Still In Back Pain See Post #13

[Anikaca77]

Hi All-

I went to see the back surgeon today since I've been having so much pain recently and I figured they would do another set of x-rays since it's since May since they took the last and first shots.

Well they didn't. Which was fine I figured although I think it would have been handy to have a current x-ray done in case I did cause some damage.

I arrived for my appt at about 11:20 a.m. my appt. was schedule for 11:30 a.m. and when I checked in they told me I needed to update a form for them that I did back in May. So I was sitting there filling out this form and the nurse called my name so I went back there with the form since I wasn't finished yet.

I told the nurse I wasn't finished and she told me that was ok to just finish it before the doctor came in.

I told the nurse that my sciatica pain has gone away but my back pain has increased this past month and it's been very painful. I gave the nurse a calendar that I made out with my day to day description of what type of pain I've had and she said she would give it to the doctor.

After waiting about 40 mins. to see the surgeon, this isn’t that big of deal except that I heard him talking with the nurses down the hall for most of those 40 mins. and them laughing so I was a tad irritated.

So the surgeon finally came in to see me and the first thing he said to me was "You're doing much better." It through me off and I said no not really and he's like well your sciatica pain is gone so that's really good and I'm thinking yeah because I've lost 60 lbs. and it wasn't your chiro that helped because my back pain has been really bad lately.

Right away he's like you don't need surgery yet. You are too young which is fine I don't want to go through surgery by any means but I just wanted a caring surgeon or at least one who would look at the calendar that I made up, oh yeah he brought in his summary of my last appt. in May with the nurses note on the top saying sciatica pain is gone but back pain remains.

I was so ticked that he didn't even bother to look at what my life has been like this past month.

He asked me, are you not able to do the things you once were? and I was thinking yes at certain times but I told him it's hard to but I force myself to do them. He's like do you feel your quality of life is being affected and I said sometimes.

The other kicker is that he didn't even bother to touch my back to see if it felt swollen which I think it is and all he had me do was touch my toes and bend a little backwards.

He's like well you have good flexibility and normally people with bad spondylolisthesis can't do that without pain. I was just getting more and more ticked off at this doctor at his attitude and the way he was rushing this appt and not giving a crap it felt like.

He wanted me to try physical therapy again and they can give me some things to do at home and I can get that info from my sister. I felt irritated too about that form I had to fill out at the beginning of my appt and do you think he even looked at it to see what symptoms I was having or anything like that. It just seemed like he was in such a rush and that I'm too young for surgery which I agree I am but I need something and not just here's more pain meds and I'll see you in 6 weeks.

Needless to say I didn't reschedule an appt and I've had nothing but problems with the secretary's that answer the phones, they are always rude and not profession.

I'm going to be searching for a new surgeon one that hopefully will give a crap.

I'm sorry I just needed to vent this out. Sorry this turned out too be so long.

Melissa




Here is some info as to what's going on with my back. (I wrote this on a spine yahoo group that I belong to so it might sound a tad funny).


Jan. 08 I had x-ray done due to the pain in my back and nerve
pain in my leg. Once the x-ray was done it showed that I had
spondlolisthesis so they sent me for MRI of my back.

Here are the results from my MRI in Jan. 08:

Grade 2 spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1 associated with a posterior
spondylosis.

There is estimated 7 mm anterolisthesis with significant to severe
right and to a lesser extent left foraminal stenosis at L5-S1.

Mild right central disc herniation of L4-L5 with a small, extruded
fragment creating a moderate localized impact upon the right L5 nerve
root.

Minimal broad-based disc bulge at L3-L4 of doubtful clinical
significance.

I had a CT Scan done on 2/6/09 and this is what they said:

There is a mild change of Degenerative Disc Disease with small vertebral body osteophytes.
There is disc space narrowing at L4-L5. There is evidence of bilateral
spondylolsis of L5 with Grade 1 to 2 Spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1. No vertebral
compression deformities are identified. The sacrobiliac joints appear intact.
Slight spurring is seen along the supermedial margins of both iliac
bones.

I've seen a pain management doctor and he did three steroid injections and the
third one didn't take so they told me they could no longer help me with the back
pain and I needed to set up an appt. to see the surgeon.

I set up an appt. for May 15, 2009 to see the surgeon and my husband and I went
to the appt. and he told us everything that he would do and the recovery time
was about 2-3 months. Right away after being off for surgery in March I couldn't
take off that much time from work and I was still able to stand and do things so
we decided it would be best to wait until after I've lost all the weight I want
to and see where we are at then.

The surgeon said he had no problem doing the surgery on me because my back can
only be fixed with surgery but I may want to hold off as long as I can because
my L2 and L3 are already showing signs of Degenerative Disc Disease and he said
that when I fix my L4 and L5 that will put pressure on my upper spine and in
about 10 years or so I'd need another back surgery to replace that.

The chiropractor guy I've been seeing has been helping with my nerve pain but
just 2 weekends ago I must of done too much lifting and now I'm still paying for
it. On Saturday, Sept. 5th I was lifting probably lifting a tad too much that day. Then on Monday, since I was off from work my mom and I went back to visit
my Grandfather, he lives about 1 hr. and 45 mins. away and on Monday evening, my
back felt sore but it wasn't too bad. On Tuesday, Sept. 8th I woke up and I had
the worst back pain, I've ever had. I could barely walk and sitting at work hurt
so badly.

I ended up leaving work at 2 p.m. on Tuesday because I couldn't take the pain
anymore and I called my chiropractor to see if I needed to see the pain
management doctor or who I should go and see and they told me to keep my appt.
with the chiropractor and when I went in on Wed. Sept. 9th and the started me
off with the Tens unit and I had to sit up for it because I couldn't lie down.

When the chiropractor came in he told me I had a lot of inflammation and my back
felt really warm.

He told me to keep ice on my back and he wanted to see me on Friday. He did a
few adjustments on Wed. Then Friday came and I was walking better but the pain
was still there and he told me to rest over the weekend and that he wanted to
see me back on Mon., Tues., or Wed. so I have a follow-up appt. on Wed. with him
and I think this time I'm going to talk with him about what I can do or who I
should see or what not.

Last night I was running the vacuum cleaner and I got this pinching and pain in
my back and this morning I'm super sore again and I don't know if a back brace
would help with certain things or what but sometimes just sitting here at work
and trying to move my spine really hurts.

[Karen]

I am sorry you are having such trouble. Be persistent, and work with people you trust to find a doctor that can both help, and who cares. You need to be your own advocate here, and while that's just adding to the stress which I am sure adds to the pain, it will be worth it in the long run.

Do look around, there are more places that specialize in pain management and a lot of work is being done in that area.

You'll be in our prayers.

[Laura's Babies]

Some doctors just should not even be doctors. They tell us to be sure to tell the doctors everything but they don't tell us HOW to MAKE them listen! Even if they do, they just brush you off anyway.

I would find another doctor but don't get your hopes up that the next one will be any better. I tried that and got one even worse... except for my eye doctor, I did do better with that one.

I find when it comes to pain, they can't see it, touch it, have it show up on any test, therefore, it isn't really bad, you just want drugs.... It seems to be all about the money these days.. "Oh? You not feeling better? Ok, come back in 3 months... That will be $157, pay the receptionist as you leave..... NEXT!

[K9karen]

Too bad you don't live closer to Phila., 'cause i LOVE, WORSHIP & ADORE my ortho. He primarily does spines. The patients in the waiting room call him "Saint Sutton". He's amazing, compassionate, caring, concerned. I commented on his bedside manner, and he said he was just a normal person. Yeah...doing extraordinary stuff. He gave me my life back. The problems I have now have nothing to do with where he operated. It's just a continuing degenerative problem sneaking up and down my spine. He won't operate unless necessary. I just had an epidural and he insists I him call 2 weeks later. He has patients from all over. His reputation is unbelievable.

I feel for your pain and the situation you had. Listen, I've changed my primary doc because he's a jerk. I looked around until I found a gem. It's my body and money. I would (and have) freaked out . I hope you find satisfaction.

[moosmom]

Melissa,

Look for a new surgeon is a very wise move. Doctors always overbook their appointments. I give my doctors a 15 minute margin from my actual appointment time. I refuse to sit in an cold examining room. Don't get me wrong, emergencies come up. But to force someone to sit, IN PAIN (I also have sciatica and it's excruciating) for that long a time is just plain wrong. I have no problem getting up and walking out. I've done it before and it gets their attention REAL fast when there's one less paying patient to see.

I always call my doctor's office to see if he's running late. He usually is, so I plan ahead by bringing a book (doctor's offices never have any good mags to read) along with my mp3 player.

Melissa, I feel your pain, believe me!!! Tell your old surgeon you want a copy of your entire file (it is YOUR file and you are entitled to it by law) and find one that will listen to you and what you've gone through.

I went to a doctor to manage my anti-depression meds in Michigan a few years back. She was reading a file and said, "So I see you're having problems with sexual disfunction."

I said, "Whaaaat????" She said, "Yes, you're on such and such meds and your main complaint was your sexual drive." I said, "Um, NO"

It turns out she was reading another patient's chart (DUH!!) I ran (not walked) to the nearest exit, after requesting my entire file.

[pomtzu]

Melissa...

Sometimes it's better just to go to the top, and leave these local doctors alone.

I know it might be a distance for you to travel, but maybe you should check in to a reputable orthopaedic center or university teaching hospital. After 2 different local surgeons left me nearly crippled, I sought help at the Univ of Md Hosp Spine Center in Baltimore. It was nearly a 2 hour drive from here, but I had nothing to lose, and without the help and surgery I received there, I would have been crippled to the point of being in a wheel chair for life - or worse. This is an excellent place, and I'd be glad to give you more info if you want.

There is also the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, and Penn State Hershey Medical Center (which I believe is closer to you) with a wonderful orthopaedic department. And in cases such as yours, sometimes a chiropractor just makes matters worse.

Don't let it go too long before you do something, since the longer you wait, the worse it will get, and it can be potentially crippling.

Good luck and keep us posted.