The Continuing Crisis, or Adventures in Spinal Issues with the Prophetess

[EstimatedProphet]

As I've posted here in the last few weeks, The Prophetess has a ruptured disk in the L4-L5 region, which is giving her sciatica and making life very unpleasant. I promised I would keep you all updated...

So, the last time she saw her primary care physician (who is BTW an hour away), he looked at her MRIs and said that back surgery was pretty much mandatory at this point, ASAP. He said he would put together a list of 7 or so neurosurgeons and have his staff find out who could get her in the fastest. Doesn't that sound nice?

They found a surgeon. It was almost a 2 week wait to get an appointment with him. Finally she gets to see him, and the earliest his staff would schedule something is April! Some ASAP! So now she has to suffer the entire month, basically because this guy is going out of town. Additionally, the information he provided says that she will be laid out for 4-6 weeks, which is very different from what we have heard from everyone else and simply impossible to work out while finishing up teaching a semester.

I am so pissed off with these doctors right now. I seriously doubt that they looked for the fastest opening for surgery. I think they found someone who was available, and stopped right there. Meanwhilethe Prophetess can't walk straight, and she's in constant pain. We've got a growing laundry list of complaints about the way this has been handled-this is just the last in a damned long line. Hell, she overdosed on vicodin due to their recommendations, and they followed up with ANOTHER PRESCRIPTION FOR VICODIN!

Edited for spelling.

[Droopy]

1. I'm sorry to hear that

Is that disc in her neck? My mom has had surgery in that area. She functions good now and has no pain. She's just not supposed to lift heavy stuff or do things that might jar her neck.

[EstimatedProphet]

2. No, it's way down in the lower back

[WCGreen]

5. Dude, maybe you guys should talk to an attorney....

It's the last thing I recommend....

But knowing what is going on, I should have mentioned this Saturday, but this is just careless and border line negligent...

[EstimatedProphet]

7. I agree. We've talked about it

We're pissed about this.

[WCGreen]

13. As you should be......

Detail everything in writing....

And then.....

Seriously discuss it...

[bertha katzenengel]

3. Prophet

:hug: for the -Ess and :hug: for you. I know this isn't easy. And the pain... bless her heart.

:hug:

[EstimatedProphet]

17. Thanks

It's hard to watch. I don't mind taking care of her though-it's my job.

[Deja Q]

4. I've a coworker with 3 lumbar discs out of sorts... and

my doc keeps pinning my issues on anxiety, despite active and continuing evidence of degenerative disc disease that's in my lumbar ergion and neck according to my latest MRIs. (so I can't get vicodin and lithium doesn't help...)

But I digress; you need these as much as everything else, but at least I can give you these: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[EstimatedProphet]

6. Couldn't the anxiety be caused by ACUTE BACK PAIN!?!

Duh!

I swear, the medical industry is ridiculous. They're so concerned about fitting theings into their insurance pigeonholes that the purpose of medicine falls through the cracks. Sorry, my man.

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Sure wish things could change for The Prophetess

It does suck...big time :hug:

Have to ask...
Even though there is a surgwon scheduled, can you keep pushing for the hunt for someone who can help her sooner?

Found this through the Cleveland Clinic Foundation:
http://www.spineuniverse.com/mdpage.php?doctorID=1261

Found it through this site called Spine Universe:
http://www.spineuniverse.com/

Apologies if you have explored this site previously...juat wish I could help in getting her what she needs sooner than next month...

BIG and gentle :hug:

[EstimatedProphet]

18. Thanks

We're going to look into it

[SeattleGirl]

9. I feel so bad for the Prophetess, and for you.

I certainly can understand your anger. Seems the docs just don't give a flying fig, doesn't it?

I would try to find another surgeon, bring all the med records with you and Prophetess to the appointment, and push to get something done.

While my back problems are nothing like hers, my back has gone out so badly that I could only crawl on my hands and knees around the house; standing up was practically impossible.

Here is another gentle :hug: for her. Also, check your PM in a couple of minutes.

[EstimatedProphet]

19. Thanks for the advice

[TheProphetess]

10. My surgery is scheduled for March 29th

At first the neurosurgeon's staff said he couldn't do it until early April but it turns out that they were able to get me in at the end of the month instead (EP meant to add that to his post but forgot that little detail). :)

The neurosurgeon visit was weird anyway - I asked him if we'd be able to do the surgery right away and he says, "We'll be able to get it done in March." So, when his staff told me April, I told them what he said and their reply was, "It is March! And he's going out of town for 2 weeks!" I almost cried - so much for my primary physician's staff making sure that the neurosurgeon I see understands that "this is an ASAP case." Pardon me for not trusting anything anyone says anymore. I've turned into a bitter pessimist!

Plus, I did try to make an appointment with a different neurosurgeon and they basically told me that by the time I'd get an appointment to see him and then schedule surgery, we'd be looking at a 3-week time frame anyway. That I understand; it's the fact that this will be 5 1/2 weeks since hearing my doctor say "surgery ASAP" and "your pain won't end until we remove the ruptured disc."

Not to mention the fact that the initial problem starting in early January (granted that it wasn't nearly as bad as it was 3 weeks ago - when I thought I would die from pain) but still, that's a long time. (Believe me, I understand that others have it much worse than I do so I'm honestly not trying to be whine about my big problems that are bigger than anyone else's problems.) I am very grateful for the pain relief that the meds give me but certain side effects are tough to take. The worst is that I shake CONSTANTLY. My hands are the most obvious but I just shake and shake (I feel like I'm shaking like an earthquake has hit but people tell me it's not that bad). That's the most annoying side effect that I'm dealing with. I know, I know, it could be worse. I'm just frustrated and bitter (remember?). :)

So, the countdown begins. 22 days 'til surgery and counting.

By the way, I have an appointment with my primary physician next week so that I can go over all of the mishaps along the way - I want him to know what his staff is doing and I want to confront him on a few of his own behaviors that have pissed me off. (He doesn't realize that I've become bitter and frustrated!)

[merh]

11. I hope & pray it goes well for you.

I'll say some prayers for you, if you don't mind.

Gentle :hug: and all sorts of healing wishes.

[TheProphetess]

12. BTW, thank you everyone for your kindness and good vibes!

You're all so darn sweet that it does help me to keep some focus on positivity.
Thank you, DU!! :loveya:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. How enormously frustrating for both of you.....

You have some excellent advice here, and I have nothing to add to that...

But all I do have are some very gentle hugs... :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :grouphug:

You are both in my prayers....I'm hoping for a super good resolution to this mess....

[EstimatedProphet]

16. Everything will be alright, I know

Forgive my bitching. Everything will work out I know. It's just a pain in the ass getting there.

[Robeson]

15. Sorry. I've been there. It's hell....

...I went for 13 months, eating 18 aspirin a day living with it. I had 2 lumbar disc ruptured. I eventually got the surgery, and had 3 vertebrae fused. I wouldn't sugar coat it, it was a living hell recovering. It took about a year out of my life before I felt semi-normal. Maybe they can do it better now-a-days, I don't know. All the aspirin I took eventually led to stomach surgery years later. Whenever she can get it done, I'd get it done ASAP, before other health problems sink in. Sorry I couldn't be more positive, but that's the reality I dealt with.