[LizaJane]

I came here with only one real question--are the loose screws a danger. It was the head of their spine department who had alarmed me about them to begin with. But he's just a pain doc, and his alarm was not at all matched by the neurosurgeon, who saw me yesterday also. The pain guy suggested a bone scan to see if there were any clear sites for pain generators. The surgeon said the scan will be abnormal, and not answer the question. THe only answer to what are my pain generators would come putting a needle into suspected areas, such as directly into the screw holes, and injecting lidocaine and seeing what happens. He doesn't think the scan woujld help.

He said, yeah, the surgery has failed, and the steroids and foxamax probably contributed, but he wouldn't be definitive, sensitive the possibility of a lawsuit on my side and not wanting to get involved with that. I totally understand that. He suggested getting CT scans every 3 months to follow the state of fusion, and as long as there's improvement, keep using the bone stimulator. If there's no change, that's the time to stop. Also, he said there was a reasonable chance of late fusion, over the next year to two. But, he said, don't get too wrapped up in the fusion question. Studies have shown that continued pain is not related to whether or not fusion is successful.

I think these are intelligent opinions, and believe them. So, I'm ready to come home tomorrow.

That's all. Nothing dramatic, but believable, and reassuring that I understand my situation correctly.

Whether or not to get treatment for my pain, via injections--he agreed with me, that if the pain is tolerable, don't get the steroids; but if it is debilitating, there's no evidence that a one time dose would change my future.

A reasonable guy, I thought.

So, again, ready to come home.

[BEGLET]

Good to hear from you - wondering how you were doing...,. Sounds like you feel more comfortable with whats going on right now - so the trip was worth it? Thats really upsetting that the surgery failed so far - but knowing it may still heal in the next year or so is promising.

Have a safe trip home.

[Silverlady]

I had decided to call you tonight since we hadn't heard anything from you. So do you feel that you have the answers you need now? Or at least a plan to follow? And I know you are really exhausted. I'll talk to you later.

Billye

[LizaJane]

BTW, I do feel good about the trip. Even though it was a big haul for 20 minutes of conversation, I feel more clear about the possiblities than before. Feel validated that what I'd been reading is what is correct; that what I've been told by my doctors is not quite on target, and that I'd be followed more closely by the Mayo.

I can ask for closer monitoring, and follow the guidelines. I do realize now more than ever that even if I achieve the elusive goal of fusing, I may still have pain. But the screws won't damage me.

So it was worth the trouble.