Enough

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 Ohio
2) a hospital in Nshville, TN name skips my mind
3) 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

Azalea Orthopedics in Tyler,tx

old guy wrote:
before you kill yourself,

Get rid of

old guy wrote:
the lawn tractor.

And get your self a Country Clipper with joy stick steering.

wny_pat wrote:

old guy wrote:
before you kill yourself,

Get rid of

old guy wrote:
the lawn tractor.

And get your self a Country Clipper with joy stick steering.

I have an 04 Snapper zero turn. The handles are now causing aa lot of pain in right hand and forearm and the fingers.
Looking at the ones in the photos that arrangement of short levers seems like a winner if there is an arm rest. One important thing for me is a suspended seat. The pain from the disc and lower back is incredible at times. Deere did offer a hydraulic seat on their larger commercial mowers or real Deeres. I've been looking for a long time and found some that would be great but then there are the shortfalls critical to what I need right now. The Dixie Chopper 4x4 or actually six wheels is what I need on the slopes. Grass looks dry but a little dip and moisture in the grass and the weight of the machine combine to skid and go somewhat sideways and into the creek. Had to pull it out twice last week and that really dd a job on the spine. The Dixie Chopper, I saw was only 48 inches. I really need as big a deck as possible to cut down on time and punishment on the back. At 17000.00 it will have to wait. A Hustler at 72 inches look like it was built on a tank assembly line but no hydraulic seat, 11,000.00 They have a 106 inch zero turn with hydraulic lifted wing decks. Their add say affordable so I suspect it is north of 20,000.00. Looks like the Dixie is the highest priced of 72 in decks with the 4xr drive and maybe they have a suspended seat. Would still need to modify the control handles or rods. Until I figure out something, I absolutely need to say off the mower. One other possibility is to get a landscape company to fill and roll 3 1/2 acres or so. Still would need the seat and the short handles. Going to study it tommorrow and see if these might be modified. It's nine years old and runs great and cuts grass and weeds like a brush cutter. Got to put Gorilla Blades on it shortly to chew up all the leaves.
I got word, when they did the follow up EMG that Neurology isn't going to address the problem. They don't have to. Apparently no friends u there. Two of Homeland's fines sat next to me and across from wife. I started a small talk with her about some snake boots at Bass Pro shop They got up and said some real unkind words and one went to a crowed corner and the other one to the elevator. Looked at me like they could eat nails. been given the sign. Not a favorite any more with them, I guess. got a call from Senators's offices wanting to help. Don't know who would have but told them I didn't want to stir up anything. At this stage in suffering I am too tired and don't think there is anyone to turn too. Going outside means repeating everything and lots of money we don't have. I guess the Councilor I spoke with several years ago meant it when she said threw back her head in a belly laugh and said I'll show you, I'll fix you. Poisoned everything and out me through hell and and jeopardizing my life possibly. If this disc breaks, slips more, or whatever, one evening I won't be on here, is what I understand. An the hands and legs and neck and sheees. Hydrocordone makes you hungry and keeps me from sleeping with the sleeping pill and nerve pill. So I'm filling out like the Goodyear blimp.

Carefully placed Round Up is a whole heck of a lot easier than a weedeater. I quit using a weedeater years ago.

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.

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. :(

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.