[MelodyL]

Okay, here's the latest (and it's informative). The guy at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases does not do foot cryosugery. And he doesn't know anyone who does it for neuropathy.

So we contacted the next best thing. There is a podiatrist in Brooklyn New York (shall keep him nameless for now until we get all the info), who specializes in cryosurger of the foot (both Morton Neuroma's and the neuropathy in the toes). However, he does not take Mediblue HMO from Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Just got off the phone with his assistant. Alan is not at home so I did all the information giving to the doctor through his assistant.

I was asked specific questions such as "Where exactly is the neuropathy (between two toes of one foot and three toes of the other foot). Is the neuropathy on the rest of his foot (no). All the problems are between these certain toes. I also told her that Alan has auto-immune stuff going on but these toes are all squished together we think there is a compression thing going on here.

She spoke to the doctor (obviously he could not leave his patient and come to the phone but at least he answered all my questions). His reply was "Based on the information I gave him on Alan's toes, he thinks cryosurgery will do the trick".

Now here the interesting part. She said "Has Alan ever had a sonogram or MRI of his toes"? I said "no, but he has x-rays and we have them". She said "I'll tell you this right now, he needs a sonogram first (if the compression shows up, then he doesn't need an MRI), but they always approve the sonogram first.

She said "Have him get a Sonogram through his regular podiatrist and get a copy of it. Then contact your insurance company and see if you can do the Out Of Network thing"

So as soon as Alan gets home, I'll give him the information. Somehow he'll try and get one of his podiatrists to order a sonogram of his feet (his insurance will pay for this). Then we'll do the inquiry for the out of network thing.

If all fails (and I did ask how much this all costs), if Alan has to pay for all of it, the initial exam is $85.00 and each toe costs $350 to zap, But if there are two nerves in the toe, (he will give a good deal), and there are 5 toes involved, we figured at the most it will cost no more than $1000.

Thank god for Credit Cards, if this thing works.

Alan showed me his tailor bunion on his right foot. While it does not hurt him you can see that because of the tailor bunion, his pinky toe is all compressed against the other two toes. It's hard to get the cotton balls in this. But when we put the cotton balls in, he has no pain. So this HAS to mean something.

It's all about taking steps to get to the appointment with this guy.

So we shall get cracking and will update.

Wish us luck.

Melody

[dahlek]

http://www.iasp-pain.org/AM/Template...ContentID=2083

I dunno, seems as if there are a whole SLEW of qualifiers about each and every diagnostic step!

I would be gun shy if it were me. Look at it all from the postitives? Alan can walk for some distances without days of pay-backs, can function fairly normally and needs no 'assistance' as many do [canes, walkers, wheelchairs] and Alan is not up all nite every night in agonies.

If you want to put those scarce dollars into this medical black hole, it's your choice. If I'd any druthers? I'd try finding a really really GOOD accupuncturist? At least there's less permanent damage and some good endorphins would be let loose. - j

[MelodyL]

Dahlek:

This is a procedure that has a good success rate with Morton's Neuroma's and with some neuropathies. Alan feels this way. "I've had pain for 18 years." I don't want pain if I don't have to have pain. And yes, he's much better since he found Dr. Theirl and when he exercises.

But often, if he lays down, he starts punching his legs and going "my feet are doing a dance". This happens more than not. So if it were LESS than more, I gather he would think about it. But he's just tired of being in pain.

His tailor bunion is out to there and no one will touch it. It really compresses his pinky toe. I think there is toe compressing going on here (at the same time he has auto-immune stuff going on too).

This cryosurgery procedure is very simple. They numb you, they insert a probe into the affected nerve, and they freeze it. End of discussion. If there is remotely a chance that this guy can be pain free for the remainder of his life, you better believe, he's going to find out as much about it as he can.

The first step is the sono. It will tell the doctor if the toes are so compressed, that yes indeed, Alan is a good candidate. This guy specializes in cryosurgery so he's not just blowing in the wind here.

So I really think Alan has to give this a go. The first step is just a sonogram. Then hopefully Alan will try and get his insurance to pay for an out of network thing. All we can do is try.

I had to use the theraspa thing on his legs today because he came home from NYC and his neuropathy was killing him. He laid down and I just went all over his body with the Theraspa (in pulsating mode). My god, you should see him when I do this. He could just stay there all day and have this thing go up and down his right leg. He says "I can feel the blood going into my feet".

He's like a different person after this. But of course, it doesn't last.

And he tried acupuncture in 2000. He had his appointment on the day that 9/11 hit. We went to the acupuncturist and found all the police there telling us we were at Code Red. Never was so frightened in all my life.

So he didn't get his acupuncture that day. But he did go 3 times a week for a few months. Made a big difference. BUT IT DIDN'T LAST!!!

Nothing lasts. That's why he wants his nerves zapped.

We're going to talk to the doctor who does this quite a bit before anybody gets zapped, believe me.

Melody

[Steff]

go to heelsours.com they have a cyro site. some people post who do not get relief but more numness. i dont know-
i would try anythng for pain and i did and look where it got me.
idopathic neuropathy
steff

[MelodyL]

Hi Steff:
First I went to where you said to go heelsours.com, then I laughed and realized you meant to type heelspurs.com

So I went there. It's all about heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, etc. Then I hit the message boards. I scrolled down and found a thread titled "other uses".

I took that to mean, cryosurgery for other uses besides heel spurs". I was correct.

I happened upon this thread:

http://heelspurs.com/bbs/bbv.cgi?n=233974


So I read this post and the replies.

All this told me was that one person with neuropathy asked her doctor if the crysosurgery would work and he said "no, leave it alone".

When all the doctors tell Alan that, then I assume he will leave it alone. But if there's a chance that this podiatrist/surgeon who specializes in cryosurgery, well, if he examines Alan and thinks it's a good idea, Alan will probably go for it. As long as the insurance gives him an out of network permission to be seen by this doctor.

If it doesn't than I gather Alan will not proceed further. It's completely up to him. He's the one with pain between the toes. I only have burning of my feet when stress hits me.

Right now, he's lying in the living room shaking his right foot and trying to take a nap. It's not working. I now will go in, take off his shoe and sock and put the cotton balls between his toes. He'll be out like a light in 5 minutes.
Works every time. He just doesn't remember to do this.

Sucks getting old. ...lol

Hope your pain level is tolerable.

PN Sucks, this I know.

Melody