Tom,
I've asked "why me" a lot. Even though there is no good answer, the answer my pastor gave me to that question really helped.

I was in the ER for another kidney stone attack. The stones along with degenerative disc disease and bulging and herniated discs in every level of my lumbar spine had cost me my job and prevented me from looking for another one--not good news with teenagers to feed.

I wanted to hear a comforting word from my pastor when I asked, ''Why me, Why again?" My pastor said, "Mike, I don't have any answers for that question, but when we get to heaven I'll be in line with you to hear God's answer."

I didn't understand that answer. It took me a long to time to understand that we really can't understand the "why" but we can always understand the "who". God is the "who" and no matter what happens he will take care of his children.

Two books I found might be of interest to you. Philip Yancy's Where Is God When It Hurts and a book titled Pain Perplexity and Promotion--A Prophetic Interpretation of the Book of Job by Bob Sorge.

I hope you find some relief soon.
Mike45

Footprints in the Sand is what I go by.
The pain will knock you off your feet, and it's hard to get up, try, and cry when it hurts more.
The why me will get your thinking pattern moving in a different direction once you are looking for answers that will work (not necessarily what we want).
You are not alone with that question.
I hope you are feeling better today.

Hi tom. I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad, but you are NOT a loser!!! We have a disease -- much like those who have diabetes. THEY are not losers, right? So you aren't either.

Some of us have a harder time than others with this. Most people walking on the face of the earth have some DDD, plus herniations/ bulges, and they don't even KNOW it. It's just that some of us have pain with our condition -- the discs are pushing on nerves and that causes the pain. Plus DDD is just "drying out of the discs" so that in itself doesn't cause the pain. It's what happens BECAUSE of the DDD that causes discomfort. When the discs dry out, they tend to flatten -- kind of squish down. That makes them either bulge or herniate, and causes instability in the spine.

If you're falling often, you MUST have some nerve damage or involvement in there. When is the last time you had an MRI? if it's been a year or more, you need another one, with and without contrast material. Your doc NEEDS to order one to see what's going on. You should NOT be falling down!!! Plus the longer this is allowed to go on, the higher the chances of ending up with PERMANENT nerve damage. That's where I am right now -- and nothing can be done for it.

Talk with your doctor -- you shouldn't be suffering like this. Your doc needs to be more aggressive in treating you. If he won't, then it might be time to find another doc. God bless & keep us posted on how you're doing. Hugs, Lee

I figured I would reply back to Leeall now. OK. The local neurologist that I was going to did do the EMG, nerve damage test, on my legs back in the winter. Anyhow, he did say it was good. I even did the EEG and so forth. OK. I was scheduled to see a neurologist in Savannah. Yep! He found out what all tests had been done on me and called back and said there was no need to make the trip because he could not think of another test to have done on me. I was told I should go to the Medical College of Georgia. By the way, you may have read previously that I actually had major neck surgery last year. OK. The neurosurgeon had said the surgery was a success and that my neck was all good. That one neurologist did state my neck was not 100% below where surgey took place.(even told by pain clinic doctor) Regardless neither one was too concerned and did not state the falls could be related any. I had heard the lower back problems may be contributing some. At least, my regular primary doctor was not surprised once he got to view the report from the low back MRI. OK. I have had full body, neck, lower back, and head MRI by now. We learned about the DDD and herniation a few days before Christmas. Oh, yeah! I went to the Medical College of Georgia on Friday. OK. One lady, who happened to be in training, did ask many questions and kept on repeating. (and learned about neck surgery and all) (that left legs may hurt sometimes)(numb sometimes) She finally giot the doctor. He did put the disc that was brought of the MRI's on the computer and said that the falling could be from the neck and/or the back. Yep! He did not state I needed more surgery on the neck, but he has been the only one that stated that it may have something to do with the falls. Also, he did watch my walk some, too. My walking is not always the same, but the left leg is the one that won't do right the most. He wants for me to have another nerve damage test done on my left leg. In fact, I have got an appointment by now. It feels tingly right now. Yep!

Hi Tom ~ I wish they had a better test for nerve damage than the EMG. Those are NOT reliable. You might have nerve damage and the test will show that you don't. Or you might NOT have nerve damage and the test will show that you DO. So you just cannot rely on the EMG. Alot of doctors just go by what the patient TELLS them, and what the symptoms are, in determining if there's nerve damage or not.

My last EMG said I did NOT have any nerve damage -- but i've had severe sciatica for more than 25 years, and OBVIOUSLY the sciatic nerve is DAMAGED. SHEESH.

Just like with you -- it would seem obvious to me that you have some sort of nerve involvement if you're falling. We don't just "fall" for no reason. And since you have both neck & lumbar problems, it must be from ONE of those areas since your EEG was normal.

It's just so frustrating. Plus it's DANGEROUS to keep falling all the time!!! I sure hope they can figure out what exactly is going on with you. PLEASE keep us posted on how you're doing. Take care. Hugs, Lee