Doctors office called today

nurselynnaie

My neurologist office called today and informed me that the specialist ( who is a affiliate of them) declined seeing me since another surgeon had performed my two previous surgeries. They said that they were trying to get me a appointment with another affiliate who will deal with surgeries performed by other surgeons. Since my original surgeies were done in Pittsburgh Pa area in 2008 and in 20010 I moved back to my home town of Le Roy Ny. Boy did this make me feel even worse. I am told that the fusion needs to be completely redone, then told only certain surgeons will do it. I can understand where they are coming from, but makes you wonder if they are top surgeons or surgeons who aren't so good.
Pain Management appointment is Sept 12th since my appointment where I got the news about redoing the fusion I have been having major anxiety attacks, panic attacks with just the thought of doing it over. This adds to my stress and irritability ( my poor kids and boyfriend).
Spoke to my comp attorney today who said to me well Sheryl it takes time for the bones to fuse I said ummm I am 3 years post up and was released back to work with no restrictions in April 2008. Now since they found this I have been completely taken out of work with restrictions on vaccuming lol... I am so very confused and distraught these days. I am getting better with accepting the way my kids clean compared to my expectations of clean. You guys will probably see me on Hoarders in a few years lol j/k Anyway I hope all is well with everyone
Have a great great week

tamtam

You know that is probably a good thing the doctor won't take your case, as it sounds as though they want clean slates, so like you I question their abilities. It make a huge difference you are in a different area and needing a surgeon than someone just doctor shopping surgeons. So I say count your blessings they are not taking you, as the right surgeon dealing in more complex issues is out there. YOu will just have to look harder. The comment on clean, I have learned to except a lot that I would have never excepted as clean before, but so goes the world of being a spiney.

Aviatrix36440

I fully agree with what Tamtam just posted to you. My original surgeon, when he saw my neck going south again, and too inside my fusions, he basically wrote me off and sent me to my Neurologist. This Neurologist I have a lot of respect for, but once he saw surgery was back on the list, my appointments kept getting canceled - e.g., no longer an in and out "clean" case.

This surgeon I'm seeing Wednesday already knows I'm a mess, and so far, so good. I dug around the SE (I live in South Florida) in specific for spine surgeons that conduct without fear (G) reconstructions or revisions.

Like Tamtam, I've found over the years that other surgeons aren't thrilled to work an area that another surgeon worked - especially spines. Keep looking, and hopefully you (like I did) will get an even better, more qualified surgeon. Their loss, YOUR win.

Brenda

Laney350z

Gotta love the doctors!

I am sorry you are going through all of this...again. I have only been going through this stuff for six months and I have so much respect for you all that have suffered many years. It is so hard to feel like no one in the medical profession cares about what you are going through. I wish you well and hope you have a pain free day tomorrow.

~Laney

AnonymousUser

I wouldn't just make the statement that all those doctors aren't very good. If you have had multiple surgeries or especially botched ones. Then you need a reconstructive surgeon. One that also has ridiculously high insurance as you are a big gamble. He also goes in knowing that most likely you are not coming out that much better.

After seeing 4 different surgeons and talking to them. The one I picked knew I had had a microD previously. He thought that was no big deal. Had it been an attempted fusion he would have sent me off packing. The other surgeon whom I saw for a consult said he wouldn't waste his time on me as he figured I was 60% shot at best. He only likes to do 90%. That is exactly what he told me. And he is still in business.

Why? Because business is booming in the back industry. Why take a high risk patient when easy pickings are right around the corner. They get paid pretty much the same. Simple matter of economics. You can do a lot more easy ones in 1 day than complex reconstructions.

ouch2

agree with Tamtam and Brenda. You don't want a surgeon working on you who only wants to be the first to work on your back.

Start looking around, I know that Brenda did her own searching, so I'm sure she could give you some pointers on how/where to look on the internet for a great fellowship trained ortho or neurosurgeon who deals with more complex or redos.

Wishing you all the best. You are in my thoughts.

>:D< Karen

alexhurting

If they dont want to work on anyone who already had previous surgery on there spine then they should already tell you instead of wasting a patients time making the appointment. Its not very hard to ask a patient if they had any previous surgery and what they had before accepting and seting up the appointment. Out of respect they should tell you up front so person can seek help where they need to go.

But they will be happy to make the appointment and charge insurance and tell you sorry i cant help you. So forget all this crap of well i respect the dr for turning me away. They never should of taken the appointment and the money for the appointment.

alexhurting

Lol oops i missread they never took the apointment. Well screw it that goes to the ones who do take the appointment then knowing very well they wont touch you. Me bad!

nurselynnaie

I agree with just about everything, they may not of took the appointment, but the first nuero told me oh he will see you and he is the best he works on things like this all the time.. So when I called the next day the receptionist says Oh he looked at your Myleogram and he can not do anything for you we will be sending you to pain management.. then yesterday I get a call again from the first doc who said well there is a doctor who will work on ppl who have had previous surgeries. I think we can get you a appointment fairly quickly. So here in a total of three days I was told i cant do anything for you but he can he cant do anything for you sending you to pain management where he will be and then he can confer and make the best decisions since the call yesterday it is obvious they were just trying to shut me up since they straight up told me he wouldn't do anything with me .. let me tell you I tell everyone about my surgery medically and if anyone on the street looked at my myleogram ct scans x rays u see nothing but screws so it is pretty obvious. lol Anyone ever get the feeling that they do not know what to do with you, but they just want you to shut up so they start making stuff up or setting up stupid appointments. I didn't think if the economic part of it like Z06 wrote and that makes sense ... I wasn't thinking of it like a business which it is even though my quality of life depends on it. I am in search of surgeons. My uncle has a attorney who is out of Ohio but is looking for a appointment for me in the Buffalo area for a second opinion he is a very nice guy. He is not a workmans comp attorney he is doing this to help us out. I called my workmans comp attorney who I had to get because my employer is a horrible nursing home and was not sending my papers that they needed to holding up comp and with my trillion kids and rent I had to do something.. anyway I call him yesterday tell him what the doctor says the run around and you know what this man says to me..." Well Sheryl you have to give it time the body is a strange thing. It may heal well" I said I am 3 years post op was sent back to work with no restrictions then they find this and their response when I ask will I ever be a nurse? Will i be able to go back to work? is I can not answer that on the record but off the record I would say no... talk about crushed I know nothing else besides being a nurse.. there is nothing I would want to do more then that and not go to work??? lol I have been off since May and I am stir crazy going freaking crazy ...and my attorney says oh it takes time lol
Thanks for listening to me complain everyone and thanks for all the great great advice !!!!!

alexhurting

I got very tierd of hearing give it time. We know when we are way past the give it time bs. Good luck

nurselynnaie

The doctors office didn't call yesterday with the appointment for the specialist who would see me, like they promised. I didn't really think they would. Today is another day, maybe they will call today.I go to my regular doctor today to hopefully get something for anxiety and deresssion I am not going to make it without anything. That is for sure.
Had a horrible night last night back and leg were killing , migraine to boot. It is gonna be a long day .
Hope everyone else is doing great !! Have a good day and keep smiling:)