Momentary shut down of central nervous system.

Hi Tadeuo, there is surgery to remove bone spurs another to widen the space in the central canal by reducing a ligament and another to remove a section of a vertebrae. They worry about us because the effects of anesthesia can be worse as we age. These are minimally invasive, not-very-long surgeries.
But, I don't think you have had a thorough exam. See a neurologist. Or two. You could wear a neck brace while doing the bending ( is it the bending forward?). It sounds vagus but bending forward could be central canal.

Hi gently,
Thanks for the input.
The last shutdown I had was may 21. I'm hoping the problem has gone away. (Har har har har har.)
One occurred when i was stooping, one while I was bending over and one when I was slightly twisting putting on a shirt. The one that occurred while I was putting on a shirt really surprised me. It's the only one where I felt any pain. It was in my lower back, I think near where the spine terminates. Dropped like a stone! Lasted less then a second.
I'm going to see a couple neurologists as you suggest. I'm sure a minor op, bone scraping, would solve the problem. I'm only 90 and I want my spine fixed before I buy that new trotter.
Tadueo

I’m a retired nurse and congratulations on your age, I’m impressed. At your age no doctor is going to recommend any invasive treatment due to your fragility. If you’re performing a movement that is causing you to collapse I suggest you find another way to dress or a different shirt. I personally believe you’re living on borrowed time and you should savor your days and not seek medical intervention. At 90 there are too many things to consider that could be causing it to investigate at your age. Please take care of yourself, keep yourself safe and stop causing yourself a vasovagal response to pass out.

jenatsky,
Thanks for your comments.
I've outlived most of those who said I was on borrowed time. Having CHF, A-fib, hypertension and God knows what neuro affliction I have to keep a positive and optimistic attitude or I won't make it through the day. I have no near future plans to move to an assisted care facility as I still drive, do my own shopping and schedule my 20 different meds. I have no mental degradation as confirmed by my doctors and recently completed writing the code for a
complicated IT program. I spend my time painting (museum quality), reading and day trading. I'm presently looking for a FL rental where I'll spend the next winter.
The good news is I haven't had a neuro episode in three months even though I tried to induce one by bending and twisting. Maybe it went away.
Still considering the mitral valve replacement but can't find anyone really interested. The CHF causes a lot of problems.
Best of health to you.
tadueo

@jenatsky, I'm inclined to agree with @tadueo on this one. "Living on borrowed time" is a term that - particularly in writing - comes across as harsh, although I'm confident you didn't mean it that way. With a text-based forum like Mayo Clinic Connect, we only have words without the benefit of body language and tone of voice. To generalize, I guess we are all living on borrowed time and abilities vary irrespective of age. As you know, when weighing treatments options the medical team and patient consider not only age, but also current health status and life goals.

Having said that @tadueo, it appears that the medical professionals you've consulted with see high risk with invasive treatment such as surgery. There may be good reason beyond age or in combination with age that this is not recommended for you. Given your abilities as you've described them here, were you told which risk factors have ruled out surgical intervention? Were other lifestyle options suggested for you?

By the way, I really like the imagery you include with your posts.

It appears I have 2 options.
1. Forget about any major heart surgery and enjoy my remaining numbered days. (Difficult to enjoy when the leaky Mitral valve causes me to feel half asleep all the time and I'm constantly worried that the other shoe is going to drop soon. Statistics tell me that those with CHF will be 26% dead in 19 mos. and 50% dead in 5 years after affliction.
When I asked my cardiologist about replacing the Mitral valve he said "It is an extremely dangerous operation". No more was said about it.
2. Get more input from other sources about my having the valve replaced. I'm willing to take a certain amount of risk.
Regards,
tadueo

You might wish to get a second opinion at a center of excellence in cardiology, like Mayo Clinic. If you do, you can submit a request here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

I think @hopeful33250 had a mitral valve replacement and may be able to share more about the risks factors that were shared with her according to her health status as well as age.

You might also be interested in this Q&A with Mayo experts:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery for Mitral Valve Repair https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/podcasts/newsfeed-post/minimally-invasive-surgery-for-mitral-valve-repair/

And the many discussions in the Heart support groups here:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=mitral+valve

My apology for my use of the term.

jenatsky,
Thank you, but no need to apologize as you were helping me for which I thank you. I'm almost unoffendable myself being a veteran of the Korean war and several other local gang wars. My concern was that some timid, sick soul on hearing the word would become dangerously depressed.
Kind of you to help others.
I attached a recent self portrait of myself. I must admit I shaved about 20 years off my age for the portrait.
Best Regards.
tadueo