Miss Ginnie, I do so appreciate your prayers and posts immensely.

Here's how it went:
He said that he could "fix" the nerve pain in my legs with an 80% chance of a good outcome.
He "could" fuse my back now with a 50 percent chance of a good outcome or no change or the pain could be worse afterward, but right not now he could see nothing in the MRI reading that would definitively cause the level of back pain that I have, and the back pain outweighed my leg pain (although when asked to rate leg to back pain on their questionnaire, I said 50 / 50). Maybe he made his assertation from the fact I never sat down while he was talking to me - I was either leaning over a table or squatting in the floor). He wants to do a CAT as he suspects there is a hidden fracture which may or may not have healed - incorrectly healed by itself on the anterior (the side of the spine facing your front) and that is what is causing the level of back pain - mostly....
He also said that he does not prescribe drugs unless he does surgery on a patient BUT he could send me to his physiatrist (I had to look this word up - not sure I'm spelling it correctly here either) i.e., another doctor, another bill. That in itself leaves me up the creek, as I have been taking Percocet and Gabapetin for 3 months now in order to halfway function, and both require weaning off of. He said "then we have a problem". ???????

As far as his bedside manner, he could have checked his ego at the door. Young guy, granted he does practice at a major highly rated facility and obviously Highly educated (he made a point of stating he treats cancer patients - very honorable of him - but what does that have to do with anything right this minute?), only been practicing for 5 years. He talked about money and cost more than either of the other 2 doctors I've seen. One of those was a pain specialist anesthesiologist who did the epidural and told me I needed surgery. This dr. totally disregarded any opinion that guy had. I guess the anesthesiologist's MD is not as important as HIS MD. He said I expect alot, but I have no insurance yet here I am in his clinic. My thought was "I just paid a $1000 UPFRONT to be here in YOUR overly decorated CLINIC" but of course I kept my mouth shut.

The fact I do not have insurance is as messed up as my back. I rightfully take the fault for no insurance.

I did not schedule the CAT - which would be done in HIS CLINIC. Need to mull over all this some.

The numbers are good as far as outcome, but I didn't like the majority of what he said to you at all. You are correct, the fact that he does cancer people has nothing to do with you. Dear woman, if it were me, I may have had to get another opinion again. The fact that he refused medication unless he himself did surgery, is trying to push you into surgery. Rather he should have laid your options out in front of you, and say, "these are the best solutions that I can come up with" or something like that. You can always go to a pain specialist until the time you decide that the surgery is right for you. If you did not feel comfortable with him now, he won't do anything to reduce your anxiety over your surgery. I have become a bit cynical I guess, I am sorry I feel that way. It's just if someone is going to do surgery on me, especially a part like my spine, I best like the guy. Did you like him at all? My first neuro dismissed me, I said no to him. Well thats Ok by me. I found another, who happened also to be a humble man of faith. He did not threaten me, or intimidate me eithor. I am picky on doctors as it is my life they are messing with. I really want to know if you liked him. What did you feel? I hope you get back to me soon, I really care about you. I have a great deal of empathy for those who suffer with back and neck problems as I have been in the same shoes. Am I being to hard with my opinion? I am sorry if I in anyway offended by what I said. ginnie

One more thought. I had no insurance with my first neuro too. He did not do all he should have done with my first surgery. I think it was because I had no insurance. That is why I wound up re-doing the first surgery and adding all the rest of it later, when I had medicare finally. there was a six year break inbetween where I was suffering like you are. I didn't like him as he talked "down" at me. I was suffering, so I went along with just about anything to get out of pain. After the surgery, when I went back and said the pain was still there, he got all huffy with me and demanding a test I did not want to take. (EMG) I'll be darned if I am going to pay to be tortured. so thats when he said, "If you don't, then I have no other solution for you" That ending that doctor. The neuro who finally fixed me, was a compassionate humble man, soft spoken a re-assuring. He well realized I was in trouble, and he treated me very kindly. You need that kind of doctor, with whom you have a repor with, one that you are comfortable with. I am spoiled with what I found. I want that kindness and compassion for you. ginnie

Miss Ginnie, you have very insightful replies!

Did I like the neuro? No. Did I get the feeling that he is qualified? Yes. It's always been a plus for me if I like my dr., but not actually a requirement. My GP that I've had for years - don't particularly like him, but I know he'll always do right by me. I'm not inviting him over for dinner though.

Perhaps this guy will "humble down" some as he ages - perhaps not. One more pointer that he made was that his reputation and the reputation of the major facility he works for depends on his decisions and the work he does. Wrong way to put - in my book anyway - BUT he thinks so highly of himself he wouldn't do a shabby job for fear his reputation as a surgeon and the reputation of his facility might take a hit. Not the proper reason to do a good job but who cares as a long as the best job he can do gets done? I did not feel as though he was pushing me into surgery though, not near as much as the first OS that I saw. That one said laminectomy so quick - again, wrong bedside manner - but all 3 have said surgery required, so I no longer feel surgery is being pushed on me. This latest one - I don't believe - would have pushed surgery simply because I did get the definite impression that he'd prefer to weed out non-insurance holders from the get-go and not do any surgery on us. Regarding what you said about a doctor talking down to you, this guy kept saying "you're not understanding me" and I'd say "yes I understand, but...", then he'd make the same statemnet again, and again, until finally I said "I'm sorry, I'm not expressing myself clearly.." - HINT, HINT, but he didn't get it. The only time I saw him soften somewhat was when I started to cry. Couldn't help it, and frankly didn't care.

Now as far as a rock and a hard place - I cannot financially keep doctor shopping. This guy had to have the $1000 upfront not when I got there, it had to be paid via phone prior to the appointment even being made. The pain specialist - which I no longer feel is an option - flat out said he didn't think he could do me any good. Said he didn't think epidurals would be beneficial, and the one he did was not. He won't do more. Perhaps if I beg and plead with him to continue the meds till High Horse makes his decision - I don't know - you know how doctors don't like to treat when there's another dr. in the pot. And the dang fact of the matter is, I hate, despise, the pill taking. I want to feel healthy and be active LIKE I WAS, but that "ain't" happening and I can't take those dang NSAIDs and have not been able to for 25 years, they make my stomach feel like its bleeding. Doctors have always had an issue with all my medication allergies / reactions - everything they like to prescribe frontline, but I cannot help that!

I don't know what to do at this point.
But Miss Ginnie, thank you for reading and responding so insightfully to my lengthy, rambling, what's got to be BORING posts. They even bore me! Do you remember that tv program "Lives of the Rich and Famous"? Perhaps we have a premise for a new program called "Lives of the Poor and Disgusted".

You post was not boring at all. I can feel when a person is really having a tough time. We all need someone at times like that. I also know about the money situation, didn't have the insurance eithor. I think I was charged something like $800 for my evaluation up front too. If you think he can do the job, and do it well, I guess I would still not like him, but go ahead with it. Money is a problem as it was for me. Thats why there was no more help for me until I got medicare. Let me know what you decide. I just wish he had a better personality to put you at ease. The whole thing can be nerve racking, and I get so jittery anyway. Do you have a good friend at home, to help you during the hospital stay, and at home? That will help in a big way too. Why can't these real intelligent doctors become a little more compassionate? It seems to me that this element goes missing from their training sometimes. Maybe they should come here to NT and really hear from us, what they are like through the eyes of scared patient. I do think you will be just fine with this doctor. He is most likely smart as a whip and equally as skillful. I will be keeping you in my prayers, do keep in touch, ginnie

Miss Ginnie - Good advice - these doctors should read these posts! One more thing about this Dr. High Horse....I had two pages typed up with dates of doctors visits, what was advised, list of current symptoms, pertinent info that I handed to him, and his response was "I don't want that - everything here is computerized". In other words, I wasted my time.

I don't know what I'm gonna do.

Regarding help, support at home. My 87 year old mother, who's had cataract and valve replacement surgery in the past year and half, has had 3 minor strokes and my sister, who lives with her and has had bypass surgery, has diabetes, and has had mini strokes, lives about 30 minutes away. They need no additional stress. My brother lives about 1 hr. 15 minutes away has an auto-immune disease (pemphigoid & pemphigus) and that can be flared by stress. I love them all too much to overload them with my situation.

Here at home I have what's called a functioning alcoholic, he works, but the minute he's off - and I do mean the very minute, even when he gets in the car to drive home, he dives into the bottle. This has developed in the last 3 years. I'm not fun to him - I don't drink and I won't start in order to please him. Per him, he does not have a problem with alcohol....he has a problem with anyone who wants him to stop. Per him, alcohol is all he's got and he loves booze more than anything else in the world. Those are his exact words.

So, do I have support here at home.....no. I've gotten more support from you and people like you on this computer than I can or will ever get here at home.

Hello, I am watching the second game. I am going to post tomorrow to you in PM more about this current post you sent me, about support. I will be here for you, and we will talk alot more. I will be back tomorrow I promise, Have a good night. ginnie

Just wondering how you guys who haven't had surgery, or waiting for surgery, handle HAVING to lie down several times during the day? It drives me bananas! I push, push, until my body demands "you must lie down for a little while" but my mind says this, this, and this needs to be done. I DID vacuum 3 times weekly, what with a cat and dog that sheds constantly despite daily brushings, but it's come down to once a week now. The maid hasn't shown up in five years now.....don't think she's coming back. Just can't get good help these days .

Being stuck in bed, when most of us have that get up and go personality is the most difficult part. I have cried, and raged over it. I so much want to do stuff just like you do. I would rather clean the house and change the litter box, than be stuck in bed, waiting....bahumbug.....I will be in touch. ginnie

Oh it's so frustrating isn't it! I over did yesterday, vacuumed, mopped & walked the dog for 45 minutes late yesterday evening. Normally it would be an hour, but a sharp pain put an end to it. It's 11:10 this morning & other than feeding the dog, letting him out, loading the dishwasher, and making 1 important call, I haven't gotten a dang thing accomplished. Before, I would have 25 things done by noon. I'm going to lie down now....aaaarrrgghh!!

Thanks for your messages -full of common sense and good advice. I've read them all and will get back to you later on, promise.