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lovely1fmct 
7:14pm, July 30, 2009
Yesterday was my appointment to see the Neuroradiologist. I was so scared and excited all at the same time. He was very nice, I told him quickly a summary of my past and how I got to this point. So he got my MRI disk and loaded it. It was so cool in his office, big giant monitor screens. Anyway, my disk had everything I ever had done on it because I always use the same hospital. He looked at it and said “oh that’s not so bad, I can help you”. I was shocked, and then I thought to ask, do you have the right year up. He looks again and sure enough he was looking at 1999. He pulled up my most resent one from April and said “oh wow, you must be in a lot of pain. Are you comfortable it that chair”? I told him I’m never comfortable. Whatever, He explained everything that was wrong. My first surgery, my Dr. removed most of my L5 disk, repaired L4, and reset L3. That was great, but over the years when I would have little bumps and falls it kinda helped mess it up. This time when I fell in March I really did a job. My L5 is smashed, he said it was like as thin as it could get. That is most of my lower back pain, L4 is ruptured bad, the inner part of the disk is smashing all the nerves in there. That’s why my sciatic pain in my leg is so bad. The facet joints are worn out too. My spinal canal is very small due to the narrowing of the spine. I also have spinal stonosis. He answered all my questions, I told him all my problems too.I was ok; I actually looked at my MRI myself at home and read the paper report so some of that I knew. But he turned to me and said, I can’t do the procedure. I was so disappointed. I started to cry, I was so mad. I’m ok with having to have surgery again. I just wanted to stop hurting, just for awhile first. I’m f-ed up now, I thought maybe if I got the nerve block and enjoyed a month or so of the summer and the family I would be ok or ready for it. It looks like I’m just going to stay like this until the surgery. At this point it’s totally unknown when that’s going to happen. I did get an appointment for the Neuro Group tomorrow, someone canceled so I got their spot, now I don’t have to wait until September. That’s good. He said it would be maybe a 30% chance it would work, but he wasn’t confident with telling me that. I calmed down to get my things together. He asked me where I was going for the appointment. I told him what hospital, and why I can’t see my old surgeon and that I found another good one, but it didn’t seem like I had a choice over the phone. They made it seem like whatever Dr was there at the time was it. I told him all the names of them, he said he knows all of them; they all worked together at one time. He said to call him to tell him who I saw and give him the info. He would send his report to my PCP and Neuro Group and let them know I need to be seen now by a surgeon. He said don’t worry about anything it will be ok.I’m very glad I have a good team of Dr.s working to help me, it’s just hard to take it all in. I did this already, followed all the directions, put on a bit too much weight but so what. I’m just mad I have to do it again. I know what’s to come, well maybe not. They might say I need a back fusion this time. Omg, I don’t want that, and how long to get better? I’m going to go tomorrow and get most of my answers by the end of the week. I’m trying to stay positive; I am feeling much better now. Just last month it was so bad, I thought it can’t get worse. This has to be as bad as it gets. I told myself to hang on something good will happen soon. I told myself either I’m going jump off a bridge, cut my leg off or go to the loony bin. If I didn’t get help I would’ve gone crazy. I am much better now than then. I’ll post another update soon; until next time, big hugs, Lovely 
Comments
I'm sorry to hear you're stuck in this mess! At least you seem to have some good doctors. The medicine you're on is very weak for all the problems you have! If you need it, ask for stronger pain meds, your condition warrants them. At least they can help you stay comfortable until your surgery. It's so terrible that one back surgery nearly always leads to another and that not many doctors tell you this! It's good to see you're keeping your spirit strong throught this all. Good luck and keep me posted!
Much love and understanding,
Lisa
LisaNeedsHelp