Miss Ginnie, you have very insightful replies!

Did I like the neuro? No. Did I get the feeling that he is qualified? Yes. It's always been a plus for me if I like my dr., but not actually a requirement. My GP that I've had for years - don't particularly like him, but I know he'll always do right by me. I'm not inviting him over for dinner though.

Perhaps this guy will "humble down" some as he ages - perhaps not. One more pointer that he made was that his reputation and the reputation of the major facility he works for depends on his decisions and the work he does. Wrong way to put - in my book anyway - BUT he thinks so highly of himself he wouldn't do a shabby job for fear his reputation as a surgeon and the reputation of his facility might take a hit. Not the proper reason to do a good job but who cares as a long as the best job he can do gets done? I did not feel as though he was pushing me into surgery though, not near as much as the first OS that I saw. That one said laminectomy so quick - again, wrong bedside manner - but all 3 have said surgery required, so I no longer feel surgery is being pushed on me. This latest one - I don't believe - would have pushed surgery simply because I did get the definite impression that he'd prefer to weed out non-insurance holders from the get-go and not do any surgery on us. Regarding what you said about a doctor talking down to you, this guy kept saying "you're not understanding me" and I'd say "yes I understand, but...", then he'd make the same statemnet again, and again, until finally I said "I'm sorry, I'm not expressing myself clearly.." - HINT, HINT, but he didn't get it. The only time I saw him soften somewhat was when I started to cry. Couldn't help it, and frankly didn't care.

Now as far as a rock and a hard place - I cannot financially keep doctor shopping. This guy had to have the $1000 upfront not when I got there, it had to be paid via phone prior to the appointment even being made. The pain specialist - which I no longer feel is an option - flat out said he didn't think he could do me any good. Said he didn't think epidurals would be beneficial, and the one he did was not. He won't do more. Perhaps if I beg and plead with him to continue the meds till High Horse makes his decision - I don't know - you know how doctors don't like to treat when there's another dr. in the pot. And the dang fact of the matter is, I hate, despise, the pill taking. I want to feel healthy and be active LIKE I WAS, but that "ain't" happening and I can't take those dang NSAIDs and have not been able to for 25 years, they make my stomach feel like its bleeding. Doctors have always had an issue with all my medication allergies / reactions - everything they like to prescribe frontline, but I cannot help that!

I don't know what to do at this point.
But Miss Ginnie, thank you for reading and responding so insightfully to my lengthy, rambling, what's got to be BORING posts. They even bore me! Do you remember that tv program "Lives of the Rich and Famous"? Perhaps we have a premise for a new program called "Lives of the Poor and Disgusted".