Neuro or Ortho for stenosis?

  • Thread starter Thread starter libloom
  • Start date Start date
L

libloom

Guest
I feel sort of guilty even posting considering what a lot of you are going and have gone through. Still, I have been diagnosed with significant arthritis and stenosis of the spine. I cannot walk any distance or stand in one position for any longer than 5-10 minutes without horrible pain my my lower back...extending around the front and down the left leg. Eventually, there is tingling and nurabness in my foot. I have been using a walker to go long distances or in a store where there are no carts to push or lean on to.

I've been seeing an Ortho doc who specializes in spines. Fortunately, there is no disk involvement.....so no surgical intervention (yet). I've been on anti-inflammatories and just started some physical therapy. I can get an epidural injection whenever I'd like and am almost ready to do it. After two total hip replacements, I'm weary of living in pain.

Big question.....should I be consulting a neurosurgeon instead of an orthopedic surgeon because of the nerve impingement? If so, what sort of tests...other than an MRI....would he/she order? I keep second guessing myself here and would love some advice/guidance.

Thanks for reading.....
Linda
 
I would certainly consult a neurosurgeon!!
Neurosurgeons specifically treat Spinal Stenosis! (not limited to of course, but definitly one of them)...
Im not sure what kind of tests he/she would order, that all depenRAB on what you have already had lately, what exactly the pain levels are, etc.
But I can understand your not wanting to live in pain, and I would definitly see what the neuro has to say. It certainly cant hurt!
LOL. (No pun intended).
 
one of the indications for surgical intervention is when the patients quality of life is suffering from the cause or the patients pain is is just not even tolerable aymore. i would most defintiely seek out a second opinion on your situation. a neurosurgeon would be a good choice since this othero does not seem to actually get just how much overall suffering and loss you are dealing with right now. you simply should not be left to suffer like this when something actually CAN be done surgically to alleviate it. i am just wondering how long ago the original diagostic MRI was done on you? if it has actually been more than one year,you really do need an updated newer one to actually see how this has progressed in your spine. most specialists actually want a patient who they are going to be seeing for just a consult/eval to have an MRI done at least within the past six months. alot can change in only a matter of months,trust me on that one.

just get that second opinion and the newer MRI,with contrast too. if your ortho wont do this for you,you can always ask your primary for that referral too or wait til you see the new surgeon and he or she can do it too. but it is much more time efficient to have the new one in hand at that first consult. it just saves alot of time and hassle. hopefully this new doc will see how much impact this is actually having on just your basic quality of life and DO something to help you with this. good luck and please keep us posted. marcia
 
Back
Top