Yes this doctor was from the Swedish Medical Center and I was so surprised about what he had said.

My sysmptoms are getting worse with more weakness where It's getting very difficult to walk period. I already went to a Urologist and he said it's 100% back related. I'm not looking to be perfect just good enough that when my daughter is all grown up she can look back and remember me being with her lot lying in bed with pain and missing out on her life.

I have two more appt in colorado and if these do not pan out it looks as if I will have to look outside of colorado. I'm scared the longer I wait and the worst it gets the more likly it will stay that way.

Does anyone have suggestiong for doctors outside of colorado?

thanks Kevin

If you are in eastern Colorado this guy is awesome if your insurance would let you come to central nebraska. he was one of the best around back 30 years ago and I have watched him perform surgery when I was in nursing school. He is still one of the best around at least in NE. Kearney is right in the middle of the state on I80

Ramon R. Salumbides, M.D.
Specialty Neurosurgery/Spine
Practice Name Mid-America Neurosurgery Clinic
Address 3219 Central Avenue
Kearney, Nebraska 68847
Phone (308) 865-2555
Medical School University of the East Memorial Medical Center, Philippines
Residency Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY

this is the phone number for the hospital if you want to check to see if they accept your plan 1-866-214-5888 (it is a Catholic Charity hospital so that helps also)

I know a good one in Seattle and she comes highly recommended from several sources. Her office manner has to be one of the best I've encountered and unfortunately I've seen many doctors for numerous orthopedic injuries and spine problems. However, I don't know if she deals with t-spine issues. I face t-spine and c-spine surgery at some point due to stenosis. Major medical centers that I've heard things about are the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. You might be able to send your MRI and have them look at the MRI before booking the trip.

You do need to get the issues addressed but you also don't want to agree to the 1st dr who says operate. Definitely get several opinions as this is a major life long decision.

I understand wanting your kid(s) to see you in a better form. I have a 4 year old and one on the way. Back problems and pregnancy don't play well together.

I have been so lucky to have a primary care doctor who is not scared of specialist. He called the Specialist and gave him a piece of his mind. He is going to call some specialist outside of colorado. He even mentioned going to the Mayo clinic. He wants to get me back up on my legs because he had to order me a wheelchair so I can still get around. I need to keep moving so my daughter would not be sad. Thanks everyone.

congrats on the great PC doc!!!! If I were you I'd be mighty dang tempted to contact the Colorado Medical board and report the doc that was totally out of line with you. of course I am upper level of problem fixer for Cabela's and if we treated customers like that we would not be employed very long. After cleaning up other peoples messes today and the customer was in the right to be ticked off royally to put it politely... I get testy about people being treated rudely and the person who was nasty getting away with it.
Kudos to your doc

Check your insurance to see if Mayo CLINIC and DOCTORS are approved... Mayo Health Systems is approved on mine but not the Clinic or doctors.. and the idiot I got on the utilization review doesnt know how to use google maps or read a map to see how far it it from one place to another or perhaps she has no idea where Nebraska is.. as she thinks Cleveland OH, John Hopkins and the U of AZ are closer to me in outside of Kearney nebraska than I am to the Mayo clinic in Rochester MN

Glad you have a great primary care doctor! Wish mine was like that.

Mamagoo has a good suggestion. Definitely make sure your insurance is contracted with the hospital/providers that you might see out of state. I had one surgery done out of state and had no problems what so ever. The hospital and doctor were contracted with the umbrella organization to which my insurance company was affiliated with.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I am currently checking with my insurance to see if I can get into Mayo Clinic. This is driving me nuts with all this pain. I just want someone to fix me or put me back into a semi normal life. I am so thankful for my PC Doc. Thanks

I'm heading up to Denver again to see a Specialist from the University of Colorado Neurology department. I hope he can help me. I was fitted for a ridged wheelchair yesterday. God know that I don't want to have to spend the rest of my life in a chair if I can help it. Crossing my fingers that he has found someone who is able and capable to do the surgery.

I everyone, I went to Denver today to see another specialist. He said it he see my T7&T8 Disk tat needs surgery and My lumbar needs it also but he does't care if he does it or not. What the black is wrong with these specialist. Where are all the good doctors gone too. I mean I waited for over 2 hours in the room before he even showed up then he told me I looked depressed I need antidepressants. I said like hell I have waited for over two hours in this room where I am hurting and mad. Not depressed.

Oh well on to the next doctor. Looks like I might be getting a referral for the MAYo clinic in Minnesota.

After a few strike outs I have found a doctors who qualified and experienced in thoracic surgery. It seems like my condition is more server then I first thought. Had new MRI and it looks like I will need a neck fusion from c3 to I think C7 OUCH. But my spinal cord is being pinched down my cervical spine but the thoracic disc at T7&T8 is so sever that I will be having both surgeries days apart. My doctor wanted to do the surgeries on this Monday but it's so fast and I have to get a few things in order. I will post more soon. Thank you all for your support.