Tweedle Beetle Tri-Atheletle

Hello All,

Good news and frustrating news today.  Yesterday, I was able to see a Neurologist.  He confidently believes that my initial diagnosis of Brachial Neuritis was incorrect and I am actually struggling with a Cervical Radiculopathy (Herniated Disk).  He described it to me this way... "In 25 years as a practicing Neurologist, I have seen one case of Brachial Neuritis whereas I have seen countless cases of herniated disks.  We won't know definitivly until the MRI but if it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck and walks like a duck - it is most likely a duck."

Great! Phew... we can do something about that right?

I sceduled the MRI for the first available oportunity - this morning at 7:00 AM and I was right on time.  After getting ready, I layed down on the sled and BLINDING PAIN begain coursing through my shoulder and arm... BLINDING... I honestly didn't appreciate that discriptor until today.  Blinding pain is truely Blinding.  Even thinking about it as I write this churns my stomach.  I told myself, "OK - 12 min... I can do this..."  Within 2 min I was whimpering like a baby, all the blood had left my face, bile begain to build in my throat and I was madly squeezing the little "GET ME THE F**K OUT OF HERE" ball that they give you for the truely panic stricken.  There is a reason why I am still sleeping sitting up.  Hell, laying down on a bed (down comforter and a pillow top matress) hurts me - the hard plastic sled they gave me today was worse than torture.

End result... I still don't know definitively what is wrong back there but if nothing else - this morning was a brilliantly painful reminder that something IS wrong.  I have left three messages with my doctor to evaluate other options.  As far as I am concerned, put a mask on my face and a IV in my arm because I can't do that again with any resemblance of consciousness.