Gary's back

[gja1000]

Gary has always had lower back issues. He was born with bad bones in his lower back. Back pain is just something he lives with. But this week something else started. On Wed he went to the bathroom and when he reached down to lift the toilet lid, he got a shooting pain in his lower back, his legs went numb and he couldn't stand up. It happened again on Thurs so he went to see his chiropractor. She took an xray and didn't do anything. When he went back today she said he needed to see a neurologist and to go to the ER if it happened again. Well it happened 4 times today, so here we are in the ER. The ER doc thinks it is a pinched nerve that is causing a muscle spasm which pinches the nerve even more. It only lasts about 30-60 seconds, but it is very painful and scary in that if he didn't have something to hold onto, he would fall. They are giving him some muscle relaxers and I think we'll get to go home soon. A Friday evening in the ER, is not my cup of tea!

[Janet]

Just read about your trip to the ER on FB. Glad everything is okay. Pinched nerves are horrible to deal with whether it be pain or numbness. Hope Gary can catch up on his sleep.

[gja1000]

Hi All. We got home about midnight - so not too bad, we could have been there all night! Gary slept like a rock after we got home which is good.

I have to run to the pharmacy this morning to fill the muscle relaxant prescription. I sure hope this does the trick. The doctor doesn't think this is anything to be concerned about, e.g., he might be paralyzed or anything like that. His chiropractor told him she was afraid to manipulate his back because he could be paralyzed. But the ER doc said that was highly unlikely.

Now, what could happen is that the nerve becomes completely pinched and he is in pain with weakness in his legs all the time. However, he said with treatment, which we are hoping the muscle relaxants do the trick, it should get better.

We've been told in the past there is no surgical treatment for his back problem and that is good, no one should have back surgery unless it is absolutely the last resort. There are too many bad outcomes. And Gary SURE doesn't need surgery with all his other problems.

There are other treatments though, that are not surgical like cortisone injections and the like. Hopefully, the muscle relaxers will do the trick, if not then we'll have to explore the options. (sigh) It's always something!

[lynne b]

So sorry to hear about Gary and his back, i sure hope the meds work, nothing worse than a backache (except a toothache).

I know that even though surgery was a life saver for me i still have problems, but maybe it is just my age catching up with me LOL

Hope Gary is feeling better soon!!

[judy]

I hope Gary feels better, and that the muscle relaxants do the trick. That sounds like an awful thing to go through...pain and weakness!

[JJJ]

I'm so sorry to hear about Gary's back problems. My back hurts tremendously and I believe is from carrying three kids with a small body frame

And I so agree with you about not having back surgery, extremely risky.

Sending Gary lot's of positive energy so he can endure his back.

[gja1000]

Gary said he had 4 episodes yesterday - but I know it's because he wasn't being careful. I'm glad his appt is this Friday!

This should go under VENT but since it's related to his back, I'll put it here. We got a copy of his ER bill - now mind you they hardly did ANYTHING for him and we were only there about 2 hours. They put him on a gurney, took his vital signs ONCE, took an x-ray, started an IV and gave him one IV medication and the doc talked to us about 5 minutes. THAT IS ALL THEY DID FOR HIM, NOTHING ELSE.


And the bill was - get ready (scroll down)































$3500.00 I almost DIED. Now, we don't have to pay a cent - he has a primary and secondary insurance. BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT. That amount of money is in NO WAY reflective of what they did for him. $350 would be a lot of money considering what they did. $3500 is just ridiculous! I have half a mind to ask for an itemized bill just to see what they charged for the individual things. I'm not sure I can get one though, as we are not paying the bill.

GEESH! Talk about over charging!!!

[Janet]

I know what you mean Gayle....it's ridiculous what they charge in the ER.

[gja1000]

Well Gary's back appointment is today at 11:00, so hopefully things go well.

This must be medical care day because on Wednesday I had what appears to be an infected pore, maybe a boil (I've never had one, but there is the first time for everything) come up on my back, so I go to the dermatologist at 12:45. I'm sure it is going to have to be lanced or removed in some way (oh fun).

Then, for quite some time, I have had a bone density test scheduled today at 3:00. Fortunately, it is in the same location as the dermatologist, so if I have some procedure that makes me too uncomfortable for the bone density, I can go by there on the way out and reschedule. But I'd like to get everything over TODAY!

The only tricky thing will be getting from Gary's 11:00 appt, to my 12:45 appt. They are all the way across town, which really isn't that far, but Friday traffic can be bad. It will be no problem at all if Gary's doc is running on time, but you know how that goes sometimes. So, we are going to take separate cars to Gary's appt and then if I have to leave before he is completely done, I can make it to my appt.

WHEW!

[Janet]

Sounds like you have a plan Gayle. Let us know how you both make out at your appointments.

[gja1000]

Gary's appointment went OK, they need more tests to determine exactly what has happened. It appears his spine has shifted forward and is sitting on some nerves in the tailbone area. But of course, they need more studies to be sure what it is and what to do about it. The shifting is due to a malformation of the tailbone that he was born with.

So, he's scheduled for an external nerve test Oct. 13th and he also needs a mylogram (dye study of the nerves) but they have to get clearance from his heart and kidney doctors, so it may take a little while to find out when they will do that.

The doctor said that hopefully, we can treat with injections and physical therapy, but he just won't know for sure what to do till he has a better idea about the amount (if any) of nerve damage.

This doctor is VERY conservative, and surgery is always his last resort, so hopefully we can solve this without surgery!

Now, on to my two appointments.................