I have an optic nerve degeneration condition traced to my glaucoma that I had when I was a baby. Alphagen is the only treatment so far. But it's not a cure. Once the protective effects wear off, there's no stopping the degeneration of my optic nerves.\n\nI have looked into stem cell therapy as a way to prolong my sight, but so far, I have not come up with any other procedure which would regenerate the nerves.\n\nMy question is this:\n\nWill I still have dreams based on the world I once knew? Will I still be able to function normally after a period of transition?
215814
yes you will have dreams.  And being able to function is something that I think you will be able to do.  Asking the question is a step in the right direction.  The next thing will be to find out what you can do.
542693
Go to the best university hospital near your home. Go to the emergency room and tell them you are having intermittent loss of vision and that you demand to be admitted. They can't turn you away and you would have to receive treatment. You might eventually have a huge bill but you are only 24 so bankruptcy is not really a big deal compared to a brain tumor. The important thing is to insist on being admitted for treatment. Don't take no for an answer.  good luck
394736
my 70 yr old mom just had laser surgery 6 months ago...she is a diabetic, and had pre-glaucoma symptoms. anyway, she'd been experiencing floaters for a few years and the surgery cured it. she said she only felt a bit of stinging during the laser treatment, and she's had no pain or any problems post treatment. hope this was helpful, and good luck to you. oh, and we live in northern calif. she had her sx done across town.
531472
Some drugs claim to slow the progess of the disease but this has rarely been the case in my experiences with this disease. The best is to look for a local support group. Herbally, things like Ginkgo Biloba are found to improve blood flow to the brain. I  believe in alternative therapies as there is little else that can help. If caught early enough, the results can be very pleasing. I am a homoeopath but my mother refused treatment when she was lucid enough to decide. It's not ethical to give it with refusal. Funnily enough now, she has agreed to go to a colleague of mine so I'm hoping for some improvements but I feel it's too late realistically now.
635059
I was diagnosed with MS May 4, 2005.  It started in Nov. 2002 with optic neuritis (i didn't know that's what it was at the time).  Then in August 2004 I developed a headache that lasted for about 5 months, followed with dizziness/vertigo.  I had a check-up, an MRI, heart echo, 1,001 blood tests, and finally a spinal tap (LP).  It's funny, I thought by now I would have accepted it, but it is still the first thing on my mind when I wake up, and the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep.  It's a big blow to get a diagnosis like this one.  I was 30 when I was dx'd, like most people.  There's too much to type here.  My e-mail is: multiplesclerosissux@yahoo.com if you wanna talk!  My name is Brian.
675385
I tend to horse around a bit much - but I am serious when I say my youngest brother's eye was healed.\n\nThe problem was when we were kids he scratched eye and did not tell anyone, just rubbing his eye occasionally.  after several days of this the parents finally questioned him (the boy didn't cry or go on over it, and you know it hurt)..., they took him to the eye doctor and he they waited too long  - scarring had set up and he would have blurred vision in that one eye. He gave him some eye drops for the pain, and some medicine for a slight irritation.\n\nA few days later was prayed for by the Church - the next morning my little brother could see clearly.  The scar was gone! Finito!\n\nI could tell you other such true stories and far more interesting experiences - but somehow I really doubt you believe me, or would try to explain some other reason for this healing if you did believe me.\n\nIf you do not believe me? I'm not going to loose any sleep over it. What I said is true regardless of what anyone else thinks. I have nothing to gain other than just sharing. I don't want your money nor to benefit from you one way or another.
139799
I think it depends on the trauma and its effects. But most important of all is your ambition to see a bright future in your life. You are very young and you have lots of years to look forward to. It is your choice and decision to concentrate on the positive. You may try to read Borge's poem regarding what he would like to do if he was not 85.\nAnd here is some information (which I'm sure you would already know)\nPTSD is usually treated by a combination of psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and exposure therapy are popular) and psychotropic drug therapy (antidepressant or atypical antipsychotics). \n Talk therapy may prove useful, but only insofar as the individual sufferer is enabled to come to terms with the trauma suffered and successfully integrate the experiences in a way that does not further damage the psyche. Forbes,  have shown that a technique of "rewriting" the content of nightmares through imagery rehearsal so that they have a resolution can not only reduce the nightmares but also other symptoms. \nCognitive therapy shows good results and group therapy may be helpful in reducing isolation and stigma.\n\n\nPTSD is often co-morbid with other psychiatric disorders such as depression
206551
My best friend was born legally blind. When we were 15 we went to a crusade and she was healed. The first thing she ever saw in her entire life was a stadium of thousands of people praising and worshiping God! It was awesome. When she went to the doctor's and specialists in the following days, they could not believe what had happened, one specialist she had been seeing since she was born. Since this, she has been part of lots of research and studies trying to fond how she regained her vision, yet no medical answer has been found. And oh yeah, how is this for you, 10 years later she is still eligible to receive the Blind Pension from the Government because once deemed legally blind.....always blind. They refuse to cancel her pension. So she donates it to different ministries.
571299
not me, but I know someone who has that same thing and she has found no relief either.  I'm guessing there's some kinda facial nerve damage going on there.  Don't know what to do about that.  I suppose you've already been to neurologists, neurosurgeons, & pain specialists (?) if you've seen that many doctors already.  I wish I knew more.  sorry I wasn't any help.   but I sympathize greatly.
650778
i took steroids too.once the left side of my face got back to normal,my left eye watered uncontrollably.The doctor said they didn't know what effects it would have but it might work.What a bunch of bullshyt.They don't know what that stuff does because it's not thoroughly tested enough.All I can suggest is patience because your nerves will come back to full function eventually.Palsy is a stress disorder.You need to relax more.Time is a more valuable drug than all that crap they're giving you.And one more piece of advice,when you get back to normal,sue the hell out of those bastards.I did !!!!
241031
RICHARD HAKE: Dr, Rocket? You said you had a severe headache. When you had that headache did you realize it was the stroke or were there any other symptoms? \n\nHOWARD ROCKET, DDS: Well, if I would have been more educated to the signs and the symptoms of a stroke, I would have known that my... I had some blurred vision... and I was having headaches for.... I'd say, may be a week before the stroke actually happened.... continuous headaches. But, I've had migraines before, so I just sort of thought may be it was just a migraine. But, I was also having blurred vision. I didn't have any slurred speech and I didn't have any loss of balance that I can remember. But mostly, as I said earlier, it was a blurred vision and then real severe headaches \n\nRICHARD HAKE: Okay. Here's another question from Angie: 'Is there a possibility of regaining speech and the ability to understand speech after a large stroke to the left hemisphere?' I guess, Dr. Rocket, how soon after you were through the emergency room did you regain your speech? \n\nHOWARD ROCKET, DDS: It took about 4 weeks, and my speech came back very, very slowly.... then finally came back totally. \n\nRICHARD HAKE: Can you answer that question about regaining speech and the ability to understand speech after a large stroke to the left hemisphere? \n\nSTEPHAN MAYER, MD: About recovering speech, basically, what I tell my patients is that everyone gets better from a stroke. And that's the rule. And it's usually about that second day after... when you're out.... you know, when you're in the pits, it can't get any worse than that. And then over a process of weeks to months later, patients go about rebuilding their lives. But absolutely-- language functions can improve with time and, you know, I guess it raises the point that, you know, don't get discouraged, you know, it can happen, it will happen, you need the right kind of attitude and you do need real good effective rehabilitation. You need to deal with professionals who know what they are doing. But it doesn't matter if its weakness, or a speaking problem, or vision, or whatever, walking-- all these things do get better unless you are very, very unfortunate.
202193
I found that if think about all the things that I found destressing in past dreams just before I go to sleep. that they do not appear that night.  It's sort of facing your fears. When your sleeping your hidden fears in your subconcious come forward in your dreams. But if you face them while awake, then they are no longer in your subconcious etc.\nTry it, it works for me. If not then your best bet is to see a professional.
577327
First of all you need to list yourself as an Organ Donor and have that put on your driver's license. MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN TO YOUR FAMILY!!! Also, I suggest you write a living will.\nI know 2 people who have benefitted from the surgery and the only complication was the adjustment back to being sighted again, which was easily treated with physical and psychological therapy. Both are very happy with their "new" sight.
562473
Difference in terms, with different meanings. Nerve ENDINGS can 'regenerate", nerve cells cannot. We experience feeling only at nerve endings...that is why an amputee can experience itching in a limb that has been removed....the nerve itself needs stimulation, but the brain only recognizes feeling at the nerve ending...hence, find what is left of the nerve and stimulate it and the 'itching' will stop. The stimulation is done NO WHERE near where the "itching" occurs. \nWhen nerve axons or dendrites (nerve cell extensions that carry the signals to and from the nerve cell) are cut, over time, they will often regenerate to provide new nerve endings..this is a slow process and can generate nasty sensations while doing so...itching, burning, etc...and it is often hard to find the spot to stimulate to stop the sensation. Spinal cord injuries are so severe and are so far away from the nerve endings that the regeneration is impossible...to date. Research in Stem Cell propagation has shown very exciting results in mice so far...perhaps there will be a day when we CAN repair spinal cord injuries, at least somewhat. But, if current ridiculous prohibitions to this research are not lifted, the prospects of repairing these injuries will be in the distant future. Here, Religious beliefs are getting in the way of real medical progress. \nYour healing is taking place at a normal rate, may take many years before you feel "normal" again...often, as much as 10 years will pass before you are back to somewhat normal feelings. Good luck
196971
I actually have (NF)2.Whitch of course is more rare.Also I do not have cafe'o late spots or macrocephaly.I actually did not know I had NF until my right side went numb 3  years ago.The 1st sign of NF was when I was 12 and I wasn't able to open my hand,my radial nerve had shut down.I had MRI after MRI but never an MRI of my Brain whitch looking back it baffels me.Now I am 21 and have had 3 brain surgeries.All Succesful except my first I lost hearing in one of my ears yet they took out 3 tumors.(Thats very typical for NF 2 patients) My 2nd surgery was a tumor behind my left eye(9 hour surgery),I kept my vision thankfully)Except my 3-6 nerves were damaged so I can't move my eye).My last was a the biggest surgery I have had...medulla oblongata...that could have cost me talking and walking.It was a miracle tho everything went well because it was by the brain stem wall.I have a really really really good neurosurgeon and he also is a good person.We will have 30 minute conversations about just daily life,he really cares bout me.\n\nI don't mean to scare you,I actually have great news for you.The hardest part of all this was when I was at Texasw Lutheran University and got right side numbness.We did not know why...Even went to hospital and they did not help me at all.Not knowing really was the hard part.\n\nThat is why it is really good that you are already getting MRI's.When she hits puberty I recommend that she gets one every 6 months.I think everything will be fine if you monitor it.I will pray for your daughter.\nLast about myself,I have been really strong throughout this process,and I only think I will have to deal with a gamaknife surgery for my last tumor left on my other auditory nerve.(right now it is tiny)\nAsk me any other questions you have.\nArtie\nP.S. I descided to answer q's about this to help other NF patients.In fact,I am going to NF golf tournament in SAn Antonio on Monday,helping others in the community will make me feel better also.
323001
I'd ask your doctor that question.  It is possible that he/she could suggest some treatment to prevent the onset of glaucoma (eye drops, etc.)
49950
Absolutely not.  For one thing, transplants like that are often risky, resulting in immune responses to it.  Second, even if it did happen successfully, there is no point.  Muscles are simply cells of myosin and actin filaments contracting.  I'm not sure whether it's possible to get the nervous connections working, most likely not.  But besides that point, it's about control of muscles, which lies in YOUR nervous system rather than in the muscle, which has no control over movement, it just contracts.