Back from MS Neuro....

[michelleric]

Well, I saw the Neuro, waited over 2 hours to see her, she spent about 30-40 minutes with me. Did full exam, the works again. She listened to me and checked me over. Here is what she said:

She thinks lots of my symptoms (leg,foot pain, hand/arm tingling, poor gait/mobility) are still from the cervical spondyl Myelapathy. I had the surgery 2 months ago now, but she feels it may take a long time for these symptoms to get better. She wants me to go to physical therapy for strengthening and stretching my leg and foot. It is spastic, and needs some therapy. The surgeon told me NONE of these symptoms are from the cervical spine, and felt I need to go see a neurologist again. She told me I chose an orthopedic surgeon,and they dont know that these symptoms ARE related to the spine. AAAHHHH.

She also feels I am overwhelmed with the medical things I have been through the last 2 years. (blood clots, cervical surgery, optic neuritis x 2 , etc) and feels I need counseling to help with my anxiety. She said it was a good thing I had the surgery, which did make me feel better. I feel like I went through all this and I am the same. She said I needed it, and it will prevent lots worse from happening.

Instead of "at risk" fdr MS, she said I am "probable" MS. She will order another MRI in May and see if any further lesions have developed. She thinks there probably will be a change, and she will see me then.

She gave me Trileptal (?spelling) for my leg and face pain, and to help sleep at night.

THEN SHE TOLD ME TO LOSE 15 POUNDS, and that WOULD help my situation. I am very upset my this, I don't see how losing 15 pounds will help my face pain or optic neuritis issues.

To top off the whole situation, when I left the parking lot, it was $12.00. I told them bill the doctor, I was on time! Just the last straw, feel like I was kicked in the a----!

So, that's the story. I will go to PT, cant hurt. I don't know whether to go for the MRI in May, or just go get a second opinion. I think I need a little bit of a break from the medical people @ the moment. Just so frustrated.

Thanks for listening,
Michelle

[michelleric]

Thanks for the comment. It is good to know there are people out there who know exactly what you are going through...I appreciate it,
Michelle

[lvfrogs]

To Michelle,
I have a very long story which I won't go into on here, but my primary at the time, told me that maybe I needed anti-depressants and basically gave me a pat on the head and a prescription. I never filled the prescription. The only depression I had was going to all these dang doctors and they can't find out what is wrong! That is depressing!  It is so hard to feel bad, know that your body is not feeling normal, that something is wrong, but they can't find out exactly why. I understand the feeling of wanting a "medical break" too.Don't worry about the pounds. If you want to lose them, then lose them. If not, 15 pds is not going to make or break anything. That is some doctors answers to everything! good luck!

[michelleric]

Yes, I told the nurse counseling wont make me feel better, "me feeling better will make me feel better!" Thank you for your response...just so frustrating. I am going to take a medical "break" and see how things are going this summer. I will take the med she prescribed and call about PT. I don't think I will be joining weight watchers soon though, I find it insulting about the 15 pounds. I think it was just something to say...don't really know.

Thanks again,
Michelle

[biowham]

Sounds on the one hand like she's being very patronizing while on the other she seems to think you probably have MS...to which I want to scream, DUH!!!! given your history, but...well, I try not to yell so much.

The weight won't have much to do with anything except maybe to make it slightly easier to get yourself around. Case in point: When all of my symptoms started in Oct 2007, I'd hit the one-year mark after having my last child and still had about 15 pounds of that left to drop. I dropped it in the next few months; meanwhile, my neurological symptoms simply worsened and progressed. So much for the weight loss thing. If you were grossly obese, I could see suggesting that simply for the sake of overall health. But 15 pounds doesn't qualify you as grossly obese unless you're about 4 feet tall.

It's odd that she's talking out of both sides of her mouth at once, dismissing your continued symptoms as the c spond while classifying you as probable MS. And anyway, TWO BOUTS of ON? Yes, I'd say "probable." You don't need counseling for your "anxiety," you need interventions for your neurological disorder.

I'm feeling feisty, so my hair-trigger response to this experience would be to fire this woman and go to someone else, at least for a second opinion. Your history is soooo indicative.

What is it with these doctors?

Bio