MRI results of my back are in. They are not too good. In addition to the 5 bad lumbar disks. 3 of them herniated and all with degenerative disk disease I have several thoracic disks going bad too. I also have severe facet disease and something called epidural lipomatosis.
Epidural Lipomatosis is rare, or so I am told, affects mainly men who have had steroid treatment and are overweight. That’s me. Only real cure is surgery to remove the tissue from the areas where it is pinching the spinal cord and nerves.
I am officially on 90 disability case study at work. They are trying to find a job I can perform but at the end of the 90 days if I cannot meat the standards or they cannot place me then I am probably going to be forced into disability retirement.
Will cross that road when we get there. First see the surgeon tomorrow.
Perhaps this is someone trying to tell me it is time for a new occupation. I will turn this into something positive.
You are in my thoughts and prayers Eric. We don’t know each other, but today we share adversity, and that makes us kindred spirits. Two things come to mind. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”, and “Never, never, never give up.” (Churchill) Thanks for all your service, and your contributions to the board.
Eric, prayers from southeast Idaho. I’ve been where you are and now have two back surgeries behind me. Things worked out well and I was able to continue in my profession, but it couldn’t have happened without the surgeries and loss of the mind-numbing pain. The miracles are out there, keep the faith. Now, if I could just get the rest of my body to quit falling apart…
Eric,
Prayers with you, as always. Good job with your positive attitude…you ALWAYS need that! Let me know if I can do anything for you.
God Bless,
Mike
Thanks all. I am not real at ease with this doctor. I left there with more questions than answers. Did not care for the “bedside manner” either. He did find out that I essentially have no reflexes in my legs and arms.
When I asked him about the epidural lipomatosis he asked rather gruffly who told me I had that. I told him it’s in the report. He read the report again, saw it there, kind of got in a huff about it, blustered and blamed it on the radiology technician. He then decided to look at the Thoracic scan, said it liked like it was at this point between my shoulder blades and said it was not a big deal because we all have that fatty tissue surrounding the spinal cord just some folks have more that others. When I told him my back hurts like a cracked rib every time I inhale he said I have some arthritis causing the disks to narrow there as well. I guess my lumbar back is so bad it got all of his attention. He did say he is surprised I could stand up and walk without assistance.
What I did not tell him was there were two other surgeons in the past that diagnosed degenerative disk disease, dessication of the disks, bulging disks and arthritis. He told me he would go in, clean up the arthritis in my lumbar back and I would be good as new. By this time I figured out what I was going to do so I didn’t even bother to ask him what happens when the arthritis comes roaring back to that injured bone in a few years. He just came off with a Holier Than Thou attitude. I really don’t like that.
Ask your primary care physician to reconmend another neurosurgeon. He may convince you that this guy is good enough technically to overlook his personality. Some surgeons really shouldn’t have any contact with patients when they are not under anathesia. If you’re still not happy go to the hospital and try to ask a surgical nurse who they would go to. They usually won’t say anything bad about amy doctor but they will sometimes say who’s good.
Keep your chin up as you always do. You continue to amaze me. So many people in your situation would wallow in self pity and just resign to being on disability, you continue to battle and want to get better to continue your work. You truly inspire me.