(no subject)
So 2 weeks ago I finally got an appointment with a neurosurgeon. It has taken 2.5 years and 11 declines from referrals to finally get someone to see me. So mom and Tom both took the day off to come with me. We went prepared to have to fight/plead our case seeing as we have had to do that with everyone else we have seen. The appointment was weird from the beginning. We arrived on time and after registering, we were sent to a waiting room to wait for an xray. I didn't wait 5 minutes before someone came and got me. Took 10 minutes to do the xray and then I went back to the waiting room. I waited less than 10 minutes before we were send to the room to wait for the doctor. I figured we'd wait there for a long time but the doctor came right in. He introduced himself asked a few questions and did a quick neuro exam and then asked Why on earth I'd waited so long in souch pain to seek a neurosurgeon. I've kept notes of everonw we've seen an been declined an appointment fro
And why and told him we've been trying to get an appointment for 2.5 years. I've hears every excuse in the book for surgeons from I'm too young to my symptoms an my pain do t add up to I'm lying to it's all in my head. He was appalled. He apologized that I've slipped thru the cracks of the health care system ad then promises to make it right.
He pulled up my latest MRI results and showed us how bad the herniations are and exactly where the nerves are pinched. He said he is going to order a nerve block test to determine which of the two nerves are causing the problem. He is hopeful that only 1 one them is the problem and he is only going to have to repair one level. Assuming he is correct, it will be about a 2.5 hour surgery. If he has to do both levels, it will be a 4-6 hour surgery. There is an 85% chance that this will fix it, a 10% chance nothing will change, and. 5% chance I could get worse. Right now, I have NO quality of life and am willing to do just about ANYTHING to be normal again. I want to e able to run and ride and play with addy and get off all these nasty pain mess I'm on
After the surgery, I will be in a corset type brace for 3 months and am allowed to do little to no vending, twisting or lifting for 3 month. I will be 4-6 months before I'm back to normal and be able to return to normal life and work. I'm going to have to so intense physiotherapy and rehab after as well. My life has been pretty much sedentary for 2.5 years soy muscles are completely deteriorated. I haven't web been able to walk more than necessary so I'm going to have a long road to recovery. I'm not overly looking forward to it because I know it's going to be painful and alot of work, but I'd I want my life back, I'm going to have to do it.
He says it will probably be 2-3 months before I can get an appointment to get this nerve block test done and then another 2-3 months before we can get OR space to do the surgery. I don't mind waitin though. I've waited 2.5 years, what's another 6 months. My only concern is that my short term disability benefits are going to run out and I'm not sure what I have for long term benefits. I sent an email to my case manager tonight to see if she can get me info on it, but I'm nit very optimistic.
So that's pretty much the whole story, I will keep you all posted as things materialize!
And why and told him we've been trying to get an appointment for 2.5 years. I've hears every excuse in the book for surgeons from I'm too young to my symptoms an my pain do t add up to I'm lying to it's all in my head. He was appalled. He apologized that I've slipped thru the cracks of the health care system ad then promises to make it right.
He pulled up my latest MRI results and showed us how bad the herniations are and exactly where the nerves are pinched. He said he is going to order a nerve block test to determine which of the two nerves are causing the problem. He is hopeful that only 1 one them is the problem and he is only going to have to repair one level. Assuming he is correct, it will be about a 2.5 hour surgery. If he has to do both levels, it will be a 4-6 hour surgery. There is an 85% chance that this will fix it, a 10% chance nothing will change, and. 5% chance I could get worse. Right now, I have NO quality of life and am willing to do just about ANYTHING to be normal again. I want to e able to run and ride and play with addy and get off all these nasty pain mess I'm on
After the surgery, I will be in a corset type brace for 3 months and am allowed to do little to no vending, twisting or lifting for 3 month. I will be 4-6 months before I'm back to normal and be able to return to normal life and work. I'm going to have to so intense physiotherapy and rehab after as well. My life has been pretty much sedentary for 2.5 years soy muscles are completely deteriorated. I haven't web been able to walk more than necessary so I'm going to have a long road to recovery. I'm not overly looking forward to it because I know it's going to be painful and alot of work, but I'd I want my life back, I'm going to have to do it.
He says it will probably be 2-3 months before I can get an appointment to get this nerve block test done and then another 2-3 months before we can get OR space to do the surgery. I don't mind waitin though. I've waited 2.5 years, what's another 6 months. My only concern is that my short term disability benefits are going to run out and I'm not sure what I have for long term benefits. I sent an email to my case manager tonight to see if she can get me info on it, but I'm nit very optimistic.
So that's pretty much the whole story, I will keep you all posted as things materialize!