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Submitted by mike on Tue, 08/15/2006 - 01:11
Hey friends!
Well, it seems some of you are wondering what is wrong with me...thumb taped up and in a weird position, my sitting while I'm playing, looking all beat down,etc.,etc.
About eight months ago my body started having muscle spasms and cramps all over; I mean everywhere...legs, arms, back, abdomen, hands. Freaky, huh?
I went to pick up my bass the next day and found that I couldn't grip the neck properly with my left hand or hold a pick with my right hand. Huge panic set in as the tour was right around the corner! I thought maybe I was having a reaction to some meds I was taking. I stopped everything, started on some physio therapy, saw a neurologist and had some basic tests taken. Everything came back normal but the situation was not getting better.
I started the tour and just hoped things would get better. They obviously haven't. In fact, the situation has just become progressively worse. It's gotten to the point where I can hardly tie my shoes or button up a shirt. You should see me being dressed by my fellow bandmates after the show, it's pathetic!
Well, when we got to Cologne, Germany our friend Alex Asadi saw my condition and set me up for a MRI scan of my brain and neck. The symtoms where starting to resemble the onset of MS or MD and needless to say, it was freaking me out a bit.
The good news is that the scans came back comepletely clear concerning any problems with the brain or spinal fluid. However, the scan of the neck revealed some degenerated vertabrae in my neck with protruding disks inbetween them. And lo and behold, one of these disks is digging into the nerve that controls my thumbs and hands.
So...there you have it. One more week of torture and I'll be home to deal with this. Through consultations by telephone with the doctors it would seem that there are appropriate remedies and I should be 100 per cent in due time. The German docs made me a CD of the scans so I'll be able to show these to the doctors back home and get right to the remedy. Yippee!
I want to thank everybody for their concern and prayers. I'll be back in the saddle soon enough!
Mike
P.S. It's amazing to see the activity picking up on the network! Groovy!
Comments
Hello MIKE,,
YOU friend ITALY ....Giuseppe guitarist
Still have you on my heart
Still have you on my heart and in my prayers and I won't quit, man.
Keep your groove-Daniel
Yeah!
Daniel
It seems we think alike even across miles and miles.
I hope Mike's healing up!
T
JP DPM
"When Something is @$$ backward-everybody knows it!" (Jeff Porcaro -to MD, '83)
I know I'm just another fan
I know I'm just another fan but the way he treated my wife and me when we met backstage last year was respectful and dignifying. I just don't know how to put it but I'm reminded of this situation at times and while everybody involved does their best to help Mike I'd like to throw in my two cents as well.
Mike!
Hey Daniel?
Man I'm with ya. I've heard nothing but great things about Mikey-so whatever good wishes and prayers and good vibes I can send his way, ya know?
Peace,
T
JP DPM
"When Something is @$$ backward-everybody knows it!" (Jeff Porcaro -to MD, '83)
Mike!
**Double post*
I hate that.............
oops!
T
JP DPM
"When Something is @$$ backward-everybody knows it!" (Jeff Porcaro -to MD, '83)
Hey, Mikey, what's up with
Hey, Mikey, what's up with the health issue? I'm eagerly awaiting good news from you, bro.
All the best/Daniel
Yeah, what Daniel said!
Mike! What's the word on your disc/nerve troubles?
Hope it's all good again.
T
"when something is @$$-backward, everybody knows it" -Jeff Porcaro (to Modern Drummer circa '83)
Be careful dude..
Mikey,
I had the same thing several levels down. After being butchered by an overzealous
surgeon, and 6 surgerys later, I'm finally getting better. When it comes to threatening your livelihood, it is even more scary. As an airline pilot, I've been screwed now for 2 years, and finally, I'm close to being able to fly again. The good news for me is that after years of staring at vintage TOTO video of you tickling your bass, I finally bought one, and am learning to groove. God you make it look easy!! Anyway, I pray that you get better, and that you don't have to go through years of suffering to get relief. Quick sidebar about meds.. after years of painkillers, I finally put them away. They kill absolutely any of my intense love of music. I hope that they can fix you so that you don't need them. And, I know an awesome DOC in PHX who is an absolutely incredible and talented spine guy. One of the best in the world. I'll post his name if you like..
Two more days until I fly out to LA for the show !! I can honestly say I'm more
excited to see the show than I am about flying. That says alot, I cry when I see
one of my company's jets without me in it. It's been well over two yeas since I've
soared through the clouds. Flying and TOTO.. life will be good.
All the best to you, the Porcaros, Band and Crew..
Tim
Mikey...so glad you got the
Mikey...so glad you got the problem investigated and now you know what yr dealing with...thats the scary part over!!!
I hate to think that you had that on your mind for so long, not to mention your family and friends. Even though we try and convince ourselves that it wont be that bad, the worry still comes through!
I sure hope and pray that you will recover very quickly and you can get back to enjoying life doing what you love to do best and giving us all many more chances to listen to your fantastic bass playing!!! All the best to you and your family,
& try not to be a stranger on the network, we will miss you way too much :-)