I am a disabled Army Veteran who was injured in the Army back in 2001. I was active duty performing a training mission when I fractured six vertebra in my spine. 2 cervical, 2 thoracic, & 2 lumber spinal compression fractures. Not to be confused with slipped discs or bulging discs. In my case the bone itself was broken. This left me with some paralysis of my left side and lots of nerve damage throughout body making life painful but manageable.
In this incident I also received a severe brain injury called a TBI. This left me with constant non-stop headaches and severe migraines that have me in and out of the emergency room regularly (twice this month alone).
I have to do physical therapy for life at regular intervals in order to keep a functional active life. I also need to stay as active as possible. The more active I am (with in reason) the less pain I have which is why I hike so much.
I have had all kinds of CT scans and MRI's. In fact I just had one MRI last week and will be getting two more MRI's on the 29th. I also will be getting another CT scan which will be my 2nd this year. Not to mention several X-Rays of various parts of my body to. And in February I am getting an ocular scan to check my optic nerve and some other things that might be causing issues.
I have also since developed some pretty bad tremors that mostly affect my right side. The Veteran Affairs Hospital is currently trying to diagnose these tremors and have arranged for me to get a DaTscan. I have never heard of this type of scan before and thought I needed to research it. Hence this article.
I don't know what exactly to hope for with this new scan. On one hand I want it to define what is going on in my brain but on the other hand I am hoping it doesn't find anything at all. I guess we will find out soon enough.
As of current I am not dying so that is always a PLUS right :) and no matter what happens or what these new battle of tests reveal it wont change my plans for the next few years if I have any say. My hiking & biking adventures WILL continue no matter what I have to do. All kinds of special equipment out there I can utilize to make it happen :)
I am assuming most people have heard of MRI's and CT scans before and have a good idea what those are.
So what is a DaTscan?
This link explains in detail what a DaTscan is: http://us.datscan.com
The following questions and answers found on google search here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=dat+scan&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-ab
What is a DaT scan test?
In 2011, the FDA approved a diagnostic test for Parkinson's disease. The DaTscan (Ioflupane I 123 injection, also known as phenyltropane) is a radiopharmaceutical agent which is injected into a patient's veins in a procedure referred to as SPECT imaging.
How long does a DaT scan take to do?
The DaTscan once started takes approximately 30-45 minutes. However, following injection of the DaT agent approximately 3-6 hours are required before the agent has achieved appropriate concentration in the brain.
How does a DaTscan work?
It contains a substance called ioflupane, which is labelled with 123I (iodine-123), a radioactive form of the chemical element iodine. ... When DaTSCAN is injected, ioflupane (123I) is distributed through the body in the blood and accumulates in the striatum, where it attaches to the structures that transport dopamine.
What we are checking for:
What is an essential tremor?
Essential Tremor is a nerve disorder characterized by uncontrollable shaking, or "tremors," in different parts and on different sides of the body. Areas affected often include the hands, arms, head, larynx (voice box), tongue, and chin. ... It is only when the tremors become severe that they actually cause disability.
Is Essential Tremor dangerous?
Essential tremor is a nervous system (neurological) disorder that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking. ... It's usually not a dangerous condition, but essential tremor typically worsens over time and can be severe in some people.
What is Wilson disease?
Wilson disease is a genetic disease that prevents the body from removing extra copper. The body needs a small amount of copper from food to stay healthy; however, too much copper is poisonous. Normally, the liver filters extra copper and releases it into bile. Bile is a fluid made by the liver that carries toxins and wastes out of the body through the gastrointestinal tract. In Wilson disease, the liver does not filter copper correctly and copper builds up in the liver, brain, eyes, and other organs. Over time, high copper levels can cause life-threatening organ damage.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/wilson-disease
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease affects the way you move. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain.
Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. It lets your muscles move smoothly and do what you want them to do. When you have Parkinson's, these nerve cells break down. Then you no longer have enough dopamine, and you have trouble moving the way you want to.
Parkinson's is progressive, which means it gets worse over time. But usually this happens slowly, over many years. And there are good treatments that can help you live a full life.
https://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/tc/parkinsons-disease-topic-overview#1
Those are the three things they are testing for and trying to rule out.
And now you know more about the day in the life of FixedByDoc :)
A more natural solution is using Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus), I have seen fantastic results from folks taking it for Nerve damage, spinal cord/sheath damage, MS, tremors/familial tremors, parkinson's, dementia and I know that is just the tip of the ice berg.
im not taking anything yet. this isn't a solution, it is testing. solutions come after testing. we first need to do imaging etc... to find out what is actually going on.
Lions mane is awesome for its healing abilities! @fixedbydoc there is a lot you can do with Whole Foods and herbs to help your body heal itself.
thanks for the advice.
My daughter suffers from service related injuries, lots of nerve damage. I don't lecture her on diet and I don't give diet advice because sick people are sick and tired of advice. I also suffer from fibromyalgia which really screws with my cognitive abilities and immune system and found pain relief changing my diet and learning to accept and work with my disabilities. My Dad was an Air Force Captain, thank you for your service @fixedbydoc.
im a certified health education spc. with a focus on health, fitness, and nutrition. you might like some of my health blogs ive posted. thank you for your families service as well...
Thank you @fixedbydoc, I will check out your blogs, I am glad to know you. My husband and I walk four miles a day and it's time for our walk right now. I found walking really helps with my balance issues and muscle pain.
i go on long extended hikes. my last one lasted 5.5 months. i hiked the entire Appalachian trail 2200 miles. planning a 4038 mile bike ride for next summer from san francisco to washington dc.
(you hear an engine rev and horn honk)
MEEP! MEEP!
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"Hello! I'm @shadow3scalpel and with the help of my protege, @chairborne, we are actively assisting veterans, retirees and active servicemen and women here on Steemit. We feel it is our 'duty' to support each other. Any questions or comments you may have, simply respond to this comment, thank you!"
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Comment by @killerwhale. This is a opt-in bot.
thanks...
I hope they find out what's happening and can hopefully fix it. I'm always shocked how young everyone is when they are in the service.
thanks. i originally joined in 1995 when i was 19. re-enlisted in 2000 at 20 something. got out march 17th 2003.
All the best to you for a good long life and I could not leave without noting the last pic in your class A, with the three Navy white hats...Hooah! Merry Christmas (from a squid)
the man on my immediate left is my dad and the other two are in his chain of command. they came to my basic graduation to flaunt thinking it would help me lol...
I had a feeling might be family... well it's a nice memory. Go NAVY!
:) thanks for your service...
This has been on my mind so here goes..23:40 H Ryan, my name is Jim. I wanted not to pry in matters with regard to that account DIYW, Its not (none of) my business to ask and or to spoil any post and reply threads with anything not about the subject you intended. But I thought it would fit here now many days later.
I came across the latest back and forth by chance today. I have never commented on that account's YT channel and since I have been here, I made one comment weeks back and none since. I wanted to simply and sincerely say this to you...
I think you quite genuine and what prompted this reply was this fellow in Hawaii and how you handled that. You have your reasons, and you seem to me no wacky zealot, but someone who fights. the good fight for just reasons and these are your own in addition to what you have published. Heck the son of a Navy man...and a Class A Army Vet.
Godspeed and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
thank you for the kind words.
WOW! I knew you were a veteran but had no idea what you had been through in your life and time served.
My oldest daughter suffered a grade 4 concussion her junior year of high school during a basketball game ( a fluke incident and she whacked her head on the wooden BB court floor). She was unconscious, had to be intubated, was having seizures and was in a drug-induced coma for almost a week (to keep brain swelling down). She spent a week in the NICU at a trauma facility. That was back in 2005, and she still suffers from short term memory loss, migraine induced head issues and has to see a neurologist yearly for updated MRI scans.
So much more to it but in a nutshell that's her life.
I wish all the health, happiness and success in your continuing homesteading life.
And thank you for your service
thanks... hope she is doing well often. tbi's sucks. i also have trouble with short term memory.
Thank you for serving our country!
thanks...
Sorry to hear about your problems. I hope they can find an answer soon. Not knowing is the worst. When you have definite answers then you can move on. I wish you every success in homesteading. Upvoted, following and resteemed.
thank you very much :)
Really hope they can find some solutions. It's good your keeping active though, this will have a massive benefit to you. Sending you Reiki vibes :)
thanks for the reiki vibes :)
Your welcome!
:)
I hope this test will help in your diagnosis. I admire your fortitude and positive attitude about staying active. It can’t be easy. God Bless and thank you for your service.
thanks. i will do an update after all the exams are done and they inform me.
Feel better Ryan. Best to you and Addie!
thanks...
Glad for an update. Be well !
thanks :)
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