4 mo. check-up-NOT HAPPY!

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Mommev38

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I had another rotating doctor(didn't know this till after the appt, but good riddance to him). First of all, he was ready to tell me I was wrong about the date of my surgery until he saw it on the paper in front of him. Then I went on to tell him how I had the upper right thigh/hip pain I've had since i mo. post op that my surgeon blew off when I told him it was coming back, and it has since spread and increased into both hips, buttocks, groin area, and sometimes down my legs. My lower back pain has never went away, only increased. He did movements of my feet and legs which i didn't think went very well, and then talked about the x-rays I had. When I went down to have then done before the appt the technician asked me how I was, and I told her, and afterward she said, make sure you tell him all your symptoms, making me think she saw something on the x-rays. He didn't show me the x-rays like my surgeaon did at my last appts and just said he didn't really agree with what the technician saw but said they don't know what I'm looking for. WHAT!!!??? He just said things looked pretty solid and ok. I asked if he saw fusion starting. His answer, couldn't really see that. But says that could take up to 6 months. He was intimadating, wanting to put worRAB in my mouth, and was not compassionate at all to say the least. I am having an MRI this Fri to see if we can find out if they missed something where this pain is coming from. I think I'm going to ask that the permanent doctor that I am scheduled to see at my next appt look at the MRi and the x-ray I had and then call me about both of them and maybe I can get some clearer answers. I want to be rid of all this pain and get on with my life...
 
:wave:Tami, I would definitely get a different Dr. I had a 360 spinal fusion on 3 levels back in April of 2008. Although my fusion seems to have failed, only 15% in 9 months, they still want to wait 3 more months before doing a revision surgery. It takes at least a year and can take as long as 18 months from what I was told. I really lucked out when it came to Dr's. He always reviews the actual MRI and CT's personally !! I am curious as to what is causing your pain however, I also have continued pain in my back. My hip hurts constantly and I have a burning in the front of my thigh, groin with pain down my right leg with foot tingling. I was sent to a Hip Dr and he said although I had some burscitis from my continued PT (he gave me a cortisone shot) that the hip pain I was having was coming from my back. After Xrays, an MRI and just recently a CT Myelograph they have determined that my fusion was a failure but there is still a very small chance that I will have more bone growth, so I'm saying my prayers...I will keep you in mine ...HANG IN THERE !!!! :wave:

~Kimmy
 
Sorry you had such a crummy appt!
At least you are going for the MRI, when you go, for the MRI, ask to sign the medical release to be able to pick up the films and the report, wait 3 days, call and request to pick up both, your report will be in with the films, I assume your dr will want the films for the next appointment? Thats how mine goes.

They will let you know it takes a week to get the films ready (maybe less) and then you will have the copy of the report to see if you have scar tissue or new herniations.

The Dr isn't going to see the MRI unless you bring the films to him unless you are working out of where you're getting the MRI, the only thing the dr gets is a copy faxed to him of your MRI results. No films or anything, but if abnormal he may take it upon himself to look at your xrays. When you you go next?
 
My next appointment isn't till June 1st and I'm confused that they wouldn't want an x-ray then since I'm not fusing right now. At my last 3 appts I had x-rays, and when making the appt I even asked, don't I need to have an x-ray first, and she looked at the paper, and said nope, not this time. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO TELL IF I'M FUSING THEN???? I put a call into the doctor's office and got the machine and waiting for a call back, to tell them how unhappy I was with yesterday's appt. I am also going to tell them that after my MRI that I would like the doctor that I am going to have as my new permanant doctor(He better be good!) to look at the MRI AND x-ray, and read my past reports, (that yesterday's doctor said he didn't have time to do), and then call or meet with me. Has anyone else had no fusing at all starting at this point. Also, they are sending me to an orthopedic doctor to have them check my hip to see if the pain is coming from a hip problem now too. :dizzy:
 
I just want to add that if you decide to look for a new doctor, don't burn your bridges. It's likely to be difficult to find a doctor who will take you, since you're so recent from surgery. They don't like to step on each other's toes like that!

Emily
 
Tami I would find a new clinic personally. I am so sorry. June 1st is way too long to wait. That is a month and a half. Call another clinic.
 
Tami,
Didn't your surgeon explain to you before your fusion that it can take as long as a year or 18 months before there is fusion? Did they use your own bone or use a cadaver or bmp in the fusion? If they did not use bmp, then it will take at least 6 months and possibly and probably longer than that before you start to see evidence of fusion.
The hip pain can simply be from your muscles being weakened by the lack of use. It can take some time for them to recover, along with the muscles in your back and if you had a 360 fusion, the stomach muscles as well. That's why they tell you to walk as much as you can, to keep those muscles from weakening anymore than they have to.
I know that you would like the pain to resolve itself, I did too, after mine, but it does take time for the nerves to settle back down, the muscles to recover from the surgery itself, and your legs, hips and back to recuperate. Did your surgeon take bone from your hip? Mine did, and I still have hip pain.
Back
 
My original surgeon who did the surgery(he did use some of my own bone, and I have a bone growth stimulator also with instrumentation), told me that they are usually concerned if nothing has shown at all by 6 months and will order a CT scan. I just have heard that so many have at least seen a little something by now and that their pain symptoms have lessoned at this point, not have gotton worse. I think it would also be a lot easier if I've had the same doctor from day 1 and also someone who doesn't brush off my symptoms. I know to fully fuse it can take 12-18 months, but I thought I would have seen something started, but with not seeing anything and with the pain worsening, I'm quite concerned. I'm hoping the MRI can tell something....
 
What a pain in the neck that they make you see different doctors! No continuity of care! But you're doing the best thing. Most doctors want to see the films themselves, so do ask for them when you get the MRI. My doctor tosses the report aside and examines the films himself.

Stay calm and tell your permanent doctor when you see him that you're concerned about what those last x-rays showed.

By the way, it's not at all unusual to not be fusing yet at 4 months. It can take a full year, sometimes even longer. Maybe they just didn't want to discourage you by telling you you weren't fused yet. Hopefully, your permanent doctor will at least tell you whether he sees some bone growth going on. By June, there's a good chance you will.

Wish I could give you a big hug! SounRAB like you could use it! But we're all here and are wishing the best for you! Let us know...

Emily :wave:
 
i just want to start sorry your in so much pain i had a l5 s1 fusion with hardware in march 08 i started getting better than in septeraber i went for an fce and its been down hill i started having pain in my lower right back and groin which felt like a butcher knife was going through me i told them they sent me for an mri which showed nothing my pain doc. said it was my si joint and was from the fusion well here i am now yesterday i finally seen my surgeon and he says its not my si joint its the hardware and it has to come out i had that pain right after surgery but only when i sneezed and now they finally realize its the hardware i really think you should get all your x-rays,mri's,ct scans and try and fine a spine surgeon that is fellowship trained and get a second opion it might be your hardware causing the pain for the bone growth it does take some time mine started at 6 weeks but the told be it could take as long as a year to start growing good luck and wish you well..
 
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