I mean, it’s pretty subjective, right? I can feel it when I press my tongue against the area where the stitches were, and even if I squeeze it between two fingers... but honestly, you can't see a thing. At least, not visually.
On top of that, my lip was split wide open—like, totally split (which basically earned me a lovely little welcome kiss from the preschool teachers at drop-off!). And the stitching felt "cold"... mostly because those silly daycare workers didn't call the doctors immediately; they just waited until the specialists arrived at 3:00 for me. My doctor practically grabbed his head when he saw the damage and started talking about needing plastic surgery. But hey, everything turned out fine in the end. Microsoft, it was all over 22 or 23 years ago, so I bet they have all these fancy new techniques and sutures now that make the results much better...
Even after more than 20 years, I can still feel exactly where the break happened. There’s this little thickening under my tongue on the inside, but thankfully—nothing shows on the surface.
I don't have anything on hand, so you might want to try a quick Google search or just hang tight until May when the Medical Tech Expo rolls around. They'll have booths set up there, along with plenty of other vendors selling the exact same stuff...
I’m just saying, look at the price tag on a machine like that. It’s a high-end, professional-grade piece of equipment, not something you'd just pick up for home use. Honestly, you won't even find anything like this designed for residential use...
Check out Medtronic, Casey Palmer5... Grab a catalog from a major medical supply expo and start calling around to different distributors for physical therapy and cosmetology equipment. It’ll probably run you a few thousand dollars.
The first time I tried it, I had a seafood salad at a restaurant. Then, the second time, we picked up some clams at the market and made them buzara style right at home.
I just remember being so relieved that I’d actually scrubbed the bathroom the day before... I kept leaning my head against the seat during breaks 😁 The first time I got food poisoning was right before an entrance exam, and the second time was on New Year's Eve—thank God it wasn't the day after 😁
I’ve actually been poisoned by mussels twice myself. Ever since then, I can't even look at them without feeling sick—just the smell alone makes my stomach turn. It was such a terrifying experience; I felt like I was going to lose my soul, and I ended up throwing up this pitch-black stuff...
Maria Gomez6 said:Could things get significantly worse and mess with my chances of a successful surgery if I decide to try physical therapy first?
Honestly, as long as you’re working with a professional who actually knows their stuff, physical therapy can only help. Just keep in mind that you really need a personalized plan designed just for you, not some generic group workout class at the local gym.
I’m a little confused by what that neurologist meant about your muscle being "destroyed"... In what way exactly was it destroyed?...
Maria Gomez6 said:Has anyone actually been to the Cybex center in Chicago? Or maybe seen Dr. Miller over on Michigan Avenue?
Honestly, Cybex is a really solid choice. As for chiropractors... I wouldn't touch them for my neck issues if you paid me. They might help for a second, but they can also mess you up so badly you won't even know what hit you...
granitehawk15 said:Just search online for "Core Stability" or "core stabilization training," then look up things like "Back extension with stability ball" or "Ball crunches" for your abs. If you dig around a little, you'll find tons of these exercises—stuff like the Ball Superman, Ball Hamstring Curl, Ball Russian Twist, Prone Iso-Ab Series, Ball Pullover, or even the Ball Arm/Opp. Leg Raise. They're all incredibly effective workouts, and you don't even need a gym membership since an exercise ball is pretty cheap. The whole idea is that the ball supports your back while its instability forces you to work harder, making everything much more efficient. Some of these can even be done without the ball, just using the floor...👍
What you're describing is what we call dynamic stabilization programs here in the States. Honestly, it’s probably the best thing out there for lower back pain right now. Besides the stability ball, people often use those small rubber balance pads for their hands and feet—they're super unstable! But that's exactly the point. Because you have to fight to keep your balance, you end up engaging those tiny stabilizer muscles along the spine, which is absolutely crucial for fixing lower back issues...
granitehawk15 said:I even tried physical therapy, but honestly, it was a total waste of time. The exercises they have you doing there feel more like something meant for ninety-year-olds.
I’m not sure where you went or what kind of rehab program you were in, but we use stability balls and exercises here that aren't even easy for twenty-year-olds... if I gave those to a ninety-year-old, they probably wouldn't make it through the session! 😁
skockica said:Just believe in yourself! Go see a chiropractor, ask them to recommend some exercises, and then just work, work, work... And don't go blaming the chiropractor if things don't pan out, because at the end of the day, you're the one in the driver's seat of your own destiny!!!
Actually, chiropractors aren't trained or licensed to provide kinesitherapy—basically, physical therapy through specific exercises.
In this situation, just jumping straight into physical activity might be a bit too late to fix things on its own; you really need to build up the underlying muscle strength first to create the right foundation for exercising properly.
So, you didn't find much relief from therapy over at Mayo Clinic... honestly, I can't say I'm surprised. When they use that whole "assembly line" approach to treatment, it's a miracle anyone actually gets better at all.
It’s hard to give medical advice off the top of my head, but I’m guessing the muscles along your spine are incredibly tight. You probably need to focus on relaxing that tension—just bringing the muscle tone down a bit—before you even attempt any specific exercises.
What symptoms are you dealing with—is there anything else besides the tingling and pain? Also, what do you do for work, and do you stay physically active at all?
You can certainly take supplements like these as a preventative measure, but there’s just no real proof they actually fix damaged cartilage. Honestly, half the time it feels like throwing money down the drain. I see physical therapists prescribing them all the time to seniors, who end up spending their last few dollars at the drugstore only to find out it doesn't do a thing...