Hi guys......well here's the deal....I'm wanting to change doctors. There are a few reasons, some of which are that the neurosurgeon who did my fusion surgery (one month ago now) is not very communicative, and didn't answer some of my questions, and is always in a hurry. When I was in the hospital, the other neurosurgeon came to see me one day when my doc was not there, and he was WONDERFUL - he took all the time with me that I wanted, and answered my whole list of questions that I wasn't able to ask my surgeon. Now, I think I've just had the last straw....kind of complicated, but here goes....when I was doing research on the fusion surgery, one of the things I read in 2 or 3 different places was that you should not take anti-inflammatory drugs for a YEAR after the surgery as they will interfere with the fusion process. I asked the visiting doc this while in hospital, and he said that was correct. Then, at my 2-week check after surgery, with the surgeon who did the procedure (the non-communicative one), I told him I needed something for pain other than codeine, cuz I didn't want the narcotics, and he gave me Vioxx, 25 mg. Vioxx is a very heavy-duty anti-inflammatory, about like taking 12 advils in a 24 hour period. I asked him about the anti-inflammatory thing, and he said "since you don't smoke, you don't have to worry about that". He was very non-chalant about it. (He, after all, does not have to live with my back for the rest of his life!) I checked with my family doc, and he didn't know that it would interfere, so he didn't see a problem with it. (of course, neurosurgery and spinal fusions are not in his specialty, so I can understand why he didn't know this.) Well, NOW, Elaine checked with her doctor for me, and he told her what I had read before...NOT to take anti-inflammatories as they DO interfere with the fusion process. Now, can anyone understand why I might be a little upset with my doc? I've been taking the Vioxx for the last 3 weeks, because I HAD to take something, and he told me it was okay. I'm still in more pain than I expected to have at this point. I should have paid more attention to that little voice that told me not to take the Vioxx, but instead I made the mistake of trusting the doc that told me they were OK, because I needed SOMETHING!

SOOoooo, here's the question/dilemna - can I just change docs and go to the other neurosurgeon for "after-surgery" care? It just feels very akward as they practice in the same office and back each other up - kind of partners. I really would rather see this other doc, since I have really lost trust in my original doc who did the surgery. what would you guys do?

Well, I really didn't mean to write a mini-series, but it was a little complicated to explain. Thanks for any input.
Jill

• Re: alright guys, I've got a dilemna here..... A caring poster 01:02:59 11/09/00 (1)
  • Hi Caring Jill D 09:03:28 11/09/00 (0)
• Re: alright guys, I've got a dilemna here..... Stewart 23:34:28 11/08/00 (0)
• Re: alright guys, I've got a dilemna here..... Francesca 20:14:13 11/08/00 (1)
  • to: Fran and every one else James and Deb 22:03:26 11/08/00 (0)
• Re: alright guys, I've got a dilemna here..... A caring poster 19:35:59 11/08/00 (3)
  • Thank you, "Caring" - and that brings up another question..... Jill D 19:57:47 11/08/00 (2)
    • Re: Thank you, "Caring" - and that brings up another question..... dani 21:57:45 11/08/00 (1)
      • Re: alright guys, I've got a dilema here..... Kara 23:58:10 11/08/00 (0)