Glad you got some good news Chuck!! I can fully understand the relief. I am amazed at how a lot of the medical community has changed. Back when I saw a neurosurgeon (2013). It was under ER conditions. After the tests where in surgery was rule out. I still see this surgeon yearly for a check up. Seems we are on similar paths shout out if you need to talk, vent ETC.
BobH ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Alexander" <chuckalexan...@centurylink.net> To: "Cheaper Living" <cheaperliv...@yahoogroups.com>, "fly fishing for panfish" <flyfishingandflytyingforpanf...@yahoogroups.com>, vfb-mail@googlegroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2015 5:40:15 PM Subject: [VFB] Doc's visit today Folks: I saw the ortho surgeon at 1pm. First off, I really liked the guy, and he has a GRET bedside manner, which I have often found is half the battle. Had a new MRI and X-Rays of my spine from top to bottom. He saw what my earlier scans have said on my low back, which is mild to moderate bulging of three lower back discs. But in my upper back, where the pain has been creeping up to in the past few yrs, he saw a pretty good amt or arthritis. Bottom like is that he THINKS the best option is NOT going to be surgery, but an Implanted Spinal cord stimulator (see the video on the attached link below). But a few things first. I signed a release for hi to get my last MRI from another city which was about 3 yrs ago, and he’ll compare them, along with consulting with the only Pain management doc in this area which does these implants. And, he said that once they go over them, there is a Neuro doc that is in his same office bldg that he works closely with that he’ll also consult before making the final decision. I gained a LOT of respect right off the bat because what do surgeons do?? They make a vast bulk of their money by cutting, (which is one of the main reasons I have put off seeing a surgeon till now) not by referring ppl to other docs. BUT, he said he wasn’t ruling out surgery until he sees the old MRI’s talks to the other docs etc ect, and see if they all agree on the stimulator (or even other options that the pain doc or the neuro doc might recommend). So now it’s like the military all over again which is “hurry up and wait”. Relief for me can’t come fast enough, but these things, done right, do take time and I understand that, but I se a light at the end of the tunnel. I only know of two friends who have these implants, and both raved about how much they were/are helped by them. If anybody here has one, and would like to tell me any pros/cons, please email me OFF LIST at chuckalexan...@centurylink.net and I’d sure appreciate any info. He did say that last week’s episode of waking up, getting out of bed and falling back into the bed after my whole right leg was “asleep” was very common, just not very fun, and scary as I found out, and that for it to last DAYS is not that uncommon as well as the area around one of the bulging dics must have gotten inflamed while I slept, then turned to the pins and needles then just plain old pain which is where the leg is now. Soooo. Hopefully I won’t miss another season fishing this yr because of this ongoing problem. Thanks, Chuck http://www.spine-health.com/video/spinal-cord-stimulator-implant-video -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VFB Mail" group. To post to this group, send email to vfb-mail@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to vfb-mail-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vfb-mail?hl=en VFB Mail is sponsored by Line's End Inc at http://www.linesend.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VFB Mail" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to vfb-mail+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com . For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout . -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VFB Mail" group. To post to this group, send email to vfb-mail@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to vfb-mail-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vfb-mail?hl=en VFB Mail is sponsored by Line's End Inc at http://www.linesend.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VFB Mail" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to vfb-mail+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
