do you have any realy big guy friends who can lift him out of the house? He may have to endure some pain to finaly get relief. I know this is something none of us want to face but sometimes we have to. You could also try to call around and see if there is a medical group that can help you. Good luck and you are in my prayers.

you could inquire with your local hospital and see if you could get them to have the emt's move him it might be a long shot but it's worth a try if he can't sit or stand and laying is the only option then a stretcher would be the perfect answer. best of luck candy

Thanks so much for your advice! It was very helpful. I hope to have some help in the morning for his appt. We just finished the bath, shampoo, etc and decided it was a good idea to make a move from the top floor to the first floor tonight to ease the morning transit. He actually did ok...took awhile and much pain for him but is now on the couch so the morning move to doctor should be a little eaiser. I'm exhausted! Thanks again for your advice!

your very welcome i hope you get him to his appointment alright and best of luck to you both let us know how his appointment goes.

MY HUSBAND IS AN EMT AND THE COMMERCIAL COMPANIES DO THIS ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND A TRANSPORT AMBULANCE SERVICE, HE HAS TO HAVE HIS NECK SECURED AND BE ON A BODY BOARD TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURY FROM HAPPENING. THEY ARE OUT THERE, BUT THE BIG PROBLEM PEOPLE HAVE IS THE COST...IT DEPENDS ON YOUR INSURANCE..IF HE HAS MEDICAID THAT'S A-OK, MEDICARE, JUST ABOUT FORGET IT. THEY DON'T WANT ANY PART OF DEALING WITH MEDICARE.LAST I HEARD IT COST ABOUT $750.000. IF YOU CAN ARRANGE PAYMENT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WORRIED ANYMORE! PLEASE ONLY LET PROFESSIONALS TRANSPORT HIM..!!!! GOOD LUCK, LET ME KNOW HOW YOU DO!

You guys are so wonderful! Just knowing someone is there to share this with is more special than you'll ever know!
So, here's the rest of the story without all the exhausting details I hope...
Got him out of the house, into the car. He's in the back seat kneeling and hugging the seat. Luckily the Dr we are going to is attached to the hospital, wheelchair available there but not comfortable. Doc says you need a new MRI before I can make new recommendations so go home and we'll get pre-auth. and call you with appt info. Get home, he's up the stairs and laying on the floor, within minutes doc calls and says...MRI approved be there in one hour. Needless to say he wanted nothing to do with this as he was in so much pain but I forced it. So, back in the car, wheelchair, kneeling in the waiting room (how demoralizing is that?) After MRI, doc has called down again and said to send him right up. So back we go! More kneeling, this time in the hallway hugging the wheelchair. After second consult ...Result...3 level lumbar laminectomy and fusion scheduled for Nov 6. YEAH!!!!!!! I know he may not get the best result but this is not his first episode and nothing else has worked. So please wish him luck and keep us in your prayers.
Thanks for your support and I'll keep checking in. If anyone has any advice for this upcoming surgery I would love to know!

i hope everything goes well:)

the only advice i can give on his upcoming surgery is to stay strong and know that there is hopefully an end in site for all this pain and if he is a smoker he needs to quit in order to give the surgery the best chance at working. once the surgery is done do everything the dr says to do don't let him try to do anything to soon i wish you both the best of luck god bless candy

Thanks again so much! We are really praying that this surgery will be the answer. I'm sure you all know the dilemma of choosing what will get you back to work sooner so you don't go broke or what is best for your "health" in the long run. That is where we are now. This all started 10 years ago with an unrelated problem and the work situation has been precarious ever since. At this point I think it may be time to look into to Social Security Disabilty but I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of that. If anyone has any advice on the SSI process I could sure use it. (By the way, we are not trying to "play" the system. He had a stroke at age 45, diabetes, HPB, HCL, and now a debilitating back problem. Help! :-)

Will your insurance cover an ambulance to assist him? Just a possibility. Or contact the Dr's office to see if they can give him some serious pain meds just so he will be able to help get himself to the dr? Good luck and God bless

Thanks so much for your all your support through the last few weeks! Tomorrow is surgery day. The hubby is having a 3level laminectomey and fusion. I am so worried I can't sleep, eat, drink, think. So, please just say a prayer and wish him well!I'll "see" you in a few days! Thanks again for all the support!