ozzybug
07-30-2006, 02:03 PM
Hello Everyone-
As usual, I am hoping everyone is having a pain free (as pain free as possible) day. I'm burting really bad today, but I'll post about that in a different post.
We got the unofficial verbal diagnosis from our doctor by phone the other day. It is as follows:
"Central protrusion at L-4 & L-5 and a smaller central protrussion at L-5"
I'm not sure, but this sounds like disc herniations? I hope we will get more information during a real visit with the doctor. In the mean time, my husband's doctor wanted to refer him to pain management & occupational therapy. He wants the pain management because this has been a 2 year process of pain for my husband and he's been through several rounds of intensive physical therapy with no improvement.
My husband for the time being has refused referral to pain management and is opting with occupational therapy alone. This is his choice to make, so I won't force him or try and pressure him to reconsider pain management, but I really think he would benefit from seeing a pain management doctor- not one who will immediately prescribe medications, but one who can offer occupational therapy and other forms of modalities as well. He just feels that because his pain isn't a "constant, 24 hour 7 day a week" thing that he doesn't need pain management.
Although I respect his choice because this IS his choice to make, I hope that if he does not get any kind of results from occupational therapy, that he will reconsider the referral to pm. He knows what he can deal with and I have to respect that.
In the mean time, I let him use my TENS, he is doing the stretches and strengthening exercises he learned in previous PT and has made a conscious effort to watch his posture and expecially when bending or lifting. I can't convince him to wear the back brace/support, but again, his choice.
Any suggestions as to how he can manage his pain during the mean time? He already also uses otc anti-inflamatories and has some mild muscle relaxers which he takes only during the really bad, bad flare ups and also uses ice/heat combo as well.
Take Care All!
On a side note, Shoreline- Know of any pm doctors in the Hampton Roads area that specialize in back problems? I know about Spineworks (which sounds like a great option for him), but if I am going to help hubby dearest at all, I'd like to assure him that a referral to pm doesn't mean pills alone! I've also looked at APM's web page and they offer a ton of modalities that don't involve medications too.
Lezlee
As usual, I am hoping everyone is having a pain free (as pain free as possible) day. I'm burting really bad today, but I'll post about that in a different post.
We got the unofficial verbal diagnosis from our doctor by phone the other day. It is as follows:
"Central protrusion at L-4 & L-5 and a smaller central protrussion at L-5"
I'm not sure, but this sounds like disc herniations? I hope we will get more information during a real visit with the doctor. In the mean time, my husband's doctor wanted to refer him to pain management & occupational therapy. He wants the pain management because this has been a 2 year process of pain for my husband and he's been through several rounds of intensive physical therapy with no improvement.
My husband for the time being has refused referral to pain management and is opting with occupational therapy alone. This is his choice to make, so I won't force him or try and pressure him to reconsider pain management, but I really think he would benefit from seeing a pain management doctor- not one who will immediately prescribe medications, but one who can offer occupational therapy and other forms of modalities as well. He just feels that because his pain isn't a "constant, 24 hour 7 day a week" thing that he doesn't need pain management.
Although I respect his choice because this IS his choice to make, I hope that if he does not get any kind of results from occupational therapy, that he will reconsider the referral to pm. He knows what he can deal with and I have to respect that.
In the mean time, I let him use my TENS, he is doing the stretches and strengthening exercises he learned in previous PT and has made a conscious effort to watch his posture and expecially when bending or lifting. I can't convince him to wear the back brace/support, but again, his choice.
Any suggestions as to how he can manage his pain during the mean time? He already also uses otc anti-inflamatories and has some mild muscle relaxers which he takes only during the really bad, bad flare ups and also uses ice/heat combo as well.
Take Care All!
On a side note, Shoreline- Know of any pm doctors in the Hampton Roads area that specialize in back problems? I know about Spineworks (which sounds like a great option for him), but if I am going to help hubby dearest at all, I'd like to assure him that a referral to pm doesn't mean pills alone! I've also looked at APM's web page and they offer a ton of modalities that don't involve medications too.
Lezlee
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mainecoon66
08-01-2006, 03:04 AM
Hi Lezlee,
I am so sorry to hear about your husband's health problems. I can't imagine how hard it must be to have both yourself and your spouse dealing with illness.
One thing that sounds meagre but that I have found really helps me is an ointment called Tiger Balm. I think you can get it at most drugstores. I have really been surprised at how it has helped me, even with some pretty bad pain in my back. It's also cheap which is a bonus! It also comes in patches which I find work really well for overnite, especially with back pain.
I hope this helps in some small way.
Best to both of you :wave:
Vickie
I am so sorry to hear about your husband's health problems. I can't imagine how hard it must be to have both yourself and your spouse dealing with illness.
One thing that sounds meagre but that I have found really helps me is an ointment called Tiger Balm. I think you can get it at most drugstores. I have really been surprised at how it has helped me, even with some pretty bad pain in my back. It's also cheap which is a bonus! It also comes in patches which I find work really well for overnite, especially with back pain.
I hope this helps in some small way.
Best to both of you :wave:
Vickie
ozzybug
08-01-2006, 12:29 PM
Vickie-
Thank you for the suggestion. I don't consider it meager at all. Anything that might help is big in my book. He uses icy hot and such, but if you get even a little relief from it, then I am willing to get some for him. I've read about tiger balm but not ever spoken with anyone who has used it.
The PT office hasn't called to make an appt. for my husband yet, and I left a message for them last week, and again yesterday (Monday). Still no return call. My husband is ancy to start and I'm getting pretty upset at the lack of response from the PT office.
I don't think I will EVER understand how people can just not return a phone call. We own a business and people actually act suprised when I return their calls??? How crazy is that?
Again, thank you and I'll let you know how the balm works out!
Lezlee
Thank you for the suggestion. I don't consider it meager at all. Anything that might help is big in my book. He uses icy hot and such, but if you get even a little relief from it, then I am willing to get some for him. I've read about tiger balm but not ever spoken with anyone who has used it.
The PT office hasn't called to make an appt. for my husband yet, and I left a message for them last week, and again yesterday (Monday). Still no return call. My husband is ancy to start and I'm getting pretty upset at the lack of response from the PT office.
I don't think I will EVER understand how people can just not return a phone call. We own a business and people actually act suprised when I return their calls??? How crazy is that?
Again, thank you and I'll let you know how the balm works out!
Lezlee
mainecoon66
08-01-2006, 03:45 PM
Hey Lezlee,
I can't believe that the PT office is taking so long to return your call. It seems like a 24 turn around should be sufficient for any business?? It seems especially callous for a business that specializes in helping people in pain. I really hope you hear from them soon, and that your husband can get some relief.
Take care,
Vickie
I can't believe that the PT office is taking so long to return your call. It seems like a 24 turn around should be sufficient for any business?? It seems especially callous for a business that specializes in helping people in pain. I really hope you hear from them soon, and that your husband can get some relief.
Take care,
Vickie
ozzybug
08-01-2006, 04:05 PM
Thanks Vickie-
I've decided that if they don't call, and also decided that if the doctor's office doesn't return my call about making a real, in office visit for the "official" results by Friday, I am going to go to their office nad get the MRI results even if I have to pay for them and look for another doctor.
They gave me the un-official verbal results by phone last week and told me they would call and make an appt for us to see them for the official, in depth results. Well, I left a message with them yesterday morning, and then again today. No return call from them either.....it's really making me mad now. They have the official witten results because they read the "brief" synopsis directly from it over the phone.
Can't stand being left in limbo!!!!!:mad:
Lezlee
I've decided that if they don't call, and also decided that if the doctor's office doesn't return my call about making a real, in office visit for the "official" results by Friday, I am going to go to their office nad get the MRI results even if I have to pay for them and look for another doctor.
They gave me the un-official verbal results by phone last week and told me they would call and make an appt for us to see them for the official, in depth results. Well, I left a message with them yesterday morning, and then again today. No return call from them either.....it's really making me mad now. They have the official witten results because they read the "brief" synopsis directly from it over the phone.
Can't stand being left in limbo!!!!!:mad:
Lezlee
mainecoon66
08-01-2006, 04:49 PM
Sounds like a plan! Why on earth should it take a week to make a 5 minute call to set up an appt?? As you say, limbo when it comes to health results can be absolute hell! And in your case, not only do you not know what's going on, it's holding up with your husband proceeding with his treatment to get well. It's not like you are waiting for cable tv here! I really hope you hear from them soon....!!
texascritter
08-01-2006, 07:45 PM
You can always go to whereever you had the MRI done and get a copy of the MRI as well as a copy of the finding. I have a copy of everything I've had done to me. It helps if you have the results and the actual films when you go from one refural to another or different doctors. What would happen if they somehow got lost between doctors when they send them back and forth to each other. It would take awile to get one chart together again from everyone. Hope this helps. TEXASCRITTER