From: Richard.Kuchar@f311.n270.z1.fidonet.org (Richard Kuchar)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Update ?
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:31:48 GMT
Reply-To: Richard.Kuchar@f311.n270.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:270/311 - P/T BBS, Cleona PA
X-Fidonet: Spinal Injury Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25764

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 On 11-03-92 Linda Cummings wrote to Richard Kuchar...

 >     My doctors do not want to operate do to the fear of scar
 > tissue creating more problems than the bulge is creating now.

 LC> I can't say I blame them, Richard.  I had two partial
 LC> laminectomy's and was worse after each one.  I now sport an
 LC> implanted Spinal Cord Stimulator.  Unfortunately, it only
 LC> helps about 10%.  But, it's better than nothing.

 > I have had 2 MRIs and a myelogram confirming the disk bulge and disk
 > degeneration too. The last time I went to my neuro-surgeon, he
 > told me that I will have to learn to live the pain, and know my
 > limitations. He says the combination of the bulge and the
 > degeneration I have to learn to with it.

 LC> Yup!  Learn to live with it.  That's what you have to do, I'm afraid.
 LC> I think doctors are probably getting smarter now.  If it
 LC> isn't ruptured, they try other ways for you to get better
 LC> before they cut into you. Mine was ruptured, so surgery was
 LC> called for at the time (10 years ago). I was given a 50%
 LC> chance, too.  It's just that mine re-ruptured and had to be
 LC> operated on again.  That's when I was given the 30% speech.
 LC>  Mine got worse after the second surgery, and that's why I
 LC> now have the implanted SCS.

 LC> Get second, third, and even fourth opinions!  Believe me, if you jump
 LC> into it, you're doing yourself a world of harm.  I'm living
 LC> proof.  It sounds like you're not at the point (yet) where
 LC> you are saying, "I don't care what you have to do to stop
 LC> the pain, just do it!"  You'll know when you're at that
 LC> point.

Last week I went for my 3rd opinion of my medial disk bulge. this doctor's
bedside manner was something else to desire, but he didn't tell me anymore
than what I already know. He told me that is was not herniated, ( different
definitions of bulge, herniated, slipped, or ruptured ).
Stay with the conservative care or program, did not think I would be better
off after an operation.

WHAT A LET DOWN. I was prepared (mentally) for this doctor to tell me that
he had a "new" procedure or reccomended an operation of some sort that
would relieve my pain. Well emotionally I did not take it too well.

This doctor has requested that I get a bone scan done, I will be going for
it the day before Thanksgiving. ( I'll glow in the dark for Thanksgiving,
luckly it wasn't before Halloween )

The Doc thinks I have inflamation of the joints in my spine, and says the
bone scan will show more. He also wants to look more at my spine. The last
MRI report said, " Degenerative marrow changes are seen in the bodies of L4
and L5."

I didn't know about this and at the time I was with the doctor I didn't
think of asking him what this meant. I am sure you know how it can go when
you visit a doctor, you don't think of all the questions to ask, and after
you leave you think of all the question you should have asked.

... OFFLINE 1.41 * Success comes by going for it; Failure comes by holding back

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