Report from doctor visit

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

Well, I got good news from the doctor - though I dread what he

recommends. He said I do have quite a bit of degeneration in the

neck, along with bone spurs and herniations, and some degeneration in

the lower spine-but nothing like my neck. He does not see surgery as

an option, as I have no arm sensations or neurological symptoms or

leg/foot pain, and surgery for this is not always successful - which

I totally agree with! So that was very good news. The part I didn't

like and dread is I did feel like he didn't take my pain very

seriously, and he was pretty brisk. He did mention EDS a couple

times, but so quickly that I didn't get a good feel for if he REALLY

understood it or not. The only options he sees for me is physical

therapy, and if that doesn't work, an injection - either an epidural

or cortisone. Mom had an epidural, and it hurt a LOT and did NOTHING

for her, so I would have to think about that a LONG time before I

ever went for that! As for physical therapy, I absolutely DREAD it!

I have never really found a really good physical therapist, never

found one that knew or understood EDS, and have never found it to be

very helpful to me with any kind of pain! Gaining range of motion

and such - yes, but pain - NO! This will include 'back school' what

ever the hell that means. I imagine it's how to use your back, which

I already know - I think. But, I will try it, and if it doesn't

work, and doesn't help with the pain, I will go back to my doctor and

ask for a second opinion. He said he doesn't see this getting any

worse. I'm not sure about that part either - I certainly HOPE for

that. They gave me a list of physical therapy places that offer the

back school, and I asked if they preferred one, and she said, no,

they're all about the same (which I have found to be true-and not a

lot of help to me, anyway). I asked about bracing and such. He did

not see this as an option either, as the neck is a very hard area to

brace. I told him I know I slump, but can't seem to help it, and he

just said I need to do strengthening exercises. I felt some type of

brace would be helpful, just to help with posture and such. He said

to keep taking my medicines and to come back for the injection if

nothing helps. That was it. After he walked out the door, I asked

if the herniations will get worse and he said he couldn't see that

they would.

I haven't called physical therapy places yet. I am going to make

some changes at work, different desk, some type of back support for

my chair, and face a different way. I do want to try a soft cervical

collar too, as I spoke with Sue about after the appt. Now convincing

my husband that it would help me and not hurt me, may be a more

difficult matter - he knows something about medicine, sometimes just

enough to not see some options, or to have an opinion that's hard to

change - know what I mean?? So all in all, I kind of have mixed

emotions - I'm glad no surgery, but wanted a quicker 'fix' for the

pain I guess.

I also plan to have Mike work with me more on some of the techniques

Mike Uggen has posted, as where my pain is, it's hard to do it on

myself. I would go back to Betty, but with Mike having surgery, and

some other things, I can't really afford $50 a pop. It helped to

relax me, but didn't do a lot for where my bad pain is. I wish Mike

lived closer to me!

Hope things are good for all of you. I can't get in to the list

AGAIN today, so am sending this to Bonnie to post for me. Oh, I

forgot - I did take a copy of the MRI results I can post those

tonight. Thanks!

Love Lana