New member Intro -- going to Pain Clinic

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My name is and I have been suffering with herniated disks since

I was in my late 20s. (I am now 50-ish.) The reason for most of my

problem is that I wear an artificial limb and I have no cushioning

effect on left side, so my left hip is really bad -- osteoarthritis,

osteoporosis.

Plus, I have always had a job where I sit sit sit sit. And sitting is

where my worst pain is coming from.

My doctor is trying to help me get the new C-leg -- computerized so it

will do most of the work for me, but so far my insurance company has

turned me down. It would make my walking much easier. We are in appeal.

I have been to a pain clinic before for injections and drugs, but not

since a horrendous new pain situation started in April. I did not fall

-- I don't know what happened except that I had a particularly long

week of mucho sitting preceding it. My internist has me on Neurontin

1500 mg, Skelaxin and Lortabs 3 x a day. No help.

The pain is down both legs (yes, down the " missing leg too) and it

feels as if I were sitting on a bed of nails, with blow torches on my

lower legs.

I am going to a new Pain Clinic July 5. CAN YOU GUYS SUGGEST SOME

QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR THE NEW DOCTOR??

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

jenny, did the surgeon make any suggestions? just wondering. i had the

narrowing of the canal - stenosis - and just had my fusion L3-L4 5 weeks ago

and

i am so happy i had the surgery. the nerve pain in my right leg was just

unbearable and i was having trouble walking. all that went away from the

surgery. now the pain i have is bec. i am healing and my doctor expects i will

be

100%. hope so. marsha

In a message dated 6/27/2006 4:10:26 PM Eastern Standard Time,

shikarakids@... writes:

hi, jenny and welcome to the group. have you been diagnosed by an

> orthopedic and/or neurosurgeon who specializes in the spine?

Thanks Marshal. The MRI (2 weeks ago) showed the same 4 herniated

lumbar disks I have had for a while and narrowing of the canal that

the sciatica nerve passes through. Plus scar tissue from the surgery.

X-rays just showed the osteoarthritis.

I should have told you that, sorry!

[Guest guest]

where are you at?

I am in arkansas and they dont have alot of pain clinics ehre and the ones they

do insurance isnt good about paying for it for sure...

[Norton AntiSpam] New member Intro --

going to Pain Clinic

Hi,

My name is and I have been suffering with herniated disks since

I was in my late 20s. (I am now 50-ish.) The reason for most of my

problem is that I wear an artificial limb and I have no cushioning

effect on left side, so my left hip is really bad -- osteoarthritis,

osteoporosis.

Plus, I have always had a job where I sit sit sit sit. And sitting is

where my worst pain is coming from.

My doctor is trying to help me get the new C-leg -- computerized so it

will do most of the work for me, but so far my insurance company has

turned me down. It would make my walking much easier. We are in appeal.

I have been to a pain clinic before for injections and drugs, but not

since a horrendous new pain situation started in April. I did not fall

-- I don't know what happened except that I had a particularly long

week of mucho sitting preceding it. My internist has me on Neurontin

1500 mg, Skelaxin and Lortabs 3 x a day. No help.

The pain is down both legs (yes, down the " missing leg too) and it

feels as if I were sitting on a bed of nails, with blow torches on my

lower legs.

I am going to a new Pain Clinic July 5. CAN YOU GUYS SUGGEST SOME

QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR THE NEW DOCTOR??

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

hi, jenny and welcome to the group. have you been diagnosed by an

> orthopedic and/or neurosurgeon who specializes in the spine?

Thanks Marshal. The MRI (2 weeks ago) showed the same 4 herniated

lumbar disks I have had for a while and narrowing of the canal that

the sciatica nerve passes through. Plus scar tissue from the surgery.

X-rays just showed the osteoarthritis.

I should have told you that, sorry!

[Guest guest]

> where are you at?

> I am in arkansas and they dont have alot of pain clinics ehre and

the ones they do insurance isnt good about paying for it for sure...

>

I am in West Virginia. My insurance pays for all the Pain Clinic

stuff, it just won't pay for the very expensive new computerized leg.

Insurance is out of Ohio. If I had the same policy here, it would pay.

Or if I were on disability I could get it.

[Guest guest]

Hi, !

Around here, it seems like the pain doctors have different " specialties " .

The one I picked (out of a hat, basically, not knowing any better) feels

that his specialty is spinal injections. Long story short: I'm worse now.

But that brings me to my suggestions: ask the doctor what he feels his

special expertise is, and decide if that's something you want to try.

Also, ask what he plans to do if whatever treatment he proposes doesn't work

for you, and be sure you're comfortable with that answer.

Good luck!

On 6/27/06, shikarakids <shikarakids@...> wrote:

>

>

> I am going to a new Pain Clinic July 5. CAN YOU GUYS SUGGEST SOME

> QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR THE NEW DOCTOR??

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

wow, jenny, that sucked (the doctor who just jabbed you). i also had a bad

experience at roosevelt hospital with the pain doctor there. the interns

told me afterwards that they had no idea why she hit me where she did. when i

switched to my current pain doctor, dr. carter, she gave me shots in her

office. i did not have to go under. she usedd the machines to determine

location

and the shots were relatively painless. but after almst 20 years of shots

they finally had stopped working. the radiofrequency ablution was terrific

however. and altho it sounds nasty it too was relatively pain free. they burn

the nerve endings of the facet joints. it took away that horrible back pain

below the waist. good stuff.

marsha

[Guest guest]

jenny, a nurse is not an orthopedic spine specialist, i really think it is

important to be diagnosed by an orthopedic spine specialist (or neurosurgeon

or both). it does not mean that you have to have surgery. a good surgeon

will explore all non-surgicAL possibilities before he/she recommends surgery.

marsha

[Guest guest]

> jenny, did the surgeon make any suggestions?

I have not seen a surgeon because I am searching for non-surgical

options unless it is necessary. Already had it once, plus I am at risk

for blood clots.

> narrowing of the canal - stenosis - and just had my fusion L3-L4 5

weeks ago and i am so happy i had the surgery.

Oh really... my MRI specifically said no stenosis. What the nurse said

was narrowing of the opening where sciatica nerve goes through,

pressing on sciatic nerve. " That is not the same as stenosis is it?

The first surgery I had lasted 19 years -- it was perfect!

>

> In a message dated 6/27/2006 4:10:26 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> shikarakids@... writes:

>

> hi, jenny and welcome to the group. have you been diagnosed by an

> > orthopedic and/or neurosurgeon who specializes in the spine?

>

> Thanks Marshal. The MRI (2 weeks ago) showed the same 4 herniated

> lumbar disks I have had for a while and narrowing of the canal that

> the sciatica nerve passes through. Plus scar tissue from the surgery.

> X-rays just showed the osteoarthritis.

>

> I should have told you that, sorry!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

<laughsinglive@...> wrote:

>

> Hi, !

>

> Around here, it seems like the pain doctors have different

" specialties " .> The one I picked (out of a hat, basically, not knowing

any better) feels that his specialty is spinal injections. ....ask the

doctor what he feels his special expertise is, and decide if that's

something you want to try. Also, ask what he plans to do if whatever

treatment he proposes doesn't work

> for you, and be sure you're comfortable with that answer.

Thanks, those are good questions. I have written them down.

My first million spinal injections worked great, but I may have

mentioned that the last one was bad. The doctor (not the cute one who

did all the previous ones, but the one who took his place who is not

cute -- haha) jabbed the needle in me and I must have jumped 2 inches.

My left side was numb after that and I fell twice. So they scare me a

little now. This next appt. is at a different hospital.

[Guest guest]

> jenny, a nurse is not an orthopedic spine specialist,

For a journalist I don't communicate very well!! (Don't tell my boss.)

The nurse was reading what the doctor told her to read to me, over the

phone. I had already asked him to refer me to a Pain Clinic because I

had had such good luck with the one I had been to before, before the

cute guy left. So the Pain Clinic was my choice.

I had a diagnosis by a Physical Medicine Specialist who specialized in

pain management 2 years ago and it was pretty much the same thing,

only not the narrowing. That was based on X-rays and MRI. My current

doctor wanted the MRI repeated because he wanted to rule out stenosis

or a recurrence of my osteosarcoma (unlikely).

But yes, I did ponder having a referral to a neurosuregeon as well,

but not an orthopedists because I detest them! (Long story)

i really think it is

> important to be diagnosed by an orthopedic spine specialist (or

neurosurgeon

> or both). it does not mean that you have to have surgery. a good

surgeon

> will explore all non-surgicAL possibilities before he/she

recommends surgery.

> marsha

>

[Guest guest]

jenny, just a thought, but it is good to see 3-4 doctors, both neurosurgeons

and orthopedic surgeons. but to make sure they are spine specialists. very

important.

i saw 2 ortho's and 1 neuro before my surgery. the neuro wanted to do a 3

level fusion. the 3rd doctor,an ortho, said that was insane and i didn't need

all that surgery. he performed a one level fusion at L3-L4 and i am

thrilled that i did it. the pain on my right side in my butt, down my leg, to

my

knee was so intense that i could not walk anymore. that pain immediately went

away with the surgery.

and now all i have is the healing pain. surgery was may 22nd.

marsha

p.s. i think it is very difficult to make decisions about what to do and

where to go without seeing a few spine specialists. once you see them and let

them do all the talking and ask your questions, it will become much clearer

what path you should take and what you need to do. a good surgeon will try

everything else before surgery.

[Guest guest]

jenny, i still think it would be a good idea to see 3-4 spine specialists

asap and then proceed with pain cclinic etc. just my opinion, but it is

definitely a good idea to get diagnosed by an actual spine specialist 1st.

he/she

might evven be able to help you with fight for new leg.

marsha

[Guest guest]

BLEECKERST10012@... wrote:

>

> jenny, just a thought, but it is good to see 3-4 doctors, both

neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons. but to make sure they are

spine specialists.

Should I ask the pain doctor or my internist to refer me? Or just wait

and see what the pain doctor has to offer? My physical therapist,

supposedly one of the best in the state as far as experience and

training in several countries, told me surgery would be a big mistake

with all the scar tissue I have from previous surgery and based on his

exam. I know that is just one opinion.

Also, I am a part-time employee so I have no sick days or disability

insurance. I have health insurance through my husband, of course. So

that is a consideration too! (Plus, I am the only one who can do what

I do at work.)

I am getting myofascial massage therapy and that seems to help. A lot

of my problem is inflames tissue.

Keep in mind also that most of my problem is from an ill-fitting

prosthesis and it is possible that if my insuarnce ever decides that I

" deserve " that new computerized leg, that could help me quite a bit.

I am just confused and my anti-depressants are not working too well

these days!

[Guest guest]

jenny good luck.

[Guest guest]

> jenny, i still think it would be a good idea to see 3-4 spine

specialists asap and then proceed with pain cclinic etc. just my

opinion, but it is definitely a good idea to get diagnosed by an

actual spine specialist 1st. he/she

> might evven be able to help you with fight for new leg.

> marsha

That is a good point... But I think the pain doctor could help too. If

I go to a neurosurgeon, I want to go to Cleveland Clinic. I guess I

could start out with someone here. Most are associated with the

medical school here.

My friend just called to see how I was doing and she said she had been

to that same pain clinic and the doctor is fantastic. Very thorough,

ordered more tests and really helped her. I will ask him about seeing

a neurosurgeon.

[Guest guest]

> > jenny, i still think it would be a good idea to see 3-4 spine

> specialists asap and then proceed with pain cclinic etc. just my

> opinion, but it is definitely a good idea to get diagnosed by an

> actual spine specialist 1st. he/she

> > might evven be able to help you with fight for new leg.

> > marsha

Marsha -- one more thing... the Pain Clinic appt. is next week and I

could not possibly see a neurosuregon that soon... If I don't get

better medication soon I am not going to be able to work, and I never

miss work. So I am going to have to start out with him to get some relief.

Thanks,