Nanner
12-29-2002, 11:35 PM
The doctor I am seeing on Jan. 8 is a physiatrist. Has anyone else seen one of these? I gather he is an MD with a specialization in dealing with rehab and disability.
The thing I don't like about this is that perhaps my regular doc is afraid I have some permanent damage and need to start looking at that possibility. I am also a bit wary that they may just treat my pain and not want to spend time looking for a cause. Being doped up for one year was about enough, I don't care to keep increasing the dosage or strength of my meds just to keep functioning.
I don't know anyone who has dealt with a physiatrist, so really don't know what to expect. Just wondered if anyone else has experience with one.
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Nancy D-ACDF C6-7 on 6/7/02. Donor bone with no hardware
The thing I don't like about this is that perhaps my regular doc is afraid I have some permanent damage and need to start looking at that possibility. I am also a bit wary that they may just treat my pain and not want to spend time looking for a cause. Being doped up for one year was about enough, I don't care to keep increasing the dosage or strength of my meds just to keep functioning.
I don't know anyone who has dealt with a physiatrist, so really don't know what to expect. Just wondered if anyone else has experience with one.
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Nancy D-ACDF C6-7 on 6/7/02. Donor bone with no hardware
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Bitsy
12-30-2002, 02:36 AM
HI, I have never been to one, but have heard they do help& also take in affect all yor pain& meds. They help to strengthen the muscles & trigger points that cause the pain. Some do acupuncture & i have had that& it does help bring blood flow back to where it belongs & nourishes the nerves& muscles/ Let me know how it goes,ok? Good Luck to you
Bev
Bev
charlotte1
12-30-2002, 10:12 AM
Hello,
The neurosurgeon that I saw set me up with the same type doc. I am scheduled to see phy on the 6th. I guess we will find out about this around the same time.I am also scheduled with neursurgeon for second opinion so if neurosurgeon wants to do surgery i
am all for it.
Hope the phy helps
Charlotte
The neurosurgeon that I saw set me up with the same type doc. I am scheduled to see phy on the 6th. I guess we will find out about this around the same time.I am also scheduled with neursurgeon for second opinion so if neurosurgeon wants to do surgery i
am all for it.
Hope the phy helps
Charlotte
melanie dawn
12-30-2002, 01:42 PM
Hello there Nancy,
You are right in what the physiatrists do. They are physical medicine and rehab. I saw one for about one year, she was very good in ordering tests and scripting meds. and diagnostics.
I did find that she was anti surgery, and relied on meds. I felt that was appropriate at first, but eventualy I wanted to investigate surgical options when i was getting no relief with those treatments.
However as i said they are generally very good with treating inflammation and pain , and can be a good source of info regarding rehabilitation.
Good luck!I'll be thinking of you.
Mel :)
You are right in what the physiatrists do. They are physical medicine and rehab. I saw one for about one year, she was very good in ordering tests and scripting meds. and diagnostics.
I did find that she was anti surgery, and relied on meds. I felt that was appropriate at first, but eventualy I wanted to investigate surgical options when i was getting no relief with those treatments.
However as i said they are generally very good with treating inflammation and pain , and can be a good source of info regarding rehabilitation.
Good luck!I'll be thinking of you.
Mel :)
mothmin
12-30-2002, 02:59 PM
Nanner, I'm so sorry to hear of your continued pain, and I hope you get releif soon. One thing that really helped me in the begining of my pains was a book from the library called "the pain cure" the author's name is dharma, or dharma sighn, something. the book deals with people in chronic pain and goes into every kind of remedy available... it's not trying to sell anything and doesn'r push one medical profession over another. it gave me great comfort. Hope and prayers to you. get well soon.
Nanner
01-09-2003, 01:44 AM
Hey, Charlotte, what did you think of the physiatrist? The guy I saw was really nice, but it was a waste of time. Not his fault, though.
I am happy to say my bad headaches have subsided to a dull pain most of the time, and the fullness in my ear canal is still present, but not painful. It's been about 10 days since my last killer headache.
The doc was obviously in agreement that the therapist screwed me up with the drastic change in therapy. He thinks I am now dealing with occipital neuralgia, and said he usually sends folks to PT for massage and ultrasound. Also traction, but he was not about to send a recent fusion for that! Given my history, he was understanding when I said it isn't bad enough to get me to go to PT again.
The other thing he offered was that if the severe headaches return, call and they'll fit me in right away and he would do an injection of steroids into the occipital area. Sounds awful, but he said it's a lot less painful than the headache.
Anybody out there have experience with an injection into the occipital area? I'm curious whether this has worked for anyone else, and also how painful/dangerous this kind of injection is. Going to look for more info on the net, too.
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Nancy D-ACDF C6-7 on 6/7/02. Donor bone with no hardware
I am happy to say my bad headaches have subsided to a dull pain most of the time, and the fullness in my ear canal is still present, but not painful. It's been about 10 days since my last killer headache.
The doc was obviously in agreement that the therapist screwed me up with the drastic change in therapy. He thinks I am now dealing with occipital neuralgia, and said he usually sends folks to PT for massage and ultrasound. Also traction, but he was not about to send a recent fusion for that! Given my history, he was understanding when I said it isn't bad enough to get me to go to PT again.
The other thing he offered was that if the severe headaches return, call and they'll fit me in right away and he would do an injection of steroids into the occipital area. Sounds awful, but he said it's a lot less painful than the headache.
Anybody out there have experience with an injection into the occipital area? I'm curious whether this has worked for anyone else, and also how painful/dangerous this kind of injection is. Going to look for more info on the net, too.
------------------
Nancy D-ACDF C6-7 on 6/7/02. Donor bone with no hardware
melanie dawn
01-09-2003, 11:15 AM
Hi Nancy,
Injection into the occipital area , will probably be a little bit of cortisone and freezing. I had it done, it hurts abit. It did relieve the acute muscle spasm there , which can be the source of the headache
. Take care Mel
Injection into the occipital area , will probably be a little bit of cortisone and freezing. I had it done, it hurts abit. It did relieve the acute muscle spasm there , which can be the source of the headache
. Take care Mel
charlotte1
01-09-2003, 01:54 PM
Hello Nancy,
I was a bad pt and canceled my physiatrist appt. Sorry I have no info for you. I was referred to the physiatrist by the first neusurgeon that I saw. I also want to wait and see what we find out from my myelogram. It seems to me that you would want all the info available before manipulating that area. I would hate to make things worse.
I am glad to hear your headaches are better Nancy. All this stuff scares the crap out of me. Injections into the occipital area - at least our friend Mel has done it to lead the way for the rest.
Charlotte
I was a bad pt and canceled my physiatrist appt. Sorry I have no info for you. I was referred to the physiatrist by the first neusurgeon that I saw. I also want to wait and see what we find out from my myelogram. It seems to me that you would want all the info available before manipulating that area. I would hate to make things worse.
I am glad to hear your headaches are better Nancy. All this stuff scares the crap out of me. Injections into the occipital area - at least our friend Mel has done it to lead the way for the rest.
Charlotte
LilDarlin
02-08-2003, 01:32 AM
I went to one. a neuropsychologist. Its to see if your pain is real,..how severe it is,..and if your a canidate for procedures,..surgery.
I had a lady and she was great.
Also about 3 hours of testing. paper.
Did anyone else have this?
I had procedures set up within 24 hours afterwards.
I had a lady and she was great.
Also about 3 hours of testing. paper.
Did anyone else have this?
I had procedures set up within 24 hours afterwards.
LilDarlin
02-08-2003, 08:44 AM
Not a good idea to cancel these test. They actually determine to get your best treatment. Alot of people dont realize that,..but its true.
My appointment led me to getting more test,..procedures,..etc.
Its not a normal PHSYC exam when pain is involved.
Alos they play a very big part in disability.
if you cancel,..then dont expect a good disability rating.
[This message has been edited by LilDarlin (edited 02-08-2003).]
My appointment led me to getting more test,..procedures,..etc.
Its not a normal PHSYC exam when pain is involved.
Alos they play a very big part in disability.
if you cancel,..then dont expect a good disability rating.
[This message has been edited by LilDarlin (edited 02-08-2003).]
mel333
02-08-2003, 08:57 AM
Hi,
Is the occipital block a c2 nerve block? I am thinking of having one too and I am scared. From what I have read they really can help headache pain in some people. But it really seems to almost be a trial and error thing and what helps one individiual may not help the other even with an identical problem. I have been so fed up with headaches and shots that I am doing my own research which leads me to keep trying shots and learning more about the spine(it is so complex and daunting!). Good luck with the shots and I hope they help if you get them along with the physiatrist .
Mel
Is the occipital block a c2 nerve block? I am thinking of having one too and I am scared. From what I have read they really can help headache pain in some people. But it really seems to almost be a trial and error thing and what helps one individiual may not help the other even with an identical problem. I have been so fed up with headaches and shots that I am doing my own research which leads me to keep trying shots and learning more about the spine(it is so complex and daunting!). Good luck with the shots and I hope they help if you get them along with the physiatrist .
Mel