Dr. appt.

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Sage48

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My appointment with a new Dr. for the SI joint diagnosis/treatment is tomorrow...Actually have 4 Appts....go to PT..then to the new Dr...then supposed to go for an injection...then back to the new Dr...full day.. I am kind of excited..but again, a bit afraid. My neuro. feels that the SI joint is the cause of my back/leg/foot pain. The new Dr. I am being referred to is supposed to be a specialist.... I just have the feeling, as does my husband, that this is the last hurrah..so lets just hope and pray that this Dr. can help..
Will fill you all in on the day's events tomorrow night!!
In the meantime, I hope you all have a good day/night.

Sage
 
Oh my frienRAB...thank you all for your thoughts and kind worRAB. I really have needed your support during the last couple of years....it was so hard..going to DR. after Dr. and getting very little help. Well, because of this board..and Lisa...I finally have an answer to what is causing my back/leg pain...
Can you believe it...we help each other find the right Doctors!!!! Amazing Place.
I went to the PT person for 9 this morning...was with her for 1 1/2 hrs..she kept saying I had all of the symptoms...clues for the SI joint problem...Then went off to my 1st meeting with the Dr....oh what a nice man...He listened to me...examined me...and sent me off for the spinal inj....and CT and xrays...
The Doctors there were so nice...we all had a few laughs...and I was pretty relaxed..(BP was out of sight...bad)...inj. wasn't too much fun..but again...it cured the pain..for the SI joint.. Went back to the Surgeon..and he gave me a picture from the CT showing the dye escaping onto the nerve (L5, I think..).. He says it is the SI joint..I have a couple of options...prolothearapy (I think that was what he was describing)...or the surgery. The surgery is pretty hart.. 2/1/2 - 3 hrs... BUT have at least a 5 day hospital stay..yikes. Will basically be not able to walk..cannot put any pressure on the surgery side...so will be on a walker..but not allowed to put foot down..then will have bone stimulator..cage...screws...and something else in the back...stabilizing the SI joint area. I will have a wheelchair to go out with..(Dr. said after a bit, hubby could take me to dinner..!!!)...but no regular walking.. This will be at least a 3 month recovery. Have to make some decisions..but wanted to let you all know that we finally have an answer as to the cause of the pain...
Thank you all for your support...I love you all!!!!

Leslie
 
Sage, I am praying for you and I pray that this doctor is able to provide the answers to you concerning your pain. No one ever wants to be told they have a problem but if you have been suffering for so long without a diagnosis those worRAB can be sweet to your ears. Good luck dear!! :angel::angel:
 
Hi Sage,
I am praying for you that this is the answer to pain relief. Can't wait to hear!

Deb
 
Sage, it's wonderful they were all so nice & understanding, and listened to you...that's how all docs should be. You certainly do have a very big decision to make, but just take your time to weigh all the pro's and con's of the options. I don't know anything about prolotherapy, but I think it was Dee that's had it done in her lurabar & cervical areas and she says it helps her.
Did you ask the doc...if you did prolotherapy, and it didn't help, would it interfere in any way with having surgery later on? If it wouldn't matter, then maybe you might want to try to prolo first?

And are you holding up fairly okay after the long day and drives?
 
Sage, good luck and i'll keep my fingers crossed for you that he also thinks it's your SI; and that he has some sort of treatment that might actually work for you!!!!!! I hope you are able to hang in there for the long car drive back & forth, though I know you don't care too much, if the drive enRAB up worth it. Maybe you should allow extra time so that you can stop & get out and stretch here and there. I hope your knee doesn't get aggravated either...do you still have alot of pain from that? Good luck and of course let us know what the new doc thinks!!
 
All of my frienRAB...thank you for your replies... This week I have been off in my own little world.. Thinking about what I should do. I have researched this Dr. and the procedure...A LOT. When I was at the Drs. office...he discussed the other treatments...I had had 2 SI joint injections...and they both worked...instantly..which is the sign they needed for this diagnosis. (as well as a bunch of other stuff!!) The prolo. was mentioned...and it was explained that it only worked for about 30% of those who do it. I also researched it on line.. Other options were mentioned also. I have had this problem for over 5 years...I am tired... I don't feel like being a pin cushion anymore.. I do understand that the prolo. works for some, but I have had this problem for a long long time...and that is not an easy thing to work through.
My husband and I discussed the pros and cons...of this surgery...and it is a really, really tough one..especially the recovery.. I am going to speak with my family Dr...also.. BUT, I think that I will be having the surgery..this Dr. seems to have excellent results...he has a lot of things you must do during recovery (or rather not do)...and I am prepared for that. So for right now, I will be having surgery..probably not until the end of June, as I have to go to my granRABon's graduation in mid-June...and see mother in law in the nursing home in New England.... I want no regrets...want it all...the cure...and not to miss anything!
Thank you all...I will be coming back on more regularly...just took a few days off to digest stuff!! Take care.

Leslie
 
Well the bright side is that you finally have a diagnosis and the tough side is going to be making a decision about how to handle it. Personally, if the shots don't cause any long term problems I would go there first and if it doesn't work go the surgery route but then again I have not walked a mille in your shoes so it is a decision only you can make. Good luck and know that we are here to lean on or chat with day or night.
 
dear Sage,

I am praying for you and a good results from all your appointments. I hope everything will go well and you will get the right answers and hopefully soon you will be out and about...

Just remeraber you have a lot of people on this board who will think of you and wish you the best....:angel:
 
I was just wondering how your appointment went. I will likely need SI joint fusion myself after many years of pain, leg nurabness, etc. I would love to talk to a doctor that specializes in SI joints, since nobody around here (SE Wisconsin) seems to know much or believe in it. A name and nuraber would be greatly appreciated.
 
Sage,

My dear friend...I'm so happy to hear that you like this doc! I'm sorry I wasn't here for you while it was going on. I was in St. Pete Beach on Spring Break with my daughter. We didn't want to come back!

I haven't heard of the prolotherapy before so I will look that up! I am very excited for you. You do have a very tough decision to make. I like what some of the others here have asked. Seems like good questions to ask and think about. Keep us in the know as I know you will. Wild horses couldn't keep me from visiting you at the hospital! Just make sure I am on the approved list when the time comes.:D

I as usual am in my own little world. I have decisions to make about going back to work (I know mine, hubby won't hear of it) and also deal with my back and now this oncology doctor. At least I have St. Pete Beach to look back and smile upon!

Love & hugs,
Lisa
 
LISA... I knew you would be here eventually. I am so happy that you got to go and play in St. Pete. Glad you had a great time. NOW...I have been gone for a bit...missed something really important...what is this about oncology Dr????????? WHAT???
I need to hear from your friend who had Dr. G/S for the same surgery...need to find out if it's really as hard as they told me..yikes... (I can do it..).. The surgery/recovery/and how she's doing now... The now is the important part.

When I have surgery, you are only 20 miles away!!!! I will not be at my best..but you would understand!!! I asked them to book it for 6/30 as that fits my life the best. I have had this pain for 5 1/2 yrs...what's a little bit longer...they were telling me originally 2/3 weeks...yikes. That is not enough time for me to do what I have to do...so that I can rest easy afterwarRAB. The PT person told me that the hardest part is seeing your house disintergrate while you lay there. OH NO..not my house...I am going to have my cleaning lady twice a month...that will at least keep it going..I won't worry that way. (thank goodness for my cleaning lady..have had her once a month for over 8 yrs...she is like family...she has done all the stuff my back has said no to...)
I keep going back to this oncology Dr...???? Worried....post back soon.

Leslie
 
I went back and found your post Lisa...about the blood tests...yikes...
Please let me know if this is something that is just happening..or if it is related to any of the back stuff or what??

Leslie
 
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