In Pain Forever?/ Idet Declined By Insurance - Pain Management Message Board

erfan · 08-16-2004, 11:49 PM

Bad news all around the last few days:

AVMED refuses to pay for my IDET...but that might be a moot point because I went for a second opinion to another OS and he said IDET is a waste...70% success rate is too high...but then he dropped this on me:

He said I have the back of a much older person (I'll be 46 next month) and said with the 4 level stenosis and herniations and with the 4 level DDD, there is NOTHING I can do right now, He cited some of the new things coming up, like ADR, but he told me to try accupunture and otherwise, I have to live with it.

The only thing keeping me sane is the meds-which really just take a small edge off-and my sense of humor!

Alan

Kissa · 08-17-2004, 12:06 AM

That's unfortunate. Have you taken a pain management class just to learn some new ways of coping with the pain at all? I know it's not a cure all but it does help even if it's only in the psychological sense and you get to meet folks who are in a similiar situation as you and form a good support team
Just a thought anyhow..

erfan · 08-17-2004, 01:07 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'm going to try the accupuncture if the insurance covers it.

The OS I saw today basically said that IDET is way out there on the legitimate procedure chart and that if I was even considering it, I should consider accupuncture.

I think the thing that bothers me is not that he said to live with it, but that my back looks like the back of a much older person. And judging from the average age of his patients, he should know!

Kissa · 08-17-2004, 06:52 AM

I really hate it when doctors just tell you to "live with it", you know if they had to live with it they wouldn't. OS's are terrible for pain management unless you just had surgery and then the limit that.
Acupuncture can help as well as massage therapy, many insurances are allowing massage therapy, worth checking into at least.

trowftd3 · 08-17-2004, 11:09 AM

Don't give up. Like Kissa said if the doc had to 'live with it' it would be a different story. Don't try everything in the book but keep looking for something that could help your pain. My doc has told me basically to 'wait for the research to catch up' but I can't just wait. At least searching for that alternative treatment keeps your mind busy. lol Good luck.-Mush