Touching base....

[Radiogirl]

Hey friends! I haven't posted in quite some time. Last fall I had an Anterior Cervical Fusion surgery and in December I had a Total Knee Replacement Surgery. I've healed well from both, but have ended up with a constant ringing in my ears and have been pretty down about it. My RA is still fairly active, but the flares haven't been as awful as when I was first diagnosed. So I am counting my blessings in that.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in a say hello. Hope to visit with you all on a more regular basis.

[Matilda_1922]

Glad to hear from you x

[Radiogirl in reply to Matilda_1922]

(((hugs))) to you, Matilda.

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Radiogirl]

Virtual hugs to yo radiogirl we all need them at times x

[sylvi]

Glad everything went well with the surgeries for you. I had a lamentectory (can't spell this) last August and i recovered really well from that as well. I am waiting for surgery on my toes and all being well next Sunday i am having a lidocane infusion.xxxxx

[Radiogirl in reply to sylvi]

Sorry for my delay in responding. Hope you are healing up well from your toe surgery. xxx

[sylvi in reply to Radiogirl]

I haven't had my toes done yet but i have had my back done darling.xxxx

[Radiogirl in reply to sylvi]

How are you holding up? Did your back surgery go well? What exactly did you have done. I sure hope things are healing well and your pain is reducing.

[sylvi in reply to Radiogirl]

I had a lammenectory they shaved the joints so the nerves have more room to go down.xxxx

[helixhelix]

It's so good that you had a reasonable outcome, especially as it was such a scary time for you. Have the doctors offered any hope that the ringing in your ears will go eventually?

I think you were on Xelianz? If so, how are you getting on with it? It's been suggested to a couple of people on here recently and there's not a lot of people with experience of it.

[Radiogirl in reply to helixhelix]

Yes, I was so scared prior to the surgeries since they were going to be using a general anesthesia since my scare back in '98. Thank you for your kind reassurance during that time. Regarding the awful tinnitus , the doctors have been helping me wean off the Cymbalta I was taking to see if it was the culprit. I never dreamed the effects of discontinuing Cymbalta would be so horrid. Cymbalta has been noted for causing tinnitus , among other things. I'm completely off of it now but still having the "brain zaps" or what feels like blood flow whooshes in my head which is unpleasant. I still have the tinnitus, but at times it seems like it may be a little better or I may be getting more used to it. In January my rheumy increased my Sulphasalzine to 500 mg 3 x a day instead of 2 x daily. My pain management doctor wants me to wean off off it and see if the tinnitus goes away from that medication. It may take months to know for sure. I haven't restarted my Xeljanz yet. I've been off of it since Decemeber. I know if I end up not taking any Sulphasalzine and my low dose Prednisone (5mg) I would be in serious trouble pain wise within only a few days. This is all so frustrating!

On top of this, I am having new cervical pain since having my C5-6 and C6-7 fusion. Additionally. my bone scan last week showed a compression fracture of T7 and next week I am having another MRI of my lower back which gives me fits unless I am in bed or on the couch. The good news in my recent testing is that I don't have Paget's disease.

Gosh, I sure am glad I can moan, groan and complain here. If I spoke of this elsewhere, no one would get it and probably just think I am a hypochondriac. I appreciate yours and the groups support so much! You all are heaven sent. I only hope I can return the compassion and support to others here. I will try to be more regular in reading and posting.

I send you all love and hugs!

[Someonesmother]

Hey glad it all went well. I am having the neck op in March so not good news about your ears ringing. Is it tinnitus? Dd they say it will go in time or there for good? Maybe they don't know like most of this stuff

[Radiogirl in reply to Someonesmother]

Wishing you the best for your upcoming surgery. Please keep us posted! Yes, tinnitus. It's so exasperating! We're doing trial and error in stopping meds to see if they may be the culprit. It may take a good deal of time before we know for sure. Arrrgh!

[Someonesmother in reply to Radiogirl]

Oh that is frustrating. I hope that they find the culprit or it resolves itself soon. I have had it since I was a child, I guess I have gotten used to the noise I have had it so long.

Still waiting for my date, I have about given up that it will be March now which is so frustrating as my arms and hands become increasingly worse.

[Radiogirl]

Thank you, Ajay. Hope all is well for you.