I've had my latest MRI results and the report for over six weeks. Somewhat disgusted with my surgeon's office's failure to return a phone call to schedule an appointment, I did some research online and made a few phone calls last week and found several spine specialists in my neck of the woods. I want to get a back-up doctor, one who will also give me a second opinion about what's going on with my back. I think I found someone I might try.
I make an appointment with Dr Dante Implicito, who is an ortho surgeon, and deals specifically with non-invasive procedures as well as surgical methods to make backs better. He seems resourceful, interested in my problems and kind. I've brought him my latest MRI CD and report, plus my CD of x-rays after my fusion. After a full exam and plenty of questions, he suggests I try facet joint injections given by his partner, who is a physiatrist. I make the appointment for May 5th, cross my fingers and hope for the best.
When May 5th comes, I head out to Hackensack Hospital with my DH, for moral support and to drive me back home afterward. Here's my post to justafewloosescrews@yahoogroups.com:
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Yesterday, I went for a bilateral lumbar facet block with fluoroscope. This was under the direction of the new ortho surgeon I saw about ten days ago to get a second opinion regarding more surgery (that I don't want) and some hope. I also went to Hackensack University Hospital for the very first time, and I was happily surprised to find, to the person, such experienced, cheery and helpful people there.
All was going well until the final needle was being put into my back. The doctor did one side then the other after using lidocaine injections to numb the area. I chatted with the nurses, and one even told me she also had a one level fusion done in 1997 by my "second opinion" doctor when he was still quite young. She reported having no further problems. We laughed about housework and other things women have to do with bad backs, and she stopped every once in a while to ask the doctor what she was seeing on the fluorscope. I have a mass of metal and a cage in my lumbar spine and when it's magnified, it looks quite grizzly.
When I felt that final needle go into my back, I was staring at that fluorscope image and I just started to cry. Not really "cry," but "sob." The poor doctor thought he had hurt me and apologized profusely. It wasn't so much the pain, but the enormity of what's happened with my back these last three years that just came rushing over me. I'm usually pretty well focused and in control, but I was still sobbing when I got back to my little same-day surgery bed where my DH was waiting. I had to try to explain to him that I wasn't so much hurting physically as emotionally, but at that point, I just wanted to get home, so I didn't say too much.
Is this normal? Am I losing it?
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