PB, Been reading your posts. Great idea having a team of Dr.'s, that's the best way to handle your difficult situation.
There are new MRI scanners that can handle readings when you have "hardware" inside. I know this because when I had my pain pump, there was only one imaging place that I could go to & the MRI reading said it was taken with a "Tesla" scan. After you get your pump and if you need anymore scans, you will have to find a place that has these new scanners. The pain pump puts out a big blast of light where nothing can be seen. (been there before!!)
I sure hope your Dr's can help you & you get much deserved relief from your pain. I know a lot of it can be handled with the pump!!! I'm having a lot of "old pain" coming back since I had mine removed. But will have to deal with it from other alternatives. Life is full of "trade-off's".
Happy New Year & New You!!!
First of all wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year.
Secondly you mentioned a "Tesla" Scan. I looked at my MRI Film and it stated the following:
TECHNIQUE: Multiplaner MR imaging was performed with 1.5 TESLA.
I assume that is what you were referring to in your post.
So if I am correct I am in the newer machine which should have been able to handle doing an MRI on me because of the harrington rods. There was still some difficulty in getting complete readings on me because of the hardware. And also I had an MRI of the lumbar spine I think it was last year as well. I also have Harrington Rods in the lumbar spine and in that area they were still unable to get readings because of the Hardware. They could NOT read anything of the lumbar spine because of the harrington Rods. I am not sure if it was using the tesla last year or not.
But it appears that it was used this time and still had issues. At least to some degree.
When I see my pain doctor I think we should discuss my MRI from a pain point of view, but I also want to see my neurosurgeon as well who I have been using for 6 or 7 years or so.
But I have been thinking maybe I should have another neurosurgeon look at me for another opinion. The problem is who do I see. some doctors at this point in time wont even see me because of prior history. I need to get my foot in the door for just another set of eyes.
Maybe my pain doctor will have some input on who to see and what direction to go .
I have the pain pump done on 1/11/13, less then 2 weeks away. I am more then ready for it since I have had some bad days recently.
I don't have my MRI's with me but I know that it was a Siemens MRI. When I get back to FL. I'll pull it up & give you the info. I Googled the Tesla 1.5 & although it's new, it says it's mainly used for people who are claustrophobic & gives a quicker scan. I know that while I had the pain pump, that was the only one they could use or the MRI would be a big blast of light. (which happened @ the hospital) If the "podunk town" I lived in had these, I'm sure where you live will.
If you were to get another opinion, why would any new Dr. have to know all of your prior history right off the bat? If you want another Dr.'s opinion on your current films, then do just that. I've learned (that he hard way) that most Dr's can only concentrate on one problem at a time. After all, they're human too!!! Most are anyway!!!
Try to concentrate on getting "your game face on" for your upcoming surgery.
I've had doctors that have refused to see me. It was like either last year or the year before, cant remember which year I wanted another opinion from somone in Philadelphia that is considered a big name. They asked for the records ahead of time so I sent them what I had. After a several week wait I called to see if he reviewed them and about getting an appointment. I was told by someone in office, not sure what her job is, that he wouldnt see me. Not even a recommendation as to what to do or not to do.
Then when I went to my pain doctor who is doing the pump we happened to talk about other opinions. The doctor that wouldnt see me, his name came up and he knew him and he knew based on my history that he wouldnt see me.
Some of the doctors wont see you in this area unless another doctor refers you to them. Some of these doctors are so big in their field they pick and choose who or who they won't see. If he couldn't help me at least there could have been a message as to where I should turn.
For now I am going to set up an appointmen to see the neurosurgeon that I have been seeing. I was due for an appt within the next few months anyway. See what he says. the NS that I have been seeing were going to schedule an MRI for this year anyway. Since its been done then I'll get the appointment.
I think after I get his opinion then I will get another set of eyes. I really think with everything going on that another point of view is needed at this point in time.
PB: I totally agree that you should get this looked at. If your PM Dr. and your neurosurgeon see the MRI's and come to the same conclusion; wouldn't that be enough? Just thinking out loud. I've had Dr's reject me also & give no reason why, very aggravating to say the least!!!
Hey, Happy New Year!!! Hope it's a whole lot better one for you!!!
As to whether I should get another opinion or not if both are in agreement, that is a tough call.
The pain doctor may give me a conclusion based on a pain perspective, the neurosurgeon on surgery point of view.
I am sometimes overly cautious as to doctors. To make a long story short in 1994 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I got a 2nd opinion. Agreed that I had Parkinsons. In 1997 I was seeing an orthopedist for upcoming surgery who referred me to a neurologist for surgery clearance. His opinion was that I did NOT have Parkinsons disease. This is after almost 2 Plus years of treatment. I was mad. DId I or didnt I have it. I went back to the doctor that gave me a 2nd opinion. All he did was scratch his head.
I ended up flying 3000 miles from NJ to Ca for an opinion. I did not have Parkinsons and no one could diagnose the problem.
So since that time while I hear agreeing opinions. sometimes my inner voice tells me get another one just to be on the safe side.
Hi pebble, Just wanted to say that I have been thinking of you & praying for you as your morphine pump surgery is now only 8 days away. Jan 11, right? What dr visits etc do you have before then now that you have your MRI results or are you all set to go? And are they going to keep you overnight? Hope you are doing ok now while waiting for relief !
I am all set for next week. I just have to call a day before the procedure to see what time I have to be there.
I did see my kidney doctor yesterday before the surgery. Blood work is worse. not sure what this means in the long term. Need to redo blood work in March to see if blood work is sitll bad or what. The doctor ws concerned about the changes found in the lab work.
time will tell as to what is going on with the blood work. More later.
I am all set for next week. I just have to call a day before the procedure to see what time I have to be there.
I did see my kidney doctor yesterday before the surgery. Blood work is worse. not sure what this means in the long term. Need to redo blood work in March to see if blood work is sitll bad or what. The doctor ws concerned about the changes found in the lab work.
time will tell as to what is going on with the blood work. More later.
Pebble, Thanks for the update. Im glad that its all set to go! Hopefully friend when the pump is controlling your pain at least 50% then the amount of medicine that you take orally will be so much less it will make your kidney labs better, I hope. Does this make sense? If you are on less medicine & you have until march, it could improve, yes? It seems to me that it is a good chance anyway.So praying for the highest relief possible & kidney function to improve & of course you! Not too much longer. I will be here for you if you need an ear, i hope you know i understand. Thanks friend, gmak
Last edited by gmak; 01-03-2013 at 02:23 PM.
Reason: wording
I am all set for next week. I just have to call a day before the procedure to see what time I have to be there.
I did see my kidney doctor yesterday before the surgery. Blood work is worse. not sure what this means in the long term. Need to redo blood work in March to see if blood work is sitll bad or what. The doctor ws concerned about the changes found in the lab work.
time will tell as to what is going on with the blood work. More later.
Hi pebble, I am thinking of you this week and not much longer now until your pump surgery! Are your friends taking you again this time? I hope so. And are you staying overnight for sure, as in planned, or does it depend on how the surgery goes on friday? Hope you are doing better pain wise this week before the surgery. Thanks, gmak
First I decided to see my Neurosurgeon at the end of the month to review the MRI results. I want his opinion as well as the pain management doctors opinion.
Second I am somewhat frustrated.
When I went to have the trial done there was a whole big mess up, there was a problem in that my doctors office didnt get the authorization to have me admitted after the procedure. They had me set up as outpatient and they wouldnt do the surgery until the proper authorization was recieved. It took 4 hours on the day of the trial to get it cleared up.
then yesterday I get a letter from one of the divisisons of my health carrier saying that request for the surgery was being denying. The surgery was not approved. I got 4 separate letters each with a different code number and saying there wasnt documentation that i needed to have the surgery.
I furst called the insurance company who in turn called the doctors office. I was eventually told that the doctors office had to clear up the problem.
So I called the doctors office and spoke to someone saying that the department that denied the surgery was NOT to be involved in the approval. the woman at the doctors office thus gave me the name and authorization number that she was given approving the surgery. the dept that denied me "supposedly" gives precerts for things like MRI's. I was told that they are not to be involved.
I just pray that when I get their on Friday that I am not hit with something else that I wasnt told. And that the doctors office is right. They were the ones that messed up during the trial.
This has me frustrated to say the least.
If I do have it done I am scheduled to stay over 1 night. Normally I would have been discharged the same day but with my other health issues he felt it best keep me over night.
In my last post I posted about issues that I had in getting the authorization for the final implant.
Today I received from the Insurance Company, "Determination Notice of Approved Organization Determination."
It is for the Date of Service 1/11/13 and states that the above listed service (Inpatient Admission) has been reviewed and found to be medically necessary and appropriate."
So I think this should be sufficient for the procedure on Friday. I have never in the past faced so many issues when I went to the hospital or before and had any issues that the surgery was going to happen.
I think the doctors office really messed up and he wont admit it.
In my last post I posted about issues that I had in getting the authorization for the final implant.
Today I received from the Insurance Company, "Determination Notice of Approved Organization Determination."
It is for the Date of Service 1/11/13 and states that the above listed service (Inpatient Admission) has been reviewed and found to be medically necessary and appropriate."
So I think this should be sufficient for the procedure on Friday. I have never in the past faced so many issues when I went to the hospital or before and had any issues that the surgery was going to happen.
I think the doctors office really messed up and he wont admit it.
Just get me thru this.
Hey pebble, Yes, I agree. I pray that God will get you through this surgery without any complications of any kind. It is quite enough in my opinion what with the mess up last time & psyching oneself up to facing the surgery without any business office malarkey to make any more stress on you. Hopefully, it is all taken care of now & you have the approval letter so all will go according to plan. Hence, I hope that all will be smooth sailing from now on until recovery. I cant wait to hear the pain relief in your "voice"! I am making an appointment with a neurosurgeon to see about the pump for myself soon as it was recommended awhile back for me but I was really controlled pain wise with the fen patch & breakthrough until now, the pain has never been this severe at least that i can remember! Keep updating, there are so many pulling for you! Thanks pebble.
HI PB! Just want to send you my very best wishes for a speedy recovery!
and a side note about the hassle you had, a lot of changes have been taking place in the entire health field! Example: yesterday I went to the pharmacy to get Rx's filled. Their new policy (effective Dec.1,12) is your drivers license address HAS TO match the address on the RX! I live in FL. most people here have dual address'! They told me they would let it slide this time & to get my license changed! I still own a home at my current address & am staying here temporary. Also have had problems with insurance turning down or requesting add'l info on a lot of my claims. Two were for rehab in two states; both wanted me to resubmit my RX for therapy! I don't have it, I gave it to them when I walked in the door!
ok, sorry I went off, but I think it's going to get worse……
Let us know how you're doing ASAP!
Blessings…
Re: MRI thoracic/cervical region HELP 
