Probably going under the knife again
 

<rant> Just a little background, since 1993 I have had work done on both knees (one major reconstruction) both shoulders, a disk in my neck removed and a wrist rebuilt.

That is just to say that I know a little bit about joint pain.

So when I had some shoulder pain develop last month, I made an appointment with the orthopod surgeon resposible for both shoulders and the wrist mentioned above.

Then I lost some of the feeling in my left hand.

So, instead of just waiting to see the surgeon I made another appointment with a spine guy to get the expected MRI rolling because I knew from experience it was my neck again.

Well today I finally saw the orthopod, so while I was waiting for him in the exam room I opened my MRI on the computer (since I had both done through the same hospital the nurse brings up my whole file we she puts me in the room).

As I am trying to decifer the Doctor-speak in the notes and understand what I am looking at, the orthopod walks in, looks at the MRI for about 20 seconds and says "Wow, what are you doing waiting for me? You need to see a neurosurgeon asap." He explains that I have completely blown out the disk below the one that was fused 6 years ago.

He then scribbles a note, hands it to me and tells me to go down the hall to neurosurgery and tell them you need an appointment with the surgeon and if you don't get one right away to call him and he will call the guy himself, and hands me a script for pain meds.

So now I am both relieved that I know what the problem is and scared shitless as to what I have to look forward to in the coming months. :confused: </rant>

Thanks, just wanted to get that off my chest.

The only smart thing I did today was bring a La Aroma de Cuba Marquis with me so I was at least able to relax on the drive home.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good luck with that. Hope that the waiting will be the worst part.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good luck to you.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Hoping it all goes well for you, Rick. :)

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

I wish you the best of luck, my brother.
I've worried about the stuff fused in my lower back, that it'd just transfer all the torque to the discs above and below. You answered that question for me. I'm sure that's no consolation, but your experience might save me some grief down the road if I take it easy.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Prayers and thoughts for you during and after your surgey! Hoping you feel better after this Rick!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good luck with everything Rick...glad it sounds like they're taking care of you quickly

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Wow :(

Sorry to hear that Rick. Hope all goes well.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Hope Everything Works Out For You, Brother; Don't Live In Pain If You Don't Have To.:tu Thoughts & Prayers Sent.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Well the first time around I was out of work for 6 weeks and bored stiff for 5 of them.

I am smiling at the thought of the destruction I could unlease with that much time on my hands (either that or the Vidcodin is kicking in) :noon

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

I'll make sure to include you in my prayers!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good luck Bunker. I'm curious to hear how things go as I've had issues with my neck recently and while things are good now, I ain't getting any younger.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Best of luck with everything Rick. Hope it all works out for you.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Best of luck!!! Thoughts and prayers sent!!!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

thoughts and prayers

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good luck hope everything gets taken care of!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Positive thoughts Rick!!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Chin up and stay strong! They do some great things these days at Mass hospitals. Prayers are with you.:)

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

All the best to you!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Rick, will keep you in my prayers that the doctors be given the wisdom to perform this surgery with skill to bring about healing and recovery, and that you be given strength and patience to deal with pain post-surgery rehab and healing.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good karma sent your way Rick!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good luck bro, will keep you in prayer!!!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Best of luck, Rick.... and here's to a speedy recovery (and hopefully no more follow-up surgery).

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

I know this is bordering on TMI, but if you have ever wondered what your spine should NOT look like....

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Best of luck for a speady recovery with very little pain.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Yikes, that's pretty serious news. Prayers for a full recovery.
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Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Yikes.... best wishes to a speedy recovery! Hopefully you'll be back up and on your feet soon! At least its happening now and not in the summer.... nothing worse than being laid up in the summer while everyone else is enjoying the weather.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

<rant>

The first appointment I got was for the first week in March so I called around and I am waiting to hear back from two different hospitals today (one advantage to living in Boston).

To make things that much better, we found my wife's job posted on Monster over the weekend (just posted Saturday).

So I got that going for me ....

</rant>

:(

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

As someone who has to replaced hips, a cage and fusion in my back and my surgeon telling me I need a rebuild on my left shoulder and a repair on the right...I know how you feel I hope all works out well....PS shoulders are the hardest joint to rehab...just sayin

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Well to continue my rant:

(Mainly just for my own needs but that is what rants are for right?)

I saw Surgeon #1 yesterday and he said he sees no non-surgical options with this degree of rupture, and because of my existing fusion I am a very good candidate for disk replacement - which would hopefully stop the domino effect of adjacent disks failing over time.

Then he said that my insurance (BCBS) will most likely deny it and just tell him to do another fusion (I assume because they are less expensive) :mad:

He said I have a good chance of getting it approved through an appeal process (which I will have to do myself) but it will add an extra couple of months to the process.

I am hoping that once they see they have already paid for one fusion that likely casused my current condition, that the replacement may actually be more cost effective in the long run. :sh

I see Surgeon #2 tomorrow for a second opinion (which I know they are going to ask for anyway).

Then Monday, I get to go back to my regular Dr. and beg for pain meds to tide me over through the appeal process (apparently surgeons don't like writing scripts until after they cut you open).

He did say that I shouldn't have any issues getting what I need once I show him the cd of my MRI (I feel like one of those moron muscians in the subway station passing out cd's to anyone that will listen).

I just hope I have enough left to get me to Monday.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Damn dude. I feel for ya! Hope it all works out in the end. Just another story of why insurance companies suck. :(

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Back in rant mode.....

I saw surgeon #2 yesterday, total a-hole.

He let his surgical resident do most of my eval (who seemed surprised how well I could read my MRI films, I told him this is far from my first rodeo).

The resident agreed that I need surgery, and then Dr. a-hole finally came in, didn't want to listen to anything I had to say and completely contridicted his assistant saying he didn't like to be so aggressive and I should try PT first and wait until it gets worse before sending me packing in about 5 minutes after being in the hospital for 3+ hours.

I told him not to sit by the phone waiting for me to make another appointment.

He also made me have a CT scan which he never looked at (I had my MRI films with me) - can you say "padding the bill" any louder?:td

I am going to stick with the first guy.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Sorry you're stuck in the doctor grinder, Rick.
Honest to God, it's worth continuing to look for a surgeon you can put your trust in. Don't settle. Ask around, check some messageboards, get in the car and drive a couple hundred miles if you have to.
In the end, even if you don't get 100% relief, you'll feel confident you got the very best treatment possible. That peace of mind is worth it's weight in gold.

Ain't much sense in getting pissed off, and it's damn near impossible not to. The doctors just plain don't much give a sh1t.
I have found that big city doctors are far more personable and thorough than small town docs (I'm not sure where you're doctoring). In the small towns, there's one health system and zero competition. When I travel to Pittsburgh or Cleveland, they fall all over me. By "fall all over me", I mean they'll actually listen to my concerns and answer my questions. You'd think that should be status quo, but it ain't, by a longshot.

I wish you the best of luck through all this, I know exactly how bad it sucks. I've been stuck in the doctor grinder for years. They have my insurance cards practically swiped to death.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

I'm in Boston, no need to travel more than a few blocks to find another hospital. That is the one thing I have going for me.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

So, to update my rant.....

I have a surgery date for the end of March - I filled out all the paperwork and have a pre-op scheduled.

But, I still don't have an official yes or no yet.

So, I have to plan my work and family around possibly having a pretty major procedure done in three weeks - but it might not happen.

If it does, I'll be out for at least two weeks and not be able to drive for probably five weeks (who knows when I will be able to enjoy a cigar again).

Talk about a frustrating process. :bh

At least I have the NERF this weekend to take my mind off of things.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

GL & Prayers Continued, Brother!:tu

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

I'm sure you will come thru this just fine.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Well, I got the call this morning that I have actually been approved for disk replacement and everything is a go for the end of the month.

I still won't believe it until I have the paperwork in my hand but it looks like I will be on the DL just in time for opening day (hopefully there will be some day games early on).:tu

Now the real question, home many cigars can I smoke before then and how many weeks will I have to go without one after the fact? :confused:

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Good luck with everything -- my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Hey Rick, hate to hear about your predicament, but I'm glad you got approved for disk replacement--it sounds like that's about the best option at this point. Look into something like your cable company's MLB package and then you'll have no shortage of games to watch!!

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Glad to hear your approved for the disc replacement...can only hope this will be the last...I was told after my first back surgery I shouldn't need another I'm now 3 down and looking at a 4th. Prayers sent

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Well the battle continues.

I was approved for the hospital stay meaning they agree I need surgery, they denied my request for disk replacement and are pushing for me to have another fusion instead which I am appealing.

So, back to waiting. :bh

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Hope It Works Out For You, Brother! Thoughts & Prayers Sent.

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

So after a few more weeks of BS, my appeals have been denied and now I am looking at April 13th for the procedure I was hoping to avoid (that was originally scheduled for tomorrow).

My surgeon is still talking about pulling some rabbit out of his hat with BCBS but it looks like it is another disk fusion or nothing for me. :tg

At least I can look forward to 4-5 years of comfort before the next one fails, maybe by then they will have an approved procedure to fix their mistakes. :sh

Re: Probably going under the knife again
 

Here's the end result - fused from C5 - C7 with a chunk of titanium holding things together:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i9...n1us/spine.jpg