Is it strange that in the workup for my husband's PN he has never had a MRI or any other imaging study? Is that normally done? I would think you would do all the noninvasive studies to rule things out before jumping to all the invasive things.

Some crazy stuff happened this week when trying to get the blood patch for his continued neck pain after his spinal tap. The anesthesiologist (3 in fact) refused to do it unless he had a MRI. They couldn't believe a spinal tap had been done without a MRI or myelogram. They didn't think it was safe to stick another needle in his back without knowing what was going on inside there, especially since he had the new pain/sensations in his foot since the spinal tap. Well, when asked by the anesthesiologist for the MRI order, our neurologist refused! Any idea why? I am actually an ICU nurse who has worked directly with this neurologist before, and I have totally been baffled by how differently he acts when the roles are different. His answer was to send us to another hospital for the blood patch. I reluctantly agreed to do this just to talk to the new anesthesiologist. Well, his opinion was the same so needless to say we NEVER got the blood patch. Luckily, my husband has started to heal on his own and was finally able to go back to work. All the pain and tingling in his feet have resolved to. I, of course, have already looked into a new neurologist!

Oh yeah, the results.....the spinal tap was completely normal as was the fancy blood work they sent off checking for those crazy neoplastic syndromes and stuff. I am relieved, of course, but still no answer!

Is it totally inappropriate to push getting radiology studies especially since now he wants to jump to the nerve biopsy which I don't really feel comfortable doing? My problem is that the first appointment I could get with a new neurologist at our medical college is in January!! Any ideas/suggestions??

Thanks,
Lisa