Enough

[down_home]

I promised myself I wasn't going to complain anymore but...
Enough already. I tried to use the weed eater this evening and bounced around on the mower too. Before I suffer catastrophic consequencies, I'm going to get help. Going for another EMG to see if the elbow surgery did any good. Duuuh no.
I'm hurting bad.
Some Folks shared in the past some Spine Centers etc.
Where is the number one with the latest and greatest?

[Roy_Lynne]

As I keep telling my DH, "hire someone"

[down_home]

covetsthesun wrote:
Down Home... I feel heartbroken for you... I didn't realize you were dealing with the VA.

My Dad was a Bataan survivor. I know what he went through with the VA. In MO there are folks who work with the VFW and others who "walk stuff through" to cut through political BS.

Surely...there is an advocate in your state who does the same. It infuriates me when the vets get shortchanged and mismanaged. I know the VA has to manage costs...but by giving superior care in the first place they would save money over all.

Contact your local VFW and ask if they have someone who acts as an advocate. Have your wife run down leads. Pain is magnified by stress and hopelessness....and you sound dangerously close to the edge. You need someone who is not clouded with pain, drugs and anxiety to do this stuff for you.

If need be contact your state and federal reps and senators. If no one listens... contact your local media. They just love to parade an injustice and that ultimately works.

I know you don't want to upset the apple cart... My Dad was very afraid of what kind of reprisal might happen if one of us kids "went after" the docs or hospital. We kids finally said... ENOUGH. I was the family designated pitbull and started just tearing blank out of people. Dad got the care and respect he deserved.

I hate bureaucratic BS and call it out when I see it. You need an advocate. In the meantime... please stop with the physical labor. You are hurting yourself further.

Just had a thought... do you know anyone who is proficient with the internet? Get them to take your case to YouTube. You will surely get the help you need then. It has worked for countless people who had no hope.
Depending on if I hear from VA today and what the situation is I will go to ER at Chattanooga, Monday morning or sooner. Apparently the sequestration of stopping operations of certain areas of Government has some staff on leave. If I go I will have both knees addressed. Seems the disc of the MRI I gave them 09 is nowhere to be found. Was told at the time, they probably just left some little bits in and I didn't want to have surgery on it. They never looked at it. I still remember seeing the tear on the screen. It was pretty ragged.
Not going to keep up their game or rules. Going to do what I should have in the first place. Not sure if Obama Care has taken over and if anything will be allowed to be done either.

cts

[down_home]

I called this am. There was only one clerk overwhelmed. The so called closing down of government has affected VA badly.
Veterans in need of help are at the mercy of and hostage of this Government.
We know what is going on but it can't be discussed.

[covetsthesun]

Down Home... I feel heartbroken for you... I didn't realize you were dealing with the VA.

My Dad was a Bataan survivor. I know what he went through with the VA. In MO there are folks who work with the VFW and others who "walk stuff through" to cut through political BS.

Surely...there is an advocate in your state who does the same. It infuriates me when the vets get shortchanged and mismanaged. I know the VA has to manage costs...but by giving superior care in the first place they would save money over all.

Contact your local VFW and ask if they have someone who acts as an advocate. Have your wife run down leads. Pain is magnified by stress and hopelessness....and you sound dangerously close to the edge. You need someone who is not clouded with pain, drugs and anxiety to do this stuff for you.

If need be contact your state and federal reps and senators. If no one listens... contact your local media. They just love to parade an injustice and that ultimately works.

I know you don't want to upset the apple cart... My Dad was very afraid of what kind of reprisal might happen if one of us kids "went after" the docs or hospital. We kids finally said... ENOUGH. I was the family designated pitbull and started just tearing blank out of people. Dad got the care and respect he deserved.

I hate bureaucratic BS and call it out when I see it. You need an advocate. In the meantime... please stop with the physical labor. You are hurting yourself further.

Just had a thought... do you know anyone who is proficient with the internet? Get them to take your case to YouTube. You will surely get the help you need then. It has worked for countless people who had no hope.

cts

[down_home]

The AG is on the speed dial. But I don't want a storm. An RN Tuesday was there reviewing the operation and I've gotten some calls, or rather my wife did.
The problem is budget and a new "cost effective" plan started in 04 by Bush's Man. I don't want to go on. A number of factors have come out of the woodwork. It is a People problem and political problem and a money problem. In other words a political problem ultimately.
Not enough staff in all fields and training Students on very ill people is not a good idea. If it waas the same person but it will be your Doctor one day and then all of a sudden you have a new Doctor or Nurse Practioner that has to spend over an hour or more looking at your records but only has ten minutes to address the problem. Epidural pain procedures are limited to two per year! Or pick two sites and come back in a year. Drs will try to help but get overuled. My Dr at other facility was making progress for me and then she was gone. Said she left but she was shifted to another clinic. The Head Dr didn't want her helping me. If they spend over ten minuets per session or too many sessions they can be discharged etc. Once a week they hold staff meeting. A Relative finally reired after having to put up with the political indoctriantion and how to limit care. Cost effective means cheap. A lot of Vets need serious help and trying to spread what there is around is not working. It is as much attitude as budget in some cases.
I really don't want to even think about any of it. There is so much more. My right arm and wrist and forearm and hand is now involved and the dis is apparenly more involved. Certainly hurts more and radiates further in back not to mention arms. I may lose complete use at some point. I don't know what to think. Another MRI is commin up sometime. appointment with clinic too look at knee but both need it is coming up sometime. Hopefully we will hear tomorrow. I have to watch myself because saying the wrong thing causes problems for me and everyone.
I don't want any more of the Guys in casual uniform at odds with me. I may need them to look out for me again.

[emzee]

You hit the nail on the head cts!!!

[covetsthesun]

Downhome, I am so sorry you are going though this. The desperation you feel just radiates from your posts. It is very difficult to think and make decisions while dealing with mind blowing pain..and mind numbing pain medications.

Your wife absolutely needs to jump in and be your advocate with these doctors. If for some reason she can't... then hire someone. There are patient advocates out there. Usually they are advanced nurse practitioners who can cut through the BS.

I suffered from excruciating pain from a badly ruptured disc. I had a great neurosurgeon who gave me my life back. It sounds like you have multiple disc/vertebra issues that require some repairs.

Do you have a good friend who can help the two of you navigate your options? Some insurance companies do have case managers who do just that.

Pain clinics are a huge business. They don't make money unless you keep coming back for more "treatment". You are looking for a clinic that specializes in the most permanent fixes available. A friend in Orlando had a new treatment last year for his back that involved surgical superglue rather than pins/cages and fusions etc. He is markedly better. A lot of docs do not keep up on the newest and least invasive methods.

In the meantime.... this is tough... but you absolutely MUST stop with the yard work. No mowers, weedeaters etc. Don't lift anything heavier than a coke can. I had to learn to sneeze and cough "properly" in order to prevent further ruptures.

Good luck... and don't ever feel like you are whining or complaining too much. Pain... makes all of us buckle if it goes on too long or is too much to bear.

cts

[emzee]

I think you need to get your wife to talk to these doctors. They don't seem to be helping you at all. Something needs to be done other than band aiding your problems. So sorry down home.

[down_home]

Monday morning, I had made my mind up to go to the ER anyway becaause of pain, in leg, I turned a bit sideways while dressing. I heard a chunch/pop. I cannot think of a word for the sound. I fell to the floor. Went to ER, missed Biofeedback. Took z ray nothing. Dr felt let and tried to send me for MRI. No slots for Er at MRI. They didn't use it enough. Sent me to Prostetics. No wheel chairs. Couldn't order any after last Friday. Ordered one anyway. No telling when I may get it. Gave me a walker instead.Went baack yesterday am to get MRI. The Technician was the only one there and he was not going home until way after hours. Could bear no load on my right leg. Son and Wife had to help me everywhere. This AM some better. I can use the walker, in a fashion. Started for bathroom and ft shifted and alll the weight went on my back and the it felt like a hot poker or something was going into my neck/back area. Hit the floor. Crawled to toilet after several minutes. Wife is gone to store and errands. Son at work. Got out bed a bit ago and to the computer. Now considering how to make it back to the bed or at least the couch. Called Otheopedics they didn't get message until yesterday evening. Don't know when they will do wht on the knee. No communications or referals to Neuro, since May she said. They wanted Dr to get another MRI sometime in from May to July. Nothing was ever said to me. Pain Clinic had two new, to me, Pharmacist Drs or Training last Friday. One did the talking the other monitored. Suggested pain was in my mind or partially anyway. Prescribed additional Arthritis medicine. Apparently the Doctor did drop me in Pain clinic. I have no hope now of an epiduarl to help lower back nor the disc and upper back or arms. Not sure what I did to him. have absolutely no idea where to go from here. If we get the copys of prior MRIs may get to see Spine Center in one of four locations across Country. Can you say expensive. I feel lower than dirt right now. Apparently there is no concern about treating me. Maybe the knee sometime. Considering throwing pain meds away and see how it goes even though I hurt something bad right now.

[dadmomh]

Vanderbilt in Nashville. Your doc will need to refer you but should not be a problem. They are excellent. Please give them a try.

[down_home]

Trying to reassess. I went to Pan Clinic today. Added another drug I had taken quite some time ago, Meloxicam.
Suggestions were that some of it was in my mind or rather pain that was hanging on. I don't understand that at all.
Went to Er with bad pain in right leg. Had it for a while. Turned knee or something, in Church w few weeks ago. Associated pains since then. Didn't think I wasn't going to be able to walk in. Couple of shots. No blood clot. Apparently it is arthritis or something.
Contacted a spine specialist. Going to look at MRIs. May decide to leave disc alone, I'm thinking, but may fix last vertabrae disc which is deteroriated. Had several Epidural injections over time. The back and arm thing isn't going away. Maybe they can fix the herniated Disc after all. Need to stay off mower but gotta so tomorrow. Going to take pain pill and see how it goes. Takes quite a while going slow. Just may have to live with pain. Lots of meds to help. They had someone listening in with the Intern, I talked with today. Maybe I'm making too much fuss. Hard to rationalize that perhaps nothing can be done about it or perhaps it is just what limits the VA is allowed or whatever. Just go until I can't and then whatever.

[Kidsgone]

I don't know where in the south you are, but I experienced alot of what you are going through. Had Lumbar fusion locally in 2011, didn't go well. On the encouragement of several physical therapists, I ended up at Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic in Orlando. They are unique in their practice as the Drs can only operate on one area of the body...ie...back dr, foot/ankle dr/ shoulder...etc. I fortunately found a Dr there that redid my surgery and I am back 110%. Truly amazing.
I have since had achilles tendon repair there...not by a podiatrist, but a orthopedic surgeon that only does foot/ankle.
PM me if you would like more info...I love sharing my story as my outcome was amazing. There are good Drs out there that truely love what they do.

[emzee]

I can not understand why they are allowing you be in so much pain down home. Has to be some compassion for your pain from some doctor somewhere. Something needs to be done. Again you and your family are in my prayers. I am so sorry you have to deal with this, it's horrible and I think unnecessary. 😞

[down_home]

I asked the Mod to eliminate my posts because when feeling chipper or any other time it sounds like whining when I read it.
But things seem a little worse now.
It appears all they will do is pain treatment.
Hydracorodone and two nerve pill, Lyrica and Cymbalta aren't doing much for extreme pains in my legs today. My back and neck and my arms and hands are in a contest to which hurts worse and legs are burning bad in addition. Middle toe on right foot feels like it is being sledge hammered. The others aren't much fun either.
Said I was going outside but wife's Dr appointments and alternating pain and sleeping and I just as soon die as worry with it. Wife is going to see if we can see somebody quickly, like yesterday, tomorrow. A Spine clinic seems like it would be the first choice but I don't know if there is one in Nashville or somewhere or not. Not one in Chattanooga. They may not help the Neuropathy but at least do something for the disc and associated things or whatever it is.
Hard to believe they feel like I'm not worth the trouble or that is how I feel about what is happening now. Been since July last year as the onset. Should have told Ft Wayne VA, that I was staying in area, for 6 mos or so and they would have fixed it then. Incredible that I'm so stupid or foolishly patient to let things go like this. I maybe get a shot Friday, I don't know. The way they do it with local only hurts every bit as much, to me, as getting shot. When that needle is in is terrible. When it hits the nerve in the back it is something else. Maybe within a few months things will be better. If not I probably will be dead. That is how bad it hurts. Probably not that drastic but the way it feels.
What have I done to upset these Folks. All I have been doing is fighting for my self.