Whoops! My bad, I hadn't realized you were waiting to hear back from me - I think adding a neurologist to your tx team is a great idea. Just make sure that they treat patients with TOS, to be on the safe side. If you find one TOS specialist reasonably close to you by using the forum search function, but they don't happen to be a neurologist, you can try calling them anyway to ask for a referral to one. These guys all tend to know each other. You know how that goes, I'm sure!
Also a little Confucious (
) as to why your pain doc would be ticked off if you went for a surgical consult. I thought she was the one pushing for you to do that, and that you were a bit taken aback at the prospect. Perhaps I got it backwards (wouldn't be the 1st time!).
Tenny rate, your new neuro will be the best one to refer you to the surgeon who is the top TOS specialist in your area. These guys tend to be vascular surgeons, but don't be thrown off by the nomenclature. And again, it would just be a consult - you wouldn't have to commit to having any surgery. They might want to order some diagnostic tests and/or conduct some noninvasive clinical tests during the office exam. Pretty standard stuff.
Must close now as I've gotta date with my pillow! Goodnight and bless you for taking care of your mom, DixieDarlin. Rock steady.
Alison
Quote:
Originally Posted by DixieDarlin
Hey there. Yes, I'm in between rheumatologists and do wonder if a lot of my issues is from the RA. I've been off the Methotrexate for about 5 months now. I'm hoping this Rhuemy will accept me. Some have turned me down due to my complicated case. The pain management doctor is an internist (internship in internal medicine, resident training in physical medicine and rehabilitation) and I do have a GP. She's new to me as well so I'm not sure if she's running the show? lol I hope she is.
Yes, it's confusing as I'm not sure all the other doctors are coordinating with each other. They all do have my records since it's online system for them. I do wish I didn't have so many doctor's appointments it's like a full time job, however, I'm getting use to it. I also care take my Mother because she has Parkinson's and emphysema. So I have to take her to her appointments as well.
Thanks for the info on the search function. I will certainly try and see if there is a doctor here (small town) for that. You never did say, should I get a neuro doctor? What I've decided to do and hopefully not tick off my pain management doctor, is go ahead and have a evaluation with the surgeon. See what he says. Then go back to the pain management doctor and tell him until all my tests are done (I need xrays of the throaic spine) and a complete overall view can be seen, that I will not consider surgery.
I apologizee about being old at 50...it's just I feel very old. I watch people that are about my age and they seem to be having a good time and here I am broken down and can hardly move. :P Thank you again for all your help.  |