Good News!!!!

AnnLouise said:

Fingers are crossed in Chicago.....

great news......hoping for the best results for your pet scan!

i have a ct scan on the 28th......so we can both wait for our results! ~ Ann

You added some positivity to all of us! So Happy to hear that !!!

Great news about the x rays pray the pet scan is great.  No or little pain is greatly appreciated.  Jeff

Sending you positive thoughts!!!

Judy

That is great news Joe. You deserve some good news. I hope things keep moving in a positive direction for you.

I know a thing or two about radiation...having it done it on two areas of the body...55x total.

First time was in both hips / up the small of the back / and up the tailpipe....25x each area.

Radiation damage is a little bit different than arthritis...

What I got behind Door #2 was a case of Avascular Necrosis in both hips. ...What that is is lack of blood flow to the joint, which results in joint death over time....a lack of sufficient blood to replenish the joint is what the end result is from the damage encurred.

What are the leading causes for this condition you say?

Not surprisingly, Radiation is one of the major culprits.....followed closely by chemotherapy...

This is a serious condition if it finds you...powders and potions do not alleviate the pain for avascular necrosis....neither do analgesics or pain killers...it's permanent...a gift that has kept on giving for almost 9-years now.

And Joe, I would add that the effects now are worse...and I'm almost 9-years out....when I was in treatment, it was steadily deteriorating....when I got out of treatment, I saw in one of my last scans where it had returned to 'stable.'

The problem is even without treatment anymore (if), chances are the joint will continue to weaken as I age (if I continue to make it) and the only cure is a hip replacement.  This has been cited in various medical journals. 

Climbing into a pair of pants....trying to put a pair of socks on....tying your shoes...or even getting up off the toilet can feel like Olympic events...the pain hurts so bad.  If I have to get down on the floor.....comical if it weren't so serious.

There are times when you barely move wrong and I feel the weight give way and I just about tumble....it makes me realize how I could never support my body weight....as only a fraction of pressure is exerted and it will give way. 

I'm sure I will have to deal with it at some point in my life...

The point I'm trying to make is that what we do today - we often have to pay for - the rest of our lives....in some cases.

And still, there is little choice in the matter.

I wanted to wish you the best of luck.....but wanted to keep it real with you.

I remain hopeful for you....but wanted you to be aware of any of the possibilities by giving you the benefit of my experience with it - should any of those conditions ever befall you in the future.  You might remember this conversation. 

Take care and best of luck! 

I'm glad for you that cancer is not present in those areas.  Real glad. And I hope you get the liver cleared up too...the world needs a guy like you.

Glad to hear this Joe!

wow what a scare! so glad it was not cancer. goodluck with the rest of your tx

hugs

judy

That's great news!

Joe,

That is great news.  Thank you for sharing this positively great and uplifting event in your life.  

((HUGS))  

Art