Exploratory surgery

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beatlebug

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I haven't had an MRI, just some x-rays that didn't show the problem. I've been through everything and nothing fixes the problem. My medications are crappy. So I think I am going to ask my doctor for a referral and let him know I want exploratory surgery to get this problem fixed. But what are my chances getting a back doctor to do this? I don't know if my problem is from my spine or a muscle that won't heal. I would think it's a problem with the nerve because the pain radiates and spasms/burns. IDK though?? I am not sure if a doctor would touch this problem, but I am getting fed up with never ending pain.
 
Where is your pain and what are your symptoms? There are many tests that can pinpoint the problem. An x-ray is usually just the first test.
 
No doc is going to operate on your back without knowing what is wrong. They would do more harm than good. You can't see a herniated disk or spinal arthritis from the outside of the spine.

You need an MRI preferably with contrast and even a CT, preferably with contrast. An EMG will show if you have compromised nerve function. Go see a spine specialist if you can find one in your area.

If that doesn't find anything then there is nothing to fix. And even if they do find something, doesn't mean it can be fixed.

Docs aren't magicians.

Get some more testing done. X-rays show nothing.

Jen
 
The pain is to the side of my upper spine, that stays tender & hurts all the time. It hurts moving forward. From there, I have pain going down my spine and over into my left & right sides now. That gets significantly strong. In my spine and one side, it hurts with breathing in sometimes & deep breathing anytime. Some shoulder pain running into my left side. Runs up into my neck, through my jaw, and causes headaches/migraines and TMJ type pain. Occassional vomitting from the pain being so bad. Tingling all over including my scalp, nurabness in neck area, tightness in my back, neck, jaw, sides, abdomen, bladder, left of chest. I'm feeling sharp stabbing pain shooting through my body now too. I know I can get more testing to see if it's a spinal problem, but what if it is a muscle tear that won't heal without surgery. How do you get such a diagnosis unless they just go in and look? An MRI won't show these muscle problems. What would be the difference in a test with contrast and one without??
 
You can go to a neurologist for back pain? I agree, need the MRI first. Thanks for the info about the contrast. Don't want to go through an MRI be told there's nothing wrong when there is.
 
You get a diagnosis from them looking inside with the MRI, and other tests, that's how. An MRI with contrast with show your blood vessels and your disks. Without contrast I believe just the disks, which is what I had and the problem was found. No doctor will do exploratory and look, because the source of the problem can cause symptoms in a different area, referred pain. You need an MRI, it does sound like it may be in your spine. And there are numerous treatments out there for whatever the problem is. I would suggest getting a referral to a neurologist.
 
Kasey said his was without contrast and the problem was found, as was in my case. Your doctor will know what type you need. You are in charge of your health care but need rely on a doctor's expertise that you trust in addition to doing your own reading/research. It's good to get a second opinion too.
 
And an MRI will show a torn muscle or a torn tendon(like a torn rotator cuff) and all sorts of things inside the body. But your symptoms are pretty classic for a spine issue. An MRI can see the soft tissues like nerves and blood vessels and disks and fluid and all the soft stuff that no x-rays will show. A CT shows the bones really, really well and shows stuff an MRI won't. Found the fractures in my neck when an MRI didn't. The contrast mediums show the differences in tissues even better so you make our what is what. I have most of my MRI films and the CT with the broken neck and it is amazing what you can see in them.

I get an abdominal CT every 2 years to monitor an aneurysm...really want a copy of that. They don't even need the contrast it is so big. They just keep taking pictures until it gets big enough to justify surgery.

If it's inside, they can see it far better with a test than surgery.

Jenny
 
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