take diabetic meds (4 a day) to 30 different meds for everything else. Over the last two years or so, I’ve focused on my overall health and have cut down to half the number of meds. I feel like this is probably where I will stabilize. The stumbling and falling happens when I stand up after sitting for a while. Doesn’t happen often, but twice in one day was new. I use a scooter if I’m going to be out and about for a while, or I take many breaks. It really sucks. ...Show more →
Kevin, I hope you can improve. After two horrible eye treatments, and being unable to even contact the doctor - I kept my next appointment just so I could talk to her. No treatment - just talk. I shared where I thought things got off track (she is in a new practice with different protocols & group of docs) Surprisingly, she agreed with me, and got permission to revert to the protocol she had developed and treated me with for almost two years in her previous practice. I insisted on one eye at a time, and Wednesday got my left eye treated. I had none of the adverse reactions of the last two treatments in this new practice. If these guys (the other docs) were smart they could learn a great deal from her. Ray mentioned advocating for yourself, and I agree. Nobody else will do it for you. The old idiom "two heads are better than one" is the attitude I take with me to all appointments.
Visited the backyard tonight,and I am still amazed anything can grow in that hard pan soil. It use to be so soft, and loose. It had lots of moisture to, but it is definitely missing now. Barb had done a final harvest, but the tomato, and pepper plants didn't get the memo. D800 with the 85mm f1.4 ais & the tc16a
Thanks for all the support folks. I don’t have a lot of people to lean on where I live, so it’s been hard. I really appreciate all your words of encouragement and ideas…both here and in PMs.
On a lighter note, I will have a couple of cute captive models in a pair of rescues (kittens) that we pick up tomorrow. One is for me, the other is for my daughter. The kittens are siblings, a boy and a girl. They are both very adorable. Stay tuned.
kwoodard wrote:
Did you make it to the garden? Did you swing over to Monaco? I visited Eze in 1986. We didn’t realize that the Monaco Grand Prix was happening the weekend we were there, so we didn’t make it to Monaco.
Kevin, we did visit Monaco and just about everything else in between. I posted a few photos of Monaco and the Grand Prix course a while back. The Princess Grace Rose Garden I did not visit, next time.
Eze and the other hilltop town Saint Paul de Vence are very interesting plus a darn good workout. )
Jim, coming back here after a while and first thing I come across is you losing that cat. I distinctly remember when you first adopted it. Sorry to hear about that.
Its really good to see that many of the usual suspects are still posting away with Nikon glass here!
One of my go tos over many years has been the 400 5.6 ED AI-S if I have any possibility of birding. This was 2 weeks ago in Florida, at the Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands.
Black-bellied whistling duck (didn't identify it until I was looking at the photo on my computed and researching online) Black Bellied Whistling Duck by Maryland Photos, on Flickr
Green Heron that gave me a second to take this picture, then it was gone from the railing Green Heron by Maryland Photos, on Flickr
Iguana (non-native to Florida and sure look like those came from another planet!) Iguana by Maryland Photos, on Flickr
Reading up on Iguanas after a couple of encounters with this species in south Florida, it turns out they do change colour. The orange ones (as the one above) are dominant males. This one looked like it was seated at top of the tree and surveying all the swamp it ruled over.
There's a smaller (female?) iguana at the bottom left, blending into the greenery.
Speaking of Nikons, anyone here looking into the Zr? I was pinging George about it a couple days ago but he's got a substantial medium format Fuji to baby for the time being
I know its not geared toward stills, but still (haha) its a very small package and paired with a small 28 or 35mm MNFG would be quite a travel companion, you get photos to post here as well as cinema quality video!
AdaptedLenses wrote:
It’s probably of minor benefit but give “Lies I Taught in Medical School” a read, it explores the link between metabolism and a host of diseases including diabetes. I thought low carb diets were more of a fad but I can feel better overall health since cutting back. Our bodies don’t need external carbs and the modern diet is way too full of them. Happy to discuss more if anyone is interested. Regardless I hope you find some relief Kevin!
