I am beyond frustrated with doctors currently. I was 1 month away from my laminectomy and fusion when my surgeon broke his shoulder. So I get referred to another doc, and after they take over a week to review my chart, I get told that I will need to have a new MRI before I can be seen by the new surgeon. Said he needs one less then 6 months old. Its only been 7 since my last and the only reason it has been that old is the original doc wanted me to have an EMG and couldnt seem to get me scheduled with a doc that was working and accepted my insurance. I PERSONALLY had to find the doc to do it after waiting 4 months for them to take care of it. Dont see how it was pleanty good enough for the one doc and not the other now. I understand that they want the most current info for this. I am venting because I hate having to start over from square 1 with the sciatica that I have. Was hoping for some relief sooner rather then waiting for a couple more months.

Hey, I feel your pain and frustration -- one of my surgeries was almost delayed two days before the scheduled date because of an insurance glitch and I was at wits end since I'd already made all the arrangements and was mentally there. Fortunately it was worked out an proceded as scheduled. I don't know if this will help at all, but my neurosurgeon required a new MRI before he scheduled my thoracic surgery because the previous MRI was 7 mos old (and he was the one that ordered the first one). When I asked him why it was needed, he said that they require them to be less than 6 mos for insurance purposes and also to be somewhat sure that changes haven't occurred that would affect what procedures they do where. Based on my new MRI, he did alter his approach slightly and because of that the insurance pre-approval had to be modified. I know that doesn't help you deal with the on-going pain, but maybe it'll help a little with the frustration. You wouldn't want them to find out after the surgery that you actually needed work at the L3-S1 levels instead of the L4-S1. It's too bad though that he wouldn't go ahead and see you and set a tentative date so you have something to work with. I hope you get this worked out fast and the pain gets better! Take care!

I could literally write a book on this subject, as could anyone who has had to deal with medicine on a chronic basis....they say that Obamacare will make it worse but to them I say how much worse can it get? LOL NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT, just an observation of things and how they are.

All of that said, it is law that they have an MRI less than 6 months old, most will not do surgery if it is more than 90 days old. This actually works in your best interest as things can change dramatically in there.

Again Best of Luck and hang in there! No sure if you tried it yet or not but try Piriformis stretches and see if that gets you some relief. It sucks at first but it helps in most cases.

Thanks for your prospective on this. Now that Ive taken the time to let it all settle, Im okay with having this new MRI done. Im thinking that it only makes sense to have the most current images. It very easily could have gotten worse at the L3/L4 level by now and may require help also. Im having numbness in my right thigh. Not sure how but its numb on the top part of the muscle. I can feel it deep by the bone but not close to the skin. Also it isnt taking nearly as long to get this new MRI as it did to get the last one scheduled. My consult with the new Neurosurgeon is only 6 days after my original date for my operation. Hoping it will only be a couple weeks after that. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I agree and see your point. Amazing how much your attitude on a subject can change in 24 hours. Im glad I took the time to relax and digest the new info. Thanks again Gatorhead for taking the time to read and respond.

Got the new MRI done. Didnt get the report due to having to pick it up so soon after having it done. Ten days out from the appointment with the neurosurgeon. Happy cause I got the problem with the car figured out so the 35 minute trip to the appointment won't be frustrating also. Trying to stay positive. Hoping my surgery date isnt too close to the little one's birthday. Stay positive.

I agree that I don't see things changing much for the oldtimers with longstanding chronic illness and hopefully already on disability. We have watched the level and quality of our care decline for the last decade. This is nothing new and can not be hung on any one administration.

In the last year, Medicare has refused to precert a Celiac pannel because it is too expensive. 600.00 lousy dollars. I was denied out patient physical therapy because I do not improve fast enough and I was told I am no longer a "good investment". Two weeks ago, I had a scs implant. I understand that this runs around $75,000 if there are no complications. Mind you, I am grateful for the device as it has totally eliminated my neuropathy so far. On the other hand, I did not have to get to this point where I needed it if I got the therapies that would have been much less expensive. The scs is the surgery du jour because it helps reduce the amount of sched. IIs we are on. It is politically correct but a badly needed Celliac pannel isn't.

I think what will happen is the average "real" person with a "real" life will soon begin to understand what we have been complaining about . They will be dealing with the issues we have been complaining about for a long time.