A Couple Of Questions.....?

[Guest guest]

I have a couple of questions...one regarding a thoracic herniated disc and

the other

about a lower lumbar stenosis. I can't remember if I had asked about this

previously,

but I don't think so, unless no one replied. My MD did a 180 on the disc

thing...he

always writes letters about tests results instead of playing telephone tag,

which is

ok, but on his first letter, he talked about referring me to a NSG. right

away. Then

I faxed my Q. to him and to the Radiologist (this is the FIRST MRI report I

have ever

seen that gave -0- details or dimensions... " small herniation " and " a

stenosis " .....

Apparently, the Rad. talked to my Dr. or the other way around,which I did not

authorize..and the Rad. never did reply to my fax.....and my MD came up with

a whole diff. picture!! That he couldn't understand why " something so small

could

possibly hurt me so badly. " (disc) And I had mentioned to him a few appts, ago

what it would take to convince my HMO to allow me to be evaluated by Dr. Frim

and treated locally under his direction, with 6 mo. check ups.(if the Ins.Co.

ever used

more than one brain cell at a time, they would realize that my idea would

actually

save them in the long run...cause ain't no one around here that knows didly

about

ACM...and they just keep referring me on..and on...) OK...so for some reason,

my

MD takes on the condescending tone saying " That if I felt that I couldn't get

the right

type of Physical Therapy (WHAT???) that I felt I needed to have locally just

for a

piece of mind " that he would make the referral. " I wanted to call and talk

to him so

badly....and ask him if he knew that there is a contagious condition that all

Drs. get

after coming in contact with and ACM patient... " Craniel-Anal Inversion " and

that he

must seek treatment for it right away, but the only catch is that it is very

rare, and

there are only a few specialists in the country that have experience with it

and can

treat it. Man...you talk about weaving a wicked web.....I never knew I had

such a

mean streak in me!!!!

So, anyways, I have not been back to him since. I see a pain mgmt. Dr. which

I am

not real thrilled with....he did an epidural for the disc...NOT a good idea.

He will only

give me Ultram for pain.(glorified Tylenol) He has my records from previous

Dr. who

always commented me on how little p.r.n.'s I used.(usually Tyl.3) He did say,

tho,

that the disc is in the worst possible place...in all other areas, the

herniation has

room to move side to side and kinda get out of the crowed area...but with

thoracic

there is no space for it to go. I have heard a lot of people mention

cervical hern.

discs but does anyone have a thoracic?? And my MD said nothing about the

lower lumbar stenois (which I found in N.O.R.D.), again....I hear a lot about

stenois

but havent heard about lower lumbar. Anyone out there have either of these?

The

Pain Mgmt. Dr. said he would consider both to be " inoperable " unless I was

becoming paralyzed, because the outcome,esp. for the thor. disc is so poor.

The pain is almost unbearable. And of course, the HA's are in extra high

gear..after

the epidural. What's a girl to do??? Help!!! Elaine