[Keoma]

...not only in health, but as a person in General.
I feel the need to vent,sorry. I have no soap box, would be scared to climb on it if I did.
What I do have is spine issues. I am trying not to dwell. But i am getting depressed. It hit me really strong today. I have not created in what seems like ages. I have creative backlog so to speak. I thought that I might get outside to do something, but was just not up to it.
My back has hurt terribly for over a month. I went to my husbands Chiropractor and she did some x rays. She had me back in and showed me several things. Starting at the top, my thorasic verts are all moving as one...instead of on there own...and my neck is bent the wrong way? My mid back is shaped to the right and my lower back is to the left. As we reach the bottom, my sacrum is tilted to far in and it has twisted my Lumbar 5 and put undue and aweful pressure on my Almost crushed and degenerative disk.
She has asked me if I spent much time looking down at my work...yes...endles wonderful hours of it. Oh, you may want to stop that for awhile. Oh. No lifting anything. Oh.
Oh
Oh

So today, my nephew with his Ox back, came and hulled off all my bigger pieces of wood. All my Cherry, All My chinkapin, All my Oak. Take it to the burn pile. Its there now. Tomorrow finds me cleaning my shop. Tossing out whatever I can and having him haul off what I can't. Being bummed,that's all. Thanx for listening.
Last of all, I did not respond to my wood swapper and I am so sorry. I feel like a nickel and hope you won't hold it against me. Not just a nickel, but a dull, unshiney bent one. I really appreciate the fantastic box you sent me and I love each and every piece. It was truly amazing and perfect for my work. I hope we will trade again in the future.
I am sorry to winge, but I feel better somehow talking about it. here's to a sunnier tomorrow!

[Gergie]

Sorry to here that your in ill health. Nothing against Chiropractors, but have you seen a doctor/specialist. They can fix anything nowadays. I hope you can get back at it soon. Be patient and positive, it will help. i always remember the proverb. " I felt bad that a broke my arm, until I saw a man with no arm"

Godspeed, Rich

[doris]

oh keoma, very sorry to hear of your back problems and pain you have. and that it makes you depressive, that i can relate to, and it is very bad, and so difficult to get off from it. i hope a little rest from the things which create the pain, will let you recover and feel better soon. and that you can create again. i know from my own how dull i feel if i cant, and having expererienced your joy on the cookie cutter makings, i know you need create same as me. it must be terrible for you to see the wood burn, and all things you loved to use to put away...maybe you can for a while find something different, where your back is in good position, maybe painting on a canvas on easel ? i wish you feel better very soon.

[GardenGnome]

Dear Keoma, I am alarmed to hear you are chucking your wood collection! Please don't! Get it back and put it away and forget about it for a while.

Your pain and discomfort will pass one day and you will be glad you saved it.

My dear new friend, so short a time I have known you and I feel as if I have known you for years.

My wife is in chronic pain. Her shoulder has been a real problem for years now. Poor girl has recently been put on Tylenol 4 to find some relief from the misery. What makes it even harder is that she rides a wheelchair and every move she makes involves her arms.

But we have hope. We just went through diagnostic tests with a sports injury specialist. The Dr. said it was either a shoulder impingement or a torn rotator cup. After an ultrasound test, the good news is that she does not have a torn rotator cup. From wheeling her chair for all her life she has built up the muscles in front while the muscles in back atrophied.

With careful exercise and stretching she should be able to reduce the pain and perhaps even be pain free one day.

I tell you, I almost blew up at her therapist who told her "Well, that's the way your going to be, so learn to live with it." What a moron!

You have a creative spirit, I can tell. What you need is a change for a while. I too, need a change every once in a while. I have recently taken up crewel needle point work. Lots of interesting fun and challenging. Light easy work I can do while watching TV or sitting in bed.

I also like to sew on the sewing machine and make things we can use. Right now I am making some big bags out of an old bedspread for my wife to keep some of her "ever expanding yarn collection" in. She is quite the crochet artist. Resently she is picking up her knitting needles again for the first time is 15 years.

My wife and I got into polymer clay a few years ago and we enjoy that from time to time. She is a bead-er and makes some of her own beads and I like to make objects for my model railroading.

So don't be blue. God has sent you a message that he wants you to try something new and you should follow his lead.

Find yourself an expert and get a second opinion. Sports injury doctors are what I would suggest. They really know the human condition and deal with musclulature problems every day.

Don't despair, my friend. Keep those creative juices flowing.

Give yourself some time.

A poem for you, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The day is cold and dark and dreary.
It rains, and the wind is never weary.
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
but at every gust the dead leaves fall.
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold and dark and dreary.
It rains, and the wind is never weary.
My mind still clings to the moldering past,
but the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast.
And the day is dark and dreary.

Cheer up sad heart, and cease repining.
Behind the clouds is the sun, still shining.
Thy fate is the common fate of all.
Into each life some rain must fall.
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Christopher

[xsailer]

Keoma,
I most definitely agree with GardonGnome. If you can get you wood back please do. You described a few of my problems caused by looking down at my lap. I was in real trouble last year, couldn't and wasn't in the mood to much of anything and I'm a driven type person. After some therapy and changing my habits I'm carving full time. I've changed carving from looking straight down to holding my hands out a little and it works. I sometimes slip back into the old position but my neck says don't do that and I change positions. I also air hammer marble and now ready to try getting back to it in moderation. Doctors really don't know everything about a person. I think they generalize quit a bit among their many patients and it's up to you to make or not make it work sometimes(most times). Go get your wood and hold on to it for a while. There isn't a rush is there? Don't despair.

Wishing you well.

[squbrigg]

Being lame ........ is bad, but it isn't the end of the world. Don't throw in the towel (or the tools and wood) just yet Keoma. If your still breathing and able to move your arms, there is hope of being able to carve. Trust me my dear, I've been there.

We're rooting for ya!

Bob

[arapsang]

Dear Keoma,
So sorry to hear about your problems. The pain might be bad but, believe me, the depression is worse and it's that which makes you want to throw out your woodstock and clear out your workshop. Please don't do it. Give yourself time to heal before you do anything to attack your creativity which can be a great source of strength. Last of all don't worry about the woodswapping, there are many more important things than that.

With all my good wishes

Peter Connor

[Mischief]

Keoma,

Hug........

Cass

[AlArchie]

Keoma, I'm sorry to hear of your ills, but please don't put all that wood into the stove!

First, find a different chiropractor......they all just ain't as good or as experienced as the best. Some are better at holistic healing and some are better at physical manipulation. Some work well together with orthopedic Md's and some reject the medical profession altogether.

You might try contacting an orthopedic doc and get his recommendation on a good chiropractor.

I just switched chiropractors and went from severe pain; the first one set me up for a continuing year long regimen, "colon cleansing" (no thanks), and all sorts of herbal remedies, to a traditional chiropractor, who took a look at my x-rays, came up with a totally different diagnosis, set me up with a series of 3 or 4 sessions and after only 2, the pain has pretty well gone. Only two sessions because the series got interrupted by rotator cuff surgery. It was my surgeon, by the way that turned me onto the chiropractor. These guys DO work well together. I'll go back when the shoulder allows the more aggressive type of manipulation and get this back fully straightened out.

Anyway to shorten this up, get a good second opinion, and a good chiropractor will know when to send you to an orthopedic doc.

Al

[Merle Rice]

Hi Keoma, Sorry to hear about your Back Pain and hope you find relief for it in some way. I got mine hurt Wrestling in High School and go to Chiro. a couple times a year to get my front end lined up. lol. You will have good days and you will have bad days,keep active and excersize lightly, it helps. Hope to see your comments again and will miss your Hummor. God Bless. Merle