About to see the Neuro.
 

...He had better take his time talking to me and listen. If he "pops in and out" I may just lose my calm disposition. :) wish me luck.

duct tape him to the chair. :p

:hug:

do you have a list of what you want to talk to him about? if you do...make a copy for him. it really does help.

I hope it goes well for you!

Good luck Sir Earl~ Let us know how your appt goes.

:)

I like this doc.
 

Ok, so it went VERY WELL> this doctor is the neurosurgeon that was recommended to me by friends. ... first a bit of back story.

I have been diag. with MS for 13 years next month. I started using a cane 12 years ago, 10 years ago I moved to fore-arm crutches, 7 years ago I moved to a manual chair 70% of the time. 4 years ago I fell while in the shower and compressed L-5 - S-1 in my lower spine. This caused sig. impingement on my spinal cord. I wasn't given any hope to ever walk again (gee, I wonder why I hate doctors) anyway this is the first time seeing a neuro since then.

This doc says he wants to do a surgery [next Friday] to replace two of my disc's with artificial, fuse the spine and take the pressure off of my nerve roots. he said 80% chance I can walk again (after lots of rehab and p.t.)

so, March 7 I am going under the knife, I have never had surgery but am not too nervous about it.

Thanks for your prayers which I know you sent. GOOD DAY!!! finally..

Earl,

Well, may the force be with you! I send you lots of good wishes for the success of the surgery and your recovery. If you have looked into i all thoroughly and know the risks as well as the good possibilities, you've done everything you can to make an informed decision.

All the best!

Good luck Earl! :hug:

I am also glad that the doc listened to you and didn't pull one of his hit and run visits! I hate those!!

Glad it went so well!

I've heard good things about ADR (artificial disc replacement). SO much better than fusion, IMHO. Even if not for getting your walking back, Earl, to keep other sx from happening. Who needs more nerve damage?

You've been around the block enough I shouldn't have to say this, but do your homework. ADR is still pretty new. Some docs have more experience than others, and I want to see you end up with the best you can find. Maybe check in with the Brain Talk bunch - a lot of ADR vets there, you know?

:hug:

Earl, I hope all goes as well as expected! :) Did you just have 'MRI' that showed the root impingement, or did the do an 'EMG', as well?

I have a disc herniation in that location with no definite root impingement, but an 'EMG' showed acute and chronic denervation in the vastus, increased duration during polyphasic, and positive sharp waves. + fibrillations.

One doctor I saw in N.Y. said it was from the disc herniation, but did not give me a referral to get it fixed.

I had 2 abnormal biopsies. Just trying to put my own puzzle together. I quit on the doctor in N.Y.

Thanks!

It is wonderful to find a doctor who listens. Happy you have come across one. I have my thoughts and prayers with you.

Darlene:hug:

That's a good question.

I don't always hear of people having an EMG or nerve conduction as a follow up to MRI, but you think that would be a good idea at least, if not standard operating procedure, now that you mention it.

I did have an EMG/NC - much later than the MRI, and only after new symptoms that my neuro thought could be from the spinal issues, but could be other things - he was trying to figure it out.

As for you, what kind of doc did you see? I say that, because a neuro or PCP might just leave you with that info and not tell you where to go or what to do. A surgeon would probably have told you he wanted to operate. Maybe not - they don't always want to do so on bulged discs. You might get assistance from a good pain clinic (note that I said *good*, because there are not so good ones).

You mayneed to tell your doc you want a referal to another specialist, depending on how you want to procede with this.

I'm seeing a pain clinic doc and getting steroid shots, holding off on surgery for as long as I can. But C spine is not the same as lumbar, so you may want to go another route.

Good luck.

Whoohoo Earl! Good luck to you and nothing but the best!

Thanks, braingonebad!

This doc that I saw was affiliated with a neuromuscular team. I had had one abnormal biopsy at the time, and then he did the second biopsy (quadricepts) which came back with a paragraph of abnormalities, all meaning something called 'denervation.'

When the opposing leg was abnormal the docs got a little startled. Someone in my family had passed from ALS.

He called me and asked me to read to him my MRI of my lower back, and that's how he made his diagnoses of 'Radiculopathy.'. He told me to come back if my muscles got weaker. I haven't gone back.

I have had injections for pain, but am afraid of the one that goes directly into the spine.

I did physical therapy also, and I couldn't walk when they got done with me. My doctor felt they were too rough.

I have asked my neurologist about it and he says "leave it for now."

Ok...

surgery is scheduled and approved by insurance for Monday, March 10th at 7:30am.

I know I will be knocked out most of the hospital stay but hope they have Wi-Fi in Rehab. Not sure how long I can do without the net and email. I will be sure to let you all know how it goes.

Earl
 

Good luck with the surgery and let us know how you are doing.

earl,

best of luck on your surgery.
hope you're back up and running real soon.

thinking good thoughts for you.