Posts by Jamie Clark74

I received an email earlier tonight

Jamie Clark74
My name is Frank. I’m originally from Chicago, though I spent 36 years living in Johannesburg, South Africa. I read your post about the struggle you've been through—please know you aren't alone. I've walked a similar path myself, but let's focus on you. I have a request based on your situation with your son, Darryl. My own son fell from an eight-foot height and broke his spine. After reading about what Darryl has been going through with his intense pain, my son, Robert, is also looking into getting a pump implanted here in the States since he lives here. Please, just be honest with me—how is Darryl feeling today? If Darryl wants to connect with Robert, he can reach him via email at Robert.Breganski@tmeic or at roberbr@world.net.

Drop me a line and I’ll give you the full story regarding my son's nine years of suffering.

Frank
===================
Dear Frank, I'm responding right away since it looks like you missed this thread.

Since getting the pump, my son Darryl has been incredibly happy; he's a completely different person.

He hasn't had any issues... though he does mention how much he wishes I could help him, but I just can't because I don't tolerate any kind of narcotics.
I actually just got back from seeing my neurosurgeon... another degenerative level at S1. It's pinching the nerve, and there isn't much that can be done. Right now, my pain level is sitting between an 8 and 10 on a scale of 0 to 10.

I’d highly recommend getting a second opinion for your son, and maybe doing a trial run if that's an option. Also, keep in mind the pump needs to be replaced every 5 to 7 years, depending on the battery life.

There's also the possibility of complications with the pump itself or the catheter lines.

You can find images in the links within the articles!

Best of luck!

Jamie Clark74
🙂

Don't make a fool out of yourself or us.


Did a doctor actually recommend a prostate massage for you?

Do you even know where the prostate is located? I'll leave three links here with diagrams.

Prostate massage!

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/h...e/prosexam.gif

http://www.cancergroup.com/prostate.gif
======================
There's more info on premature ejaculation over in the lower thread.

Premature ejaculation!

👋 👋

Recovering from the flu doesn't mean you're set for two years. It really only protects you against that specific strain. This means next season—or even later in the current one—you could catch a different variant. That’s why doctors often suggest high-risk individuals get vaccinated twice: once with the early seasonal shot, and again with an updated version based on which strains actually end up circulating most during the winter.

Spot on. Thanks for clarifying that... if I had said it first, I probably would have come across as just some paranoid hypochondriac. 😁 😉

Frank Alvarez8 said:I’ve never had the flu, I’ve never been vaccinated, and I don't plan to be.

Anyone panicking should probably look into what percentage of healthcare workers actually get their flu shots—it's a tiny fraction. Guess why? 😁

There's a big difference between being a panic-monger and just being cautious.

Stephanie made some great points about why vaccination matters.
Margaret shared her perspective on what happens when you don't.
Like every year, we got our shots... and sure, we felt a little under the weather for about ten days, but nothing stops us from getting vaccinated again next year.

We actually traveled to New Zealand two weeks after our shots this year. On the plane, a few people were sneezing and coughing, basically clouding the air with germs.

By the end of the trip, three weeks later, we felt sick. We ended up needing antibiotics even though we tried to avoid them. The passengers near us were of Asian descent and likely had different bugs than what the vaccine covers, but our doctor believes we would have been in much worse shape if we hadn't been protected.

Given our age and existing health issues, things could have gone south pretty quickly without it.

Hey, what kind of issues are we talking about?

Is this just how you're built, or is it a matter of being naturally tense? I'd love to feel a bit more relaxed, even at 64. I'm as stiff as a board—even my stomach feels rock hard instead of having any natural give.😁 🙄

Hey, what kind of issues are we talking about?

Is that just how your family is built, or are you naturally just really tense? Personally, I’d love to be a bit more relaxed, even at 64. I'm as stiff as a board—even my stomach is rock hard instead of being soft.😁 🙄

Hey, what kind of issues are you dealing with?

Is it just genetics, or are you naturally built that way? I’d love to be a bit more relaxed, even at 64. I'm solid as a rock—even my stomach is hard rather than soft.😁 🙄

Truman said:I heard these things actually exist. If anyone knows the names or has some firsthand experience, I’d really appreciate it if you could share.

Oh, they definitely exist. Just head down to a local CVS and grab some; the old folks will be shouting at you from their porches before you even get home!😂

antonnio said:Where can I find local organic food around here, and how legitimate is the "organic" label actually? For those who aren't familiar, we're talking about food grown from natural seeds without pesticides or other chemicals. It's also called bio or organic.
If you've ever grown a tomato in your own backyard, you know there's no comparison to the stuff sitting on grocery store shelves. That goes for everything else, too. But at the end of the day, the most important thing is that this food doesn't contain harmful additives.
Thanks

Seriously... we've never heard of such a thing... does it really exist?

I feel healthier just reading about healthy food!😁 😉

steelsailor17 said:Ashley Watson

I’m still convinced I have two heads. 👋

Same here, though neither one seems to be working right now.😁 😉

My wife is 68 and I’ll be 64 soon. For the last 20 years, we've stayed on top of our annual flu shots, and we make sure to get our pneumonia vaccine every five years as well.
😎

Megan Reed said:Look what you did to this thread... 😲

In my opinion, people like this HealthCare guy just need one warning and then a ban. How many times has he been warned already? It's the same thing over and over. 🙂

My apologies, I couldn't help poking a little fun at the whole alternative medicine crowd. 😉

Megan Reed said:Thanks. Also, if I can bother 😳 just one more time—would I actually need that while I'm still in the "early stages"? Or is that stuff meant for more advanced cases?

For now, you don't need anything. Pain is just your body's way of telling you something isn't quite right.
You should follow whatever your specialist advises. When inflammation sets in, you'll likely need anti-inflammatories. As you get older, you might even face surgery to remove bone spurs, since things like arteritis can eventually transition into osteoarthritis. It’s basically standard degeneration. Interestingly, some people have significant bone changes but zero issues, while others deal with constant pain.
If a bone spur starts pressing on a nerve—which happens quite often—that's when things get tricky. In those cases, physical therapy or exercises won't cut it; you'd usually look at surgery, though even that isn't a guaranteed fix.

As for glucosamine, I took the prescribed dose for six months and it honestly just upset my stomach, especially since I'm already on several other medications.

Anyway, clinical trials have shown it tends to be more effective for knees than for the spine.

There are plenty of options on the natural supplement lists, but remember: the body often heals itself over time. A lot of people credit a specific vitamin for their recovery when, in reality, they might have felt better even without it.

At the end of the day, we all have the right to choose our own treatment path. The only difference is how you handle the issue... whether it's minor discomfort or musculoskeletal pain.
And a pinched nerve requires a completely different approach.

🙂 😉 😎

Walter Garcia6 said:It doesn't matter what kind of people Americans are...
I work in a hospital, and almost every day I see these arrogant, entitled snobs flaunting their expensive little trinkets...

Nobody is stopping you from becoming one of them. All it takes is willpower and persistence. Just go back to school. At 60, I enrolled at a medical university and finished two years—just enough to understand my own health issues. These days, I occasionally sit in on
classes that catch my interest, like neurology, respiratory care, or men's health... because I want to be able to speak on equal footing with doctors regarding my own conditions, which, unfortunately, I have quite a few of.

So, I’m not complaining. In fact, I can say that both the younger students and the professors have been incredibly kind to us older folks... there are plenty of people heading back to school later in life. It's always easiest to criticize from the sidelines!

🙂 😉 😎

Patrick Fowler83 said:The biggest issue is likely that Americans generally lack initiative, regardless of their profession.

Cheers,

Or maybe the real issue is that all Americans are exactly the same?😁 🙄 😉

Just a little jab!

There’s definitely some truth to "natural wellness and healing." A long time ago,
about 40 or 45 years back, whenever I had abdominal pain, I always went to see Professor Neo-Sakura... and honestly, it was a miracle, I always felt healthy and cheerful afterward. Why wouldn't you just seek treatment naturally?

Then, about 30 years ago, visiting an Anarchist clinic was all the rage... tons of needles involved. I’d come home after a session and some people would have them hanging from their ears or even poking through their socks... and then there was that naturopath... she was a bit more expensive, originally from Singapore... her treatments were fantastic; first a massage, and usually we’d finish things up together... everything was part of the bill. Plus, I even got a portion covered by my insurance.

And the chiropractors... those are the ones I remember most. Some used to twist you until you felt it even now... others would just run their fingers along your vertebrae so lightly you barely felt a thing. They probably took care of their own health to avoid pulling a muscle. Eventually, my favorite chiropractor fell off a horse and ended up seeing the same top specialist neurologist that I saw... after that, neither of us really visited chiropractors anymore.

I actually admire people who believe in Alternative Medicine. There’s something to it when I look back... but I won't dive into those specific stories right now, maybe some other time. Still, one thing before bed was always the best: the Kung Fu Panda guarantee... or just a walk on the wild side!

Long live the alternative!

Thank you very much!

Harry, Goodbye

👋 👋

Matthew Thompson6 said:Somewhere it mentions this is part of our medical field? I wrote that with the best intentions. If anyone wants to try it, go ahead. I don't think there's much to lose. There isn't a miracle cure here, but why not give it a shot if it might ease someone's pain?

I know plenty of people who would carry a potato in their pocket if you told them it would help... and it actually works for them. Usually, it works for minor injuries that would have cleared up on their own anyway, since the body heals itself over time. But for rheumatoid arthritis, or even standard osteoarthritis... it’s barely helpful.
My experience spans 36 years. I've tried just about every alternative remedy and medication out there. Honestly, very little helps, aside from anti-inflammatories
tablets—which come with their own set of issues—or steroids for rheumatic issues and joint/musculoskeletal injuries.

The market is flooded with everything from Glucosamine and chondroitin to shark cartilage. I personally used the latter for over six months without any success. That doesn't mean it won't work for someone dealing with a minor issue, as mentioned earlier.

As I said, I've tried it all: chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncture, TENS units, magnets, and I even owned an ultrasound machine.

Some conditions just don't offer much relief; sometimes you just need patience and to learn how to live with the illness.

Robin Collins5 said:boldeagle3, looks like you and I are the only ones feeling the struggle here! 😁

It seems nobody else notices the weather shifts... or maybe they've just given up on complaining about it.

Centuries ago, when people in their 40s or 60s were considered elderly, they complained about the exact same thing. Many people can sense a change in the weather without even checking the forecast, just by how their bodies react.

Now that I'm in my sixties, I feel every old injury, every broken bone, and every shift in the atmosphere.

👋 👋

Justin Ramos2 said:I don't have any health issues. 🙂

Bravo 😉 ,you're lucky!

Statistically, one in four people deals with stress, depression, panic attacks, or personality disorders.
A lot of people don't even realize they're struggling...

👋 👋