I had my appointment with the surgeon today. I fully expected to walk away with a surgery date, but unfortunately, I did not.
First off, he is a great guy, and spent over an hour with my husband and I. I cried almost the entire appointment, and he kept handing me tissues and was very compassionate.
He reviewed my x-ray and MRI, and is the first Dr. (out of the several I have seen) that told me I have a disc issue on top of my Spondy. My Spondy is at the L5-S1 level, and he said the slippage is not too bad. My L4-L5 disc has an annular tear with some mild disc disease and is bulging. I don't understand why is the the only one so far that has seen that, but he is a spine surgeon and therefore a little more qualified to make those calls, so I trust him. He ordered a CT scan, and I have to have a discogram. These are obviously to give him more detailed information. After those two tests have been done, he wants to meet up again and discuss the next step, which is most likely a fusion. It is mainly a matter of what level neeRAB to be fused, if not both. One question. What will a CT scan show that the MRI didn't?
He also wants me to start PT. I called my insurance company today to see if this is covered, and it doesn't sound like it will be. In addition, if they were to approve it, I would only get 20 sessions per year. I don't think that would get me very far, and I would rather save them for after surgery. So that is a bust.
I am just so tired of waiting and waiting, but I do understand that he neeRAB to be VERY thorough before operating on my spine. Meanwhile, my emotional and physical state are quickly deteriorating. My pain is increasing. Tonight I thought I was going to have an emotional breakdown/ anxiety attack. I was home alone with my 14 month old, and could not handle the pain. I don't ever get to rest, she still doesn't even sleep through the night. I cried so hard in front of her. Luckily it didn't seem to phase her much! Once again, I had to call a family meraber to come help me take care of her.
Sorry to vent. I do have another question. I am in severe pain at this point. It is difficult for me to imagine getting up and going to work every day, but most of the time I do. Is it my spondy causing this, even though he says the slippage isn't too bad? Could it be the annular tear in my disc? Could it be both?
First off, he is a great guy, and spent over an hour with my husband and I. I cried almost the entire appointment, and he kept handing me tissues and was very compassionate.
He reviewed my x-ray and MRI, and is the first Dr. (out of the several I have seen) that told me I have a disc issue on top of my Spondy. My Spondy is at the L5-S1 level, and he said the slippage is not too bad. My L4-L5 disc has an annular tear with some mild disc disease and is bulging. I don't understand why is the the only one so far that has seen that, but he is a spine surgeon and therefore a little more qualified to make those calls, so I trust him. He ordered a CT scan, and I have to have a discogram. These are obviously to give him more detailed information. After those two tests have been done, he wants to meet up again and discuss the next step, which is most likely a fusion. It is mainly a matter of what level neeRAB to be fused, if not both. One question. What will a CT scan show that the MRI didn't?
He also wants me to start PT. I called my insurance company today to see if this is covered, and it doesn't sound like it will be. In addition, if they were to approve it, I would only get 20 sessions per year. I don't think that would get me very far, and I would rather save them for after surgery. So that is a bust.
I am just so tired of waiting and waiting, but I do understand that he neeRAB to be VERY thorough before operating on my spine. Meanwhile, my emotional and physical state are quickly deteriorating. My pain is increasing. Tonight I thought I was going to have an emotional breakdown/ anxiety attack. I was home alone with my 14 month old, and could not handle the pain. I don't ever get to rest, she still doesn't even sleep through the night. I cried so hard in front of her. Luckily it didn't seem to phase her much! Once again, I had to call a family meraber to come help me take care of her.
Sorry to vent. I do have another question. I am in severe pain at this point. It is difficult for me to imagine getting up and going to work every day, but most of the time I do. Is it my spondy causing this, even though he says the slippage isn't too bad? Could it be the annular tear in my disc? Could it be both?