Birdie's got such severe stenosis that her spinal cord is narrowed down to about half its normal girth through C5 - 7. And the leg cramps get her, too. (She's my wife.) They started at night, with cramping for no apparent reason, and now she gets them during the day, too. She had one neurologist tell her it was nothing. And she had one neurosurgeon who didn't look long enough at her MRIs or reports to see what was really going on and told her she was in the early stages of ALS, a fatal motor neuron disease. This to a woman who's one of the brightest first-year med students in her class--and who's married to me, a physician. Just because people work in medicine themselves doesn't mean they get excellent care, we've found out.

She's been through the wringer, and while I know she dreads the surgery, I know she's going to feel better. She'll be glad to read your thread.
Dave Byrd Reviewed by Dave Byrd on . Chronic pain....embarrasement? WTF? I just wanted to ask anybody else in chronic pain, or anybody with some knowledge on the psychology of the matter, if they experience or know of this. I know it's not really logical, but I'm finding lately in social situations that I feel really embarrased when I have to admit I'm in a lot of pain. I'll just be sitting with my friends hanging out, smoking a joint, whatever. Sometimes we have some people with us that are more aquaintances and that makes it even more akward. And suddenly I'm Rating: 5