NeuroTalk Support Groups - Spinal Fluid Leak

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Spinal Disorders & Back Pain (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/)

- - Spinal Fluid Leak (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/28399-spinal-fluid-leak.html)

Hello to all the new people who have found Neuro Talk. I think I counted four new souls here, and I wanted to say hello to each of you. I hope that there are solutions to the spinal leaks. I have indeed heard of this condition before. Most of what I read said that in time, this can heal. I certainly hope all of you can find a resolution for this medical issue. There will be others along to talk to you and encourage you to keep seeking stability in the leak. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers.
There is a search bar at the top of the page that has "search" on it. Type in the name of the condition, and you will find more people and information to look at. Again a warm hello to all of you. I hope there is less pain for all of you. ginnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith (Post 843198)

I don't know the answer to the last question, but I don't think it would be a good idea to conceal anything. The neuro will most likely take some kind of medical history. Be honest, open, candid... all that. If you have any questions/concerns, bring them up. Bring along any supporting documentation (what you looked up), records, questions.

It sounds like you may have been through this before, but there may be something of value by googling: neurologist first visit

Best wishes & good luck!

Doc

Well, I do appreciate your candid reply because it was exactly what was needed. I will do exactly as instructed and take into consideration the documentation as to what I will take as far as research. I believe we as patients sometimes need to wake these doctors up because they do become complacent and without a teaching facility inclusive, they forget certain issues remain pertinent and are not to remain in just textbook ideology.
Sincerely, Vigi

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigipatrick (Post 843237)

I believe we as patients sometimes need to wake these doctors up because they do become complacent and without a teaching facility inclusive, they forget certain issues remain pertinent and are not to remain in just textbook ideology.

Well, it's not exactly like doctors just get their sheepskin and never have to hit the books again. Most states require doctors to complete a certain number of hours of continuing/supplemental education each year in order to maintain their credentials/licenses; how much can vary depending on the state and specialty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continu...ical_education

For more info./examples, Google: doctors continuing education

I think of my doctor/patient relationships as team efforts; we listen to and learn from each other. The thing is that, in addition to learning medicine, doctors also learn (and practice) a particular way of thinking, and it's enormously helpful if/when patients learn how their doctors think so that we're not constantly butting heads or at odds, and so we can help them help us more effectively.

HINT: There is a book entitled How Doctors Think (which I think is a good book, but it tends to predominate searches). To get around that, Google: how doctors think -groopman
The book was written by a Dr. Groopman; placing a minus(-) sign in front of his name tells Google to ignore pages that contain that word/name, which should eliminate most of the pages pertaining to that book. ;)

I've also found it helpful to just have a conversation with a doctor to find out what kinds of documentation/evidence they prefer. Most are more open-minded than we think (or than they used to be) once we know their preferences/rules/way of thinking/doing things. ;)

Doc

Doc,
I do so appreciate your kind comments. I am a bit nervous, my appt is tomorrow and I have written out a letter to remind me of my symptoms and past experiences considering this has been a period of over three years. I guess my disappointment lies in the fact that this has been misdiagnosed for so long.
You are awesome to be so considerate and understanding. Compassion falls short in society now-a-days so I really do appreciate it when it's given.
Sincerely, Vigi

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigipatrick (Post 844450)

I guess my disappointment lies in the fact that this has been misdiagnosed for so long.

I've had a few misdiagnoses over the decades. I've also had more doctors and discussions with doctors than I ever wanted to.

Sometimes we forget, or aren't aware, that a medical diagnosis is an educated best guess - an interpretation - based on evidence (symptoms, tests) knowledge, and experience. This also means that a misdiagnosis may not be a mistake; the doctor(s) may have done everything correctly with no reasonable way of knowing that their interpretation was incorrect. It's also possible that they just know more/better now than they did then. Some say that's why medicine is called a "practice". It's certainly why it's sometimes prudent to get a second (or third, etc.) opinion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_diagnosis

I'm a believer in the Japanese business adage, "Fix the problem - not the blame". It's never been productive for me to dwell too much on those misdiagnoses, but to deal with what things are and proceed accordingly.

Doc

I will be thinking about you during your appt. I hope that the mis diagnosis can be corrected. You were also right about society in general lacking in compassion. There is not enough of that going around. However, right here makes up for much of it. At least in this place, at this time, we have each other, and because of our medical problems, compassion rules! I really hope your doctor will get you back on track and having a normal life. ginnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginnie (Post 844533)

You were also right about society in general lacking in compassion. There is not enough of that going around.

...Although it's been said many times, many ways....

There are purportedly over 100 variations throughout history....

Quote:

Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.~Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), My Several Worlds [1954].

The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
~Samuel Johnson, Boswell: Life of Johnson

The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities.~John E. E. Dalberg, Lord Acton, The History of Freedom in Antiquity, [1877].

"...the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. " ~ Last Speech of Hubert H. Humphrey

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members -- the last, the least, the littlest."
~Cardinal Roger Mahony, In a 1998 letter, Creating a Culture of Life

The greatness of America is in how it treats its weakest members: the elderly, the infirm, the handicapped, the underprivileged, the unborn. ~Bill Federer _ [I'm currently having a little trouble with this one.]

"A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying,"
~Pope John Paul II

Aristotle has often been quoted as saying you can judge a nation by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens.

Warren Buffet's take (more about how things should work) which I've always loved: "Let's say that it was 24 hours before you were born, and a genie appeared and said, 'What I'm going to do is let you set the rules of the society into which you will be born. You can set the economic rules and the social rules, and whatever rules you set will apply during your lifetime and your children's lifetimes.' And you'll say, 'Well, that's nice, but what's the catch?' And the genie says, 'Here's the catch. You don't know if you're going to be born rich or poor, white or black, male or female, able-bodied or infirm, intelligent or retarded.'

-- Sources various

Doc

Re: doc, good thoughts

Hey Doc, thank you for writing those ideas people have said about our treatment of each other. I wish sincerely, that our world would do a better job. My son works as a OPT in a nursing home. So many are abandoned by families. We do not revere our older generations like we should. We, the hurt, the disabled, the poor, we at least have each other here, and for that I am so grateful. If we could get the rest of the world to care about each other the way we do here on NT, I believe the worlds problems would be solved. ginnie

I need to post a question on the front page, to start a new thread. I have forgotten how to do this. Can you refresh my memory? ginnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginnie (Post 844648)

Ditto, ditto, ditto! The way this country/the system/some families treat the elderly is shameful!