Hi all:
We just came back from Dr. Elowitz, who works out of Beth Israel. A very nice man. He is a neurosurgeon.
I brought all of Alan’s mri reports and all his films.

When we go to Alan's appointments, Alan prefers that I start doing the talking so I asked the doctor if this was okay and he said fine.

He listened to me describe Alan’s symptoms over the years, about how he can’t lie down at night but when I massage him, and he takes a xanax, that’s the only way he can sleep.

He listened to Alan explain that when he sits, “his feet do a dance”.

I also explained how his chiropractic/neurologist literally saved his sanity and got him off the fentanyl pain patch by his adjustments. I explained all of Alan has gone through and why were there, that we thought from the mri reports, that Alan’s PN is attributed to his back. Well, this is not the case.

The guy said “Alan’s PN has nothing to do with his back. There are no pinched nerves causing this. I have looked at the films, and read the reports and listened to his symptoms.

So I said “what we need is Gregory House from the show HOUSE!!!

The guy started laughing and and said “absolutely”.

I then said “so there will be no laminectomy, no endoscopic dischetomy, no nothing because Alan’s PN is not related to his back in any way shape or form, right?

He said “right. “ He then said “also there other symptoms we look at relating to the back. Alan has no back pain, he has no clumsy gait, he walks just fine.

“This has to do with the nerves in his feet. That’s why I’m sending you to a neurologist who specializes in Peripheral Neuropathy”. His name is Dr. Scelsa (who also works out of Beth Israel).

I then said “but we went to a neurologist in Coney Island Hospital and he did nothing”

The doctor replied : “There are neurologists for this and there are neurologists for that, this guy is a neurologist whose speciality is Peripheral Neuropathy. As a matter of fact, I sent my father to him”. I said “so what happened to your father?” and he went: “well, My dad was lucky, it cleared up on its own”

He said to me, Alan’s last emg was 3 years ago, he will probably order Alan a new EMG and a lot of new stuff is coming up on PN.

So when we came home, we immediately called this new guy who also works out of Beth Israel. His name is Dr. Scelsa, who also works out of Beth Israel.

The soonest appointment was for November 29th. So we made it.

Five minutes later, the secretary calls me and says “Oh wow, I don’t believe it, we have a cancellation for this money, the 6th, at 1 p.m., do you want it?”

I said “with bells on”. So now we’ll go on Monday.

So my question to any of you is this. “What can we expect to happen on Monday? And have any of you gone to a neuro who specializes in PN, and what happened. Those with idiopathic PN, I mean.

Thanks guys.

Melody

--but I know of many--I happen to think most--of the neurologists in the NYC metro area who have practices in neurology with real specializations in peripheral neuropathy (this is just from the research I've had to do over the years for my situation, and my involvement with many boards and the Neuropathy Association), and this individual's name is not familiar to me within that realm.

If it is who I believe it to be, he is better known for work on ALS, Myasthenia Gravis, and related neuromuscular disorders. Not that there isn't overlap between these neurological areas, but as many here have pointed out, if one has a choice, one would prefer to see someone in a practice devoted primarily to PN. And the number of physicians who fall into that category is not large. (And many of them are connected in some way to the Columbia Presbyterian or Cornell Weill health systems in NYC, which is where much of the local research in this field is carried out.)

During the time you've communicated about Alan's condition, I had pretty much assumed his improvement with Dr. T's administrations had meant Alan's condition was primarily compressive in nature (and certainly your massages' effects would corroborate this), possibly involving the nerve roots near the spine (a condition more accurately termed radiculopathy). It may have also involved the lower spine itself, though that would not be considered a peripheral neuropathy.

But now that you're saying that the interpretation of the radiology does not show anything that suggests spinal/nerve root compression/impingement . . .

Keep in mind also that doctors and radiologists can have radically different interpretations of the same films. Even additional opinions may be called for. Still, it would not hurt, if insurance will cover it, to get Alan a work-up following the Poncelet protocols and Liza Jane's charts--and I would suggest you bring the latter to any doctor you visit.

If you like, PM me and I'll give you a list of many of the city neuros who I know have specific PN practices or emphases.

Are you saying this new guy we are seeing, is not a specialist in PN.

Dr. Elowitz, today, told us this is his specialty.

Oh well, it's a $15.00 co-pay. Alan says this is it for him from now on. He's going back to the gym. He used to go 3 times a week, but after he fell, he needed time to heal.

He asked me before "how can this guy say it's not my back that is causing the PN? because when Dr. Theirl does his thing, I feel much better and when you massage my calves and legs, and my lower back, I'm in heaven.

Yeah, he's in heaven but not for the whole night. He's in heaven for about 20 minutes, long enough for the xanax to take effect. Then if he lies on his side, (or some particular position) it makes going to sleep easier.

We really did think that today was going to be a major big thing but I guess not.

I shall update you on Monday after we get back and we can talk about this some more.

Thanks glentaj. Will advise.

P.S. TOMORROW IS MY 59TH BIRTHDAY. Made it to 59 years old.
Now that's an accomplishment. And I still have my own teeth.

PPS.
Just did a search on the guy we are seeing on Monday.
Here's what came up
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen N. Scelsa, MD
Director, Neuromuscular Division and ALS Center, Beth Israel
Center, Institute, Program The Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology & Neurosurgery

Medical Specialty Neurology
Specializations/ Clinical Interests EMG/Neuromuscular Disease
Insurance See Insurance Providers
Board Certifications American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Neurology), 1993
American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, 1994
American Board of Phychiatry and Neurology, Added Qualifications in Clinical Neurophysiology, 1996
Medical School SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, NY, 1988
Residency Training Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Jacobi and Montefiore Medical Centers, Bronx, NY, 1989-1992
Fellowship EMG (electromyography) and neuromuscular disease, Albert Einstein Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 1992-1993
Academic Appointment Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
From the doctor Dr. Scelsa is director of the Neuromuscular Division and the ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter's Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis Center at Beth Israel Medical Center.

Dr. Scelsa limits his practice to EMG (electromyography) and neuromuscular disease.
Email address sscelsa@chpnet.org
Address 10 Union Square East, Suite 2Q
New York NY 10003
Telephone212) 844-8490
Fax212) 844-8481

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Dr. Elowitz said today that this guy knows his emg and because Alan hasn't had an emg in over 3 years, maybe a new emg will tell us something about his neuropathy. Now I have no idea and thank god it's only a $15.00 co-pay. I have a feeling this is only the beginning.

*All Board Certifications and Subspecialty Certifications are granted by The American Board of Medical Specialties, unless otherwise noted.

I hope you have a VERY happy birthday. and many, many more!

Diana

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I hope that Alan takes you out for dinner, in spite of his own eating foibles, and that you really have a deliteful and relaxing time.

You are right to be confused, at the same time, do a web search of the doc's name followed by MD - I just found that he's published a lot and some in your area of concern. Finding a doc you can work with is worth the effort. You are right in the attitude of it's a co-pay.

For Alan's sake, I hope this time is the charm! - j

Happy B'day, Mel !
I have my own teeth too..........just not all of 'em .......

Glenn's experience and advice is, I think, sound.
I have a specialist in PN at Hopkins, here in Balto (head of the dept of Neurology). He's written papers on PN, and done research in China.
Most of his associates defer to him with PN questions.
I feel secure in his ability to Dx & Rx me properly.
He hit 'the nail on the head' the very first time I saw him
with proper Rx'ng for my symptoms.
His avenue of approach is leaning toward pre-diabetic causes,
but taken with a grain of salt and an open mind- I trust him implicitly.
That's what Alan needs.
The referral and bio you've posted, doesn't seem to fall into the PN specialist category- but what the He!!, its only $15 and he will give you his opinion on a new EMG that should be done, anyway.
Happy B'day, and...... good luck.