Approximately, one year ago my mother began to have back pain and four weeks ago she was getting out of bed and had a pain in her back that dropped her to her knees. She immediately went to the local ER (for profit) and the MDs reported that she had arthritis and offered her a walker. My mother is 75 years old but was very active until four weeks ago. We all knew that this was simply not arthritis. One general practioner knew what was going on and aided us in getting into a spinal doctor who reported that after seeing the MRI, that my mother had nothing wrong with her. We then took her to a neurosurgeon and this gentleman along with the others before him suggested that this may heal itself and ordered pain medication and steriods. In the past two weeks my mother has not seen improvement and is now losing control of her urine and has drop foot. I am seriously concerned about her mental health as well due to her increasingly feelings of loss and depression. The doctors do not seem to want to help and continue to put off the surgery which she feels she can endure and would aid her. Does anyone know how to get immediate and appropriate care for her? She resides in a small town in Roanoke, Virginia.