So I went to see the neuro surgeon today for my evaluation appt.It was a little bit confusing when the guy that kept calling patients to the back turned out to be the Dr! :) He didn't wear a labcoat or a suit either! Blue tee with hospital name and jeans.
Anyway,he actually ASKED me questions regarding my situation rather than him doing all the talking and me just listening and forgetting what I wanted to ask.He was easy to talk to.He explained well about how lumbar spinal stenosis presents itself (pain is not the issue;numbness in the legs is).I could see my spine on his computer.He showed me,as he talked,and said"most all of your vertebrae look healthy.But when you get down to L-5 1,you notice how it has flattened out and there's arthritis there.Surgery will not remove the arthritis.So,at this time,surgery is not an option.He must have expected a disappointed patient! I looked him straight in the eyes and said "that's good news!!!" He looked relieved to hear me express it! He did do a neuro exam while I was there.I was able to feel him prick me with a pin.But it's like my right big toe is 'nerve dead'.In fact that toenail is discolored.I couldn't pull my toe up off the floor.But now I'm able to move it! But I noticed last week that when I had some kind of "nerve thing" going through my left toe,it never happened with the right.Maybe it was sciatica.But it didn't feel like it.But anyway,he's got all my info; blurry eyes,etc in his computer.
Alex