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?

I will keep an eye on the thread I am curious too. Hope things get better!!

laser spine institute did wonders for my wife.However medicare will pay for the doctor but not the facility charge leaving you with about $15000 out of pocket BEFORE THEY WILL OPERATE depending on which of their facilities you choose.The reason medicare will not pay is that laser spine surgery is covered only as an inpatient.There are places doing laser surgery as an inpatient.1) Cleveland clinic in Cleveland Ohio2) a hospital in Nshville, TN name skips my mind3) Hospital in Beaumont, tx cannot remember it's name either.We would go to Laser spine institute again in a heartbeat. We used the Scottsdale facility but they are in Tampa, Fl, Philadelphia, Pa and Oklahoma City, OK as well.PM me if you want details of what to expect at their facilities

before you kill yourself, either teach your wife to weed eat the lawn and ride the lawn tractor, unless you wife is like mine, then hire someone to mow for you. get well soon Bro

old guy wrote:before you kill yourself,Get rid ofold guy wrote: the lawn tractor.And get your self a Country Clipper with joy stick steering.

Enough | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
As I keep telling my DH, "hire someone"
down_home
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
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
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
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
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
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
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
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
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
You hit the nail on the head cts!!!
covetsthesun
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
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
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
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
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2013
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
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
Vanderbilt in Nashville. Your doc will need to refer you but should not be a problem. They are excellent. Please give them a try.

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