Quote:
Originally Posted by flippnout
Hey LisaM, and everyone else I had TOS surgery and a sympathectomy done at the same time I first had test done to see if I was positve for CRPS (RSD) wich I was. I was told everything by this doctor (Same as LisaMs') I was told the risk factors nothing surgar coated for me, this doctor let me know my options at the time since I had not recieved any treatments for so long, for TOS and CRPS no meds no anything I had nothing to lose since I was living in a constant pain scale of 10, my eyes where shut all the time and my head was on shoulder all the time, surgery was my only option. I did not rush into this I talked to a Pain Mng. doc recomended by RSD'rs and a Top Ortho in the country befor deciding this, all where in agreement on me a sympathectomy and TOS surgery was the only option.
I will say this Doctor exsplained everything to me, as well as the other doctors all the negatives and positives wich where few a 20-30% chance it would work is all and even less by other docs, it is too soon to say if RSD has spread since my nerves are going through alot after my TOS decompression and sympathectomy , I will say Doc said I was the worst TOS decompression he has seen , he was amazed how I could even function like he said I was living in just survive mode. I hurt but I haft to see where this takes me now I will let my body heal and go from there I know I may my CRPS come back worse or it may be gone or spread, and my TOS as well.
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I think the difference though...is even though we had the same surgeon, he did NOT explain any of this to me, as he did to you. I saw him one week, we scheduled surgery for the next. We did NO TESTS other than a physical exam. All that included was him testing how I raised my arms, and my strength and poking me in a few areas to see when symptoms occurred. He also did NOT explain to me what RSD was, and did NOT explain to me that it could get worse because of the surgery. I brought all of my mri's, emg results, etc...and he didn't even look at anything I brought. Now, I suppose part of this is my fault....but we all know what it's like to FINALLY hear someone say, "Yep...this is what you have, and I can certainly help you,and this is how!" So I jumped at the chance to finally feel better, after a long road of doctors telling me that I was basically nuts.
Maybe he was different with you BECAUSE of what happened with me? Or maybe because you were a WC case? I don't know. All I know is I am SO GLAD, and SO HAPPY that he didnt' treat you the way he treated me...and I so hope that you have a much better outcome than I did. I wish he'd have asked me to have more tests done. I wish he'd have explained to me what RSD was. I wish I'd have had the opportunity to read here on the forum the person who told me not to have the surgery if I had rsd also (but it was too late...I got that message after I'd already had the surgery). i wish a LOT of things. All I know is your experience with this doctor and my experience with him wre totally and completely different. he told me that 75-80% of my symptoms would be resolved with surgery. So, perhaps I had Dr. Jekyll and you had Mr. Hyde LOL!