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I make my own very basic salad dressing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Apple Cider Vinegar. I find that many of the spices/herbs can be easily disguised in this mix. If not, alone they are very tasty. Both the olive oil & vinegar are very healthy foods & don't contain the many additives found in most bottled dressings. Vinegar has many beneficial properties & of course, most of us by now are aware of the medicinal benefits of olive oil.
Good luck,
georgiaView Thread

Atlhough I, too, suffer from pretty severe pain, I have chosen a non-narcotic plan. I take only aspirin. I do take many supplements which have been known to ease pain including vitamin D, calcium, magnesium & 5-HTP. I also inlude many herbs & spices in my healthy diet including ginger, cayenne, & turmeric; all known to ease pain & inflammation.
I've always heard that constipation is a side effect of many pain killers & wondered if a very high fiber diet might help counter act this. In addition to lots of fruits & vegetables, ground flax seed is a wonderful form of fiber. Would eating such a high fiber diet help with drug-related constipation?
georgiaView Thread

Before engaging in any exercise, please check with your doctor to be sure it is safe for you.
I have found swimming, water walking & general aerobics performed in a warm pool to be very therapeutic for my lower back issues. I have moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis along with spinal stenosis & although I remain in pain most of the time, the pool exercises help with mobility & flexibility.
Every doctor & physical therapist I have seen over the years has highly recommended this form of therapy. It helps me function better.
Please let us know how you make out with the doctor.
Best wishes for greater comfort with less pain,
georgiaView Thread

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved Otis. Over the years I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with a few Boxers & they were all sweethearts.
Our pets are members of the family & losing them can be devastating. May you always cherish the many memories of Otis.
Best regards,
georgiaView Thread

Ergonomics stress a neutral position while working on the computer. About five years ago, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia & it all began with severe neck pain, which can be directly attributed to long hours on the computer at a very un-ergonomic workstation.
If you are unsure of how your work station should be set up, there is much information online on this subject.
After my diagnosis I received physical therapy where I was told to get up from my work desk about every 20 minutes & move around. My PT also showed me some neck exercises to perform. Although I am no longer working, I continue to perform these exercises.
Like many with Fibro, I suffer from osteoarthritis as well & this, too, was aggravated by the poor posture & poor ergonomics at the work station.
I am not a doctor however, I disagree with yours as I've heard of many who suffer from long hours at the computer. If you must be in this position, be sure that it's a neutral one &, again, get up periodically & move around. My PT even suggested setting a timer to ensure that I do this.
The degenerative conditions you suffer from may be genetic however, symptoms as you describe can very well be exacerbated by poor posture as a consequence of poor ergonomics.
Please research proper ergonomics along with various exercises to perform while spending long hours at the computer.
Best wishes,
georgiaView Thread

I am sorry to hear of the decline in your wife's health but pleased to know that she will soon be able to focus more on managing her condition by being home. If her attitude is anything like yours, she'll do fine.
I wish her luck with her disability claim. I was one of the "lucky" ones in that I was awarded SSDI upon my initial application without an attorney.
Please keep us posted on the RFA matter.
Best wishes to you both,
georgiaView Thread

According to your last post on the subject of RFA, your wife should have undergone her RFA treatments by now. Is it too soon to comment on the results?
Thank you,
georgiaView Thread

Thank you for sharing your experience. The doctor who conducted the lecture I attended led us to believe that just about any procedure could be performed using this technique.
Was your doctor able to accomplish anything using this technique or did he just stop when it was realized that your issue was more than could be handled at the time? Did you then go along with a more conventional form of surgery to correct your issues?
georgiaView Thread

As always, thank you for replying.
According to the surgeon who conducted the lecture, just about any back surgery can be done using the "minimally invasive" technique. It sounds very similar to the laparoscopic surgeries in that an x-raying machine is used in conjunction with the procedure.
The difference from the old-style (name escapes me) surgery versus the minimally invasive surgery is the learning curve involved with the new technology. The old school surgeons & those teaching the young residents really don't want to have to learn a whole new method of doing things.
With medical technology continuously advancing, we can only hope that some day spine problems won't be so problematic & perhaps might then be more easily addressed as musculoskeletal issues are in other areas of the body.
Take care,
georgiaView Thread

that would be "from a cosmetic perspective...."
I should have proofread before hitting the submit button.
georgiaView Thread
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