Quilting with disabilities

[Eileen K.]

Judy,
Maybe your dosage needs to be adjusted. A few mgs one way or the other can perform magic!
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

Rachel,
I'm doing pretty good. As you and everybody else here knows, you just do what you have to do. I saw Tina Turner on Oprah the other day. She's 68 years old :shock: :shock: !!!!!!!!! Dang!
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

Judy I noticed a difference within a day or 2. It was wonderful. Although I am not feeling too wonderful today. I over did it trying to get my Mom's quilt done this weekend. Now I can't pick up my right arm and can't feel my hands or right foot. My hubby told me to stop. I should have listened. I didn't get the quilt done and I can't even hold the needle. This sucks and my son would sya. Any way no sense complaining about it I did it to myself. Either way I take celebrex twice a day 200mg. I am also allowed to take one more if the pain gets too bad but I have to call the Dr. first and tell his staff that I am doing it first, or at least leave a message saying so. I also take the Noratryptoline at night that is for depression and pain that helps quite a bit. By the way that might not be spelled right but that is how it sounds. lots of love from doped up in Ny Rachel

[Judith T.]

Thanks, girls, when I get back to AZ I will call the doctor and see what the problem is. Hope you are all feeling better. Judy in AZ ( still in rainy PA going to Amish country tomorrow)

[Eileen K.]

Judy,
Have fun!!! I love Lancaster County. It's so cool driving down the road and seeing the buggies. I have so much respect for them-they've never bowed down to technology.
eileenkny (who can't go through a day without TQS on her computer)

[Judith T.]

Oh, boy, I am back from my shopping trip. The very same fabric that I buy in AZ for $8.99 and up, I found for $5.99 -$6.40. I was amazed at the mark up on these fabrics. The shops around the Amish communities are run by Mennonites and they are always busy. Needless to say, I spent $$$$$$$. I didn't buy any quilts but I saw one that was crosshatched for $1500. Most of them are around $700 and up, and of course, hand stitched. I wish I could have spent more but the suitcase will only hold so much. I packed light, only 31 lbs so I would have room for my stash.

[Judith T.]

I know how you feel about those quilts they are so pretty. AND SOOOO expensive. I wish I could afford one too. That is why I took up quilting. Someday I want to be good enough to make one that pretty. Don't get me wrong mine are nice , but those are just amazing. I am working up my courage to make a queen size quilt. That has a more complex pattern than I have ever done. First though I have to get my courage up to do a twin size quilt done for my grand neice. I don't see that happening any time soon. I have like 6 crib and one large wall hanging quilt going right now. Everyone says that is enough for anyone. NOT ME :!: I seem to love stretching myself to the limit. Rachel

[Judith T.]

I just love Lancaster, since I used to live only three hours away I went a couple of times a year to stock up on fabric, I was in sticker shock when I saw what they pay in Texas,lots of things are cheaper here but not fabric. I am planning a trip back to Maryland in November so hopefully I can fit in a trip to Lancaster. Where did you stay in Lancaster Judy? I always stayed at the Steamboat Inn close to the outlets but within easy reach of the quilt stores.

[Judith T.]

ukquilter, we have a condo in York, PA where my DD lives. I came back for a visit and am staying there, which is about 45 minutes away from the Steamboat. This was the only day out of my busy schedule of non-stop visiting that I could arrange for a shopping trip. Fortunately, not all of my friends quilt or I would have spent more money. My DH worries that I will spend all of our retirement savings on fabric so I have to limit myself. But he doesn't get it, there are so many beautiful fabrics out there and patterns that I have to have just a few here and a few there. You know how it goes. Judy in AZ where fabric is expensive

[Eileen K.]

Rachel,
That's the same reason I began quilting!! We went on vacation to Lancaster County and I fell in love with the quilts. I decided I would find a way to make my own, and I have-but like you, I haven't reached that level of proficency. I even bought a book called the Country Hearts or something like that. It's a beautiful appliqued red on white. Hey, maybe with Beth Ferrier's technique I can give it a try!!!
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

I want to make this one that is the star but it has all these little diamonds in it. And I mean little. They are about an inch big. There must have been hundreds. It was so beautiful. I must have taken a dozen photos of that quilt. Then I went home and looked for a book to teach me how to make it. I've come close to finding one but all the diamonds are too big. I figure I will just have to adjust the pattern. Still I am no where near that good and that is a LOT of fabric. So I will continue to improve and someday I will make one. :wink: Rachel

[Patti P.]

As I've wriiten in other places, i've been off work and unable to sit up for more than 10 min due to a pinched nerve. A couple weeks ago I was able to sit uncomfortably in the doc's office for an hour and thot PT was finally working. Monday I have my first visit to the pain clinic because the intense pain is back in my sit-down and left leg. Anyone have any good tips from experience to get back to sitting and work?

[Patti P.]

Patti, back in the mid-90s, when all my lumbar discs ruptured and I had so much sciatic pain, I used Neurontin (gabapentin). It helped the sciatic pain down my leg. I wasn't sitting up trying to work at the time, so I don't know now it would have worked for that. I was still in so much pain, the most I could do was to go from the bed to the couch. I certainly hope you feel better soon, Sharon in TN

[Patti P.]

Thanks Sharon. I'll ask on Monday about it.

[Patti P.]

There are several avenues that you can take. I am sure that your Dr. will give them to you but here's what I know from experience (either personal or from family members).
1. cortisone injections- good short term but can cause more damage in the long run, also depends on where nerve pain is.
2. nerve root block- painful at first especially the injection site. Again can cause more damage because you don't feel the nerve saying knock it off there is something wrong.
3. traction- good especially for legs and lower back and neck. It takes pressure off that nerve area and provides relief at least for a little while.
4. chiropractic care- very good especially if you have one that will combine traction and massage with it. Just be cautious that you do not get one that is too harsh.
5. massage- always good. reduces the swelling and removes toxins from tensed up areas. If you can not handle a chiroprator a massage therapist is usually more gentile and yet can go as deep tissue as you would like. Relieving pressure from many areas.
6. meds. - Anti-inflamitories- Celebrex, Advil, Ibuprofrin, ect... good to relieve swelling. Muscle relaxants -Flexeril for example is good to reduce stressand tession from the muscle (like the word muscle relaxant wasn't self explanatory). Pain med. - Lortab, percocet, ect good for if nothing else to put you on another demension :wink: . For example cloud 9 who cares about the pain your head is no longer attached to your body so good night.

Basically if you go into a Dr. office these are the most popular options they will give you. If they go straight for surgury. Get up wobble out the door and don't look back. Find another Dr. the knife is the last thing you want. It maybe what you need but it should not be the first option offered.
Hope this helps Rachel