I have an anecdotal support for your point: I had an event that resulted in intense lumbar pain and I was duly referred to a well-known specialist at a very large hospital. While waiting for the specialist to come into the examining room, I was able to overhear the employee at the front desk making phone calls. She made the same call ove…
I have an anecdotal support for your point: I had an event that resulted in intense lumbar pain and I was duly referred to a well-known specialist at a very large hospital. While waiting for the specialist to come into the examining room, I was able to overhear the employee at the front desk making phone calls. She made the same call over and over: “The MRI shows you have a stenosis, for which the only treatment is surgery.” I thought that was a little curious and filed that information away. Finally, the specialist came in and, after perfunctorily taking my “history”, recommended an MRI. I think even he felt a little awkward that he never even really looked at me, and so had me briefly pull up my shirt and point to where it hurt. Sure enough, a couple of days after the MRI, I got the “stenosis” phone call. My intuition told me not to go, and I didn’t.
The pain subsided and was manageable for a few years, but again I went to a (different) specialist who duly ordered another MRI, after which he informed me that I was not a candidate for surgery (his words were essentially that I could go to someone else and get surgery, but he was confident that I would come back to him to fix their mess) and suggested physical therapy. When he asked me what I did for pain, I told him OTC analgesics. He gave me a peculiar look and said “I can prescribe something stronger if you want”. I didn’t want, but got benefit from the physical therapy and have taught myself how to manage the problem, within the bounds of the underlying condition, through proper stretching.
Now, of course I have no idea whether the surgery would have helped or harmed (I suspect the second specialist may have been right), but I’m done with doctors, and will just live within the limitations of my minor disability.
Thank you for sharing. This is a great comment to go with part 2. It's really sad how assembly lined the whole business model is. I'm pinning this one too.
I herniated a disc which was very painful. Spine surgeon told me I would be far better off with physical therapy and massage than surgery. Grateful for his advice. I followed his advice and added acupuncture and eventually resistance training with a trainer/physical therapist to strengthen my muscles. I have had no pain for years now.
You made the right choice NEVER to have the surgery. It would not have helped you. I had two uncles who dies from bad back surgeries. That’s all they know because therapy and exercise is cheap and they don’t make money on it.
I am very sorry for the deaths in your family. People still die under anesthesia from any and every type of surgery. 🤗 ❤️
My opinion agrees with A Midwestern Doctor and I feel everyone should avoid surgery unless and until every other option has been ruled out. At least this way, if anything bad happens, you could say you tried everything else to avoid it.
I had a similar diagnosis but I had the surgery. It is a horror story; The surgery went bad. The fusion device got lodged in my abdomen somehow and hhad to have abdominal surgery the next day to rmove it but the ennd result was paralyization of my left foot from the middle of my calf down to including my toes. Then a following nerve test revealed a pinched nerve followed by another surgery to release the nerve which did absolutely nothing to give motion to my foot. Ended up in rehab with PT for 2 months which resulted in me learning how to walk with a dead leg. That was in 2015. I have pain in my back still but I take no meds except a ibuprofin in very rare instances where I may have irritated the nerves or muscles. I
too am done with the medical profession. I turn down my primary care doctor';s offer of pain
meds. I have learned to accept the pain and move on. I will never have surgery again on anything. I just live with the pain but I do not have the use of my left leg and foot so I am somewhat disabled for life. I cannot do my housework or garden and can only walk short distances because my back seems to give out on me. I am glad you didn't have the surgery.
I, like you am DONE with doctors and this so called healthcare cabal! It is corrupt and like our government and schools, cannot be fixed but needs dismantled and rebuilt, with God at the helm!!!
I had a similar experience. The doctor would not have me take an x-ray, but insisted I get an MRI, which it turns out I had to wait days in excruciating pain to get it, and it was his friend's new MRI business. Then he told me he couldn't see anything on the MRI and did an x-ray, and said you must be in a lot of pain and sent me to a pain specialist for a herniated disc. (In fairness, I think a lot of doctors see people who are angling for drugs, but that was also to help his friend's new business, IMO.)
The pain specialist gave me an injection, which really helped, and a prescription for massive amounts of pain killer. I hated the pain killer, and after several days, stopped using it, though I would take a half pill occasionally if the pain got too bad to sleep. She recommended physical therapy which allowed me to avoid surgery and an Ab Lounger keeps my core strong.
I'd like to see more about efficacy rates of "pain specialists." I think they came about with the "opioid crisis," so that GP's can pass the buck. I require small amounts of codeine (something like 1-2 tablets a week, tops) for breakthrough pain, but no GP will touch even that - and constantly want to refer me to pain specialists (the algorithm tells them to). I looked through the list I was given of pain specialists - one loves the implants (where you gonna implant for fibromyalgia?), another loves burning the nerves (again, which nerve?) and the others were equally invasive.
I do have a specialist GP who does trigger point lidocaine (like Midwestern Doc suggests), simple physio (Finch method) and prolotherapy. But he's not a "clinic" and so my GP doesn't always agree with me going to him. But it does get her off my back about "pain specialists."
But the business of "pain specialists" seems like an important topic to explore.
NOTE TO MIDWESTERN DOC: I've since learned of an excellent physiotherapy for the neck, called "Watson Method." It's almost like osteopathic, in that you gently rotate the vertebrae into alignment. It's an American method, but I'm fortunate to have several practitioners here in Australia.
I have an anecdotal support for your point: I had an event that resulted in intense lumbar pain and I was duly referred to a well-known specialist at a very large hospital. While waiting for the specialist to come into the examining room, I was able to overhear the employee at the front desk making phone calls. She made the same call over and over: “The MRI shows you have a stenosis, for which the only treatment is surgery.” I thought that was a little curious and filed that information away. Finally, the specialist came in and, after perfunctorily taking my “history”, recommended an MRI. I think even he felt a little awkward that he never even really looked at me, and so had me briefly pull up my shirt and point to where it hurt. Sure enough, a couple of days after the MRI, I got the “stenosis” phone call. My intuition told me not to go, and I didn’t.
The pain subsided and was manageable for a few years, but again I went to a (different) specialist who duly ordered another MRI, after which he informed me that I was not a candidate for surgery (his words were essentially that I could go to someone else and get surgery, but he was confident that I would come back to him to fix their mess) and suggested physical therapy. When he asked me what I did for pain, I told him OTC analgesics. He gave me a peculiar look and said “I can prescribe something stronger if you want”. I didn’t want, but got benefit from the physical therapy and have taught myself how to manage the problem, within the bounds of the underlying condition, through proper stretching.
Now, of course I have no idea whether the surgery would have helped or harmed (I suspect the second specialist may have been right), but I’m done with doctors, and will just live within the limitations of my minor disability.
Thank you for sharing. This is a great comment to go with part 2. It's really sad how assembly lined the whole business model is. I'm pinning this one too.
I herniated a disc which was very painful. Spine surgeon told me I would be far better off with physical therapy and massage than surgery. Grateful for his advice. I followed his advice and added acupuncture and eventually resistance training with a trainer/physical therapist to strengthen my muscles. I have had no pain for years now.
I've never had a surgeon tell me I'd be better off without him!!!!
Well this one did! Most unusual I am sure.
Beautiful testimony.
You made the right choice NEVER to have the surgery. It would not have helped you. I had two uncles who dies from bad back surgeries. That’s all they know because therapy and exercise is cheap and they don’t make money on it.
I am very sorry for the deaths in your family. People still die under anesthesia from any and every type of surgery. 🤗 ❤️
My opinion agrees with A Midwestern Doctor and I feel everyone should avoid surgery unless and until every other option has been ruled out. At least this way, if anything bad happens, you could say you tried everything else to avoid it.
I had a similar diagnosis but I had the surgery. It is a horror story; The surgery went bad. The fusion device got lodged in my abdomen somehow and hhad to have abdominal surgery the next day to rmove it but the ennd result was paralyization of my left foot from the middle of my calf down to including my toes. Then a following nerve test revealed a pinched nerve followed by another surgery to release the nerve which did absolutely nothing to give motion to my foot. Ended up in rehab with PT for 2 months which resulted in me learning how to walk with a dead leg. That was in 2015. I have pain in my back still but I take no meds except a ibuprofin in very rare instances where I may have irritated the nerves or muscles. I
too am done with the medical profession. I turn down my primary care doctor';s offer of pain
meds. I have learned to accept the pain and move on. I will never have surgery again on anything. I just live with the pain but I do not have the use of my left leg and foot so I am somewhat disabled for life. I cannot do my housework or garden and can only walk short distances because my back seems to give out on me. I am glad you didn't have the surgery.
meds
I, like you am DONE with doctors and this so called healthcare cabal! It is corrupt and like our government and schools, cannot be fixed but needs dismantled and rebuilt, with God at the helm!!!
I had a similar experience. The doctor would not have me take an x-ray, but insisted I get an MRI, which it turns out I had to wait days in excruciating pain to get it, and it was his friend's new MRI business. Then he told me he couldn't see anything on the MRI and did an x-ray, and said you must be in a lot of pain and sent me to a pain specialist for a herniated disc. (In fairness, I think a lot of doctors see people who are angling for drugs, but that was also to help his friend's new business, IMO.)
The pain specialist gave me an injection, which really helped, and a prescription for massive amounts of pain killer. I hated the pain killer, and after several days, stopped using it, though I would take a half pill occasionally if the pain got too bad to sleep. She recommended physical therapy which allowed me to avoid surgery and an Ab Lounger keeps my core strong.
I'd like to see more about efficacy rates of "pain specialists." I think they came about with the "opioid crisis," so that GP's can pass the buck. I require small amounts of codeine (something like 1-2 tablets a week, tops) for breakthrough pain, but no GP will touch even that - and constantly want to refer me to pain specialists (the algorithm tells them to). I looked through the list I was given of pain specialists - one loves the implants (where you gonna implant for fibromyalgia?), another loves burning the nerves (again, which nerve?) and the others were equally invasive.
I do have a specialist GP who does trigger point lidocaine (like Midwestern Doc suggests), simple physio (Finch method) and prolotherapy. But he's not a "clinic" and so my GP doesn't always agree with me going to him. But it does get her off my back about "pain specialists."
But the business of "pain specialists" seems like an important topic to explore.
NOTE TO MIDWESTERN DOC: I've since learned of an excellent physiotherapy for the neck, called "Watson Method." It's almost like osteopathic, in that you gently rotate the vertebrae into alignment. It's an American method, but I'm fortunate to have several practitioners here in Australia.
I often check this site for issues because they keep up to date and cite their references. If you haven't heard of them, this link is for fibromyalgia: https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/immune-connective-joint/fibromyalgia
Yes. I call it fibromyalgia (no official dx) because that communicates what it *feels* like.
However, I'm pretty certain that it's related to 30 years of psych drugs & those surgeries didn't help, either.
Working on it! It would help to have doctors' cooperation, but now I'm dreaming.
Yar, these people would give me antidepressants for fibro. No sir, thank you.