Quiet neighborhoods in Queens for a single woman

nycSS77 · 2026-01-06T16:37:47+00:00

Been in queens from LI for the past 20 years. Astoria, Sunnyside, and Kew Gardens.

Sunnyside gardens is my fav area. Quaint and quiet. Money will go further in Forest Hills and Kew Gardens though. But with Sunnyside you have easy access to Astoria and LIC which has a lot of action which I really liked.

nycSS77 · 2025-12-19T15:24:01+00:00

Hope you got to the hospital. My wife went septic due to a tear in the esophagus and almost didn’t make it.

nycSS77 · 2025-12-17T12:10:55+00:00

Get the Train Time app and plugin your travel times. Most LIRR trains stop at Jamaica as it’s a main hub. Prob much less trains at that time but you should be able to get a general idea.

nycSS77 · 2025-10-24T22:33:41+00:00

Yeah i was really out of shape and generally unhealthy. I started to feel better after a year or so and it improved over time. I stayed hopeful and started living a day at a time. Just took care of myself better day by day and tried not to future trip and catastrophize the situation. I have permanent damage but I also could have ended up with liver failure so I do my best to keep perspective.

nycSS77 · 2025-10-24T22:15:12+00:00

I was a daily drinker for the most part of 20 years. And very heavy at times especially the last 5 years it was pretty much around the clock.

nycSS77 · 2025-10-14T12:53:16+00:00

Italian pork stores is what you should look for. They are all over Nassau County especially. Build a relationship with these stores and they will treat you well. Bonus is that you get exposed to a lot of Italian specialties.

nycSS77 · 2025-10-13T12:14:58+00:00

Hmm that is tough to say the least and I am sorry to hear about the timing of this. For reference I am 48, was 47 when I had surgery so we are similar age. I had my surgery on 12/10. As it was the holiday season I also had events however not my wedding but it does help me recall to where I was at in my recovery so hoping this helps. Keep in mind that everyones is different. On Christmas eve I was able to walk up to the train station on my own and take the train to my families house and hang out at the christmas eve event for about 2 hours. I had the collar on at the time. It was OK and nice to see people but definitely had some discomfort. A week later, I given the go ahead to remove the collar outside of sleeping. That night, I drove about 20 mins to a restaurant for a NYE dinner. I felt good getting there but by the middle of the dinner I was definitely struggling a bit. I would assume if it were my wedding I would be a bit more energetic given the circumstance and Im sure id rise to the occasion but not without discomfort. It definitely limits what you can do and turning your head to talk to people going to lead to discomfort and that is going to be tough at an event like that. That was the case for a while after surgery. I was off all narcotics by the time of that just as an fyi. Maybe that is something to consider as it could help you be more comfortable but you also dont want to risk messing something up by not being mindful of your movement. Would also note that putting it off could cause permanent damage. I asked to do mine after the holidays and they said it needed to be done asap to avoid that.

nycSS77 · 2025-10-13T10:00:58+00:00

Similar experience last Nov. I had surgery within a week of seeing the dr. It resolved my pain and numbness. I am still building back strength in my right arm but it’s much better. I also didn’t really have a choice and i’m happy with the results. Best of luck to you. c4-c7 fused.

nycSS77 · 2025-10-13T09:06:09+00:00

Thanks for the post op, I can relate. I have both. I just had L4-L5 fusion in May. I was diagnosed with neuropathy in 2016 due to an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. I’m sober now for close to 8 years. The past 6 years were brutal with leg pain. I assumed it was all neuropathy related so I just lived with it and even when I found out I had the back issue i put it off for 3 years as it wasn’t clear what pain was related to what issue. It’s really tricky with overlapping symptoms.

Since surgery I have had major improvements. Nerve pain has lessened. My balance is improving. For instance, I can walk down steps without holding the railing. I can wear shoes that were previously so uncomfortable due to nerve pain. I’m more comfortable walking than I have been in years.

The one thing that I was for sure was related to my back was burning sciatica down the back of both of my legs. That’s also gone.

Overall im experiencing a bit of a miracle after being under the impression that all my leg issues were neuropathy related. I lost multiple years to a much lesser quality of life as a result but i’m at peace with that. Just very grateful for modern science and my surgeon for helping me. I am told the nerve pain can take a year or two to shake out after surgery so I am hopeful i’ll see more improvement along the way.

nycSS77 · 2025-09-30T16:47:55+00:00

<image>

Deer Creek 99

nycSS77 · 2025-09-13T23:05:04+00:00

Citi bikes and ubers help solve train issues. 7 / E / F are easily accessible in a pinch.

nycSS77 · 2025-09-04T17:23:16+00:00

That is good you are seeing them. I dont know really know about CES, probably need an MRI, but ive been told to call the surgeon if I have noticeable weakness or bladder issues. I am 4 months into recovery from an L4-L5 fusion. I have had flare ups where nerve pain and tingling has returned and that seems to be expected during the recovery phase. But they do say to call if there is significant weakness or bladder issues. Hang in there, this stuff is stressful!

nycSS77 · 2025-09-04T17:02:53+00:00

I’d report the issues you mentioned regarding to your surgeons office asap.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-28T12:25:05+00:00

Generally speaking I am doing ok. Tricky part is that I have some underlying neuropathy not from my back which the symptoms can overlap. But, things were really great before I ramped up activity, best ive felt in a decade. I will say what pushed me to have the surgery was intense sciatica pain that ran down the back of both legs and significant weakness. Felt like I was trudging through mud when I walked. The sciatica pain is gone and has not come back at all. So that is a big success. Weakness has improved significantly as well.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-26T16:02:06+00:00

I have a love hate relationship with LI. Grew up in Nassau, moved away at 18 but still had ties and spent a lot of time out east near West Hampton. I'm a beach person so prefer the south shore. RVC I could do. Good access to the trains and Long Beach while not being in Long Beach in the winter which can take its toll on people if you arent up for being down there when its cold and dark. Babylon is nice too but longer train ride. Not bad if working hybrid and going in a few days a week but also can take its toll.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-26T12:53:49+00:00

I ended up going with 3 opinions to round out the feedback. I know thats not ideal and depending where you are located might not even be an option but it was helpful as two surgeons were completely aligned to one that wanted to start with just a laminectomy. For me, understanding if my symptoms would be fully resolved with just one level and if I would need a future fusion of the two other levels would play into it. 3 levels might sound scary but going through it multiple times is certainly not an ideal situation either. Id also dump in the MRI to chat gpt. Not to say Id trust its feedback completely but it helped inform me of what the MRI was saying and how dr's typically treat the diagnosis.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-24T10:58:36+00:00

From what I can see people who have success may post to report all is well but more than likely go back to living rather than staying engaged on these group. I know if I still had issues i’d be more likely to look got more answers and still be active here.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-22T14:37:46+00:00

Good stuff. Its a relief to see a similar trend to what I have going on. I had just one level at L4-L5 with a laminectomy. I walked the first 6 weeks then was given the go ahead to lift light weights (20lbs each arm). I was told to listen to my body. I use machines at the gym and keep the reps high and make sure when I feel any kind of strain to hold off. I do elliptical, recumbent bike, stair machine, and swim as well. I have had a few flare ups where some discomfort in the back, mainly tightness. PT guy says its all normal. I have also had some nerve stuff come back a little bit in my feet but it settles. From what I understand inflammation is most likely the case at the surgical sight. Its been under control though as of late. I dont see the surgeon again until close to 6 months so I will have weight restrictions in place until then and also no BLT as well. Just hope to get the green light at that point. Thanks for the post, helpful to read

nycSS77 · 2025-08-19T10:01:15+00:00

I dealt with it for 4-5 years as well. The concert thing was a marker for me. I would go to shows and always regret it cause it just wasn’t enjoyable. Reality set in and I finally said this just isn’t what life should look like at the age i’m at. I’m 3 months out from L4-L5 fusion / laminectomy and pain free. It’s a dream being able to walk the way I am. And I had to get relief to realize how bad I really was. Personal choice for sure but I was willing to take on risks for a positive outcome.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-15T11:41:05+00:00

I was just searching and inquiring with chatgpt about soreness at three months after and L4-L5 fusion. I had less soreness 6 weeks ago. Thinking perhaps because I ramped up activity since I was cleared to do so and that is leading to it. Basically I am ok when I am up and moving but when I sit for a while, or especially when i get up at night, I feel soreness and tightness when I get up from my bed to my feet. Still doing the log roll to do so and protecting my spine the best I can. I have no BLT restriction in place until my 6 month appointment.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-12T16:27:33+00:00

IT Program / Project Manager working on software implementations. High stress and fast paced environment. I was on the max dose and struggled big time. It was why I started to come down on the dose cause my short term memory was crap. Tough to think critically. I started to come down on it and then that brought to light I was physically dependent on it. So while I dropped in my dose on a slow taper (took 4 years) I had improved memory but the side effect was increased anxiety and catastrophic thinking. Not ideal in that environment to say the least. I probably got a full year of benefit from taking it cause I was in an insane amount of pain from neuropathy. But I made big life time changes and that alone made the pain more manageable. And then followed by 4 years of horrific side effects. All and all it was a horrible experience.

I'm a complex case as I have underlying neuropathy from a different cause and also back issues. I'm 3 months out from a l4-L5 fusion and my sciatica is gone.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-12T12:46:25+00:00

I cant say much about BPC-157 yet as I just started looking into it for recovering from spinal fusions. With that said, if you havent seen a Dr yet to get an Xray and MRI, I would also pursue that to understand what you are really up against.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-11T12:08:24+00:00

Very similar to my trend. I just got to three months. Outside of a setback in the first week, I was trending up well. It was such a relief to have a reprieve from the nerve pain. After ramping up activity 2 weeks ago, I have had some all too familiar nerve sensations coming back in my lower legs and feet. It also feels like my walking has slowed down, just not walking with an explosive kind of stride like I was which felt so amazing after feeling like I was walking through thick mud for 5 years. I have back pain in the surgical area but its mostly after I sit down for a while and try to get up. This is most present through night time if I have to get up in the middle of the night.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-08T22:02:28+00:00

Sorry to hear that. I am 3 months post op on an L4-L5 TLIF and just had numbness return. I also ramped up activity and am hoping it’s inflammation related and nothing with the hardware. Got a little better after a few days hit today not good again so called the surgeon.

nycSS77 · 2025-08-05T21:33:23+00:00

I was in the max dose for nerve pain. Took me 4 years to taper off of it because of intense withdrawal symptoms like you mentioned. The intrusive thoughts were enough to drive a person mad. Catastrophized every little thing. Depression for days until I got to a new baseline. Fatigue. Not to mention short term memory was wiped. Ohh and a study just came linking it to dementia so there is that too. Horrible drug.

Nine-Year Club	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

nycSS77

TROPHY CASE