Thats the medical world for you. I work with these guys, and they always disagree. One will see a fracture, one won't, crap like that.. Always get 2nd and 3rd opinions. I've had bad shoulder for 2+ years. Saw a doc, he saiid it was due to my shoulders being loose. Did pt for awhile, made it worse. Stopped pt. Lived with it for the 2 years, I could live with the pain, but it got annoying. Couldnt carry gym bag in right arm, talk on cell phone for more than a few minutes, crap like that. Got MRI, came back neg. Asked for another opinion and was referred to a surgeon, who pointed to the tear on the "negative" MRI. Recovering from surgery right now. Now I have 40 percs just sitting in a bag, b/c I've already lived with the same pain for 2 years.
My buddy has had 4 or 5 knee surgeries to fix his meniscus, every one is suppose to be the last, but his knee keeps swelling, and never heals.


Ridiculous. But a doctor I work with told me, "Conditions don't read text books." Meaning even though you could have something, unless you show the "text book" symptoms, some Docs wont check for it.
He also told me "Its more of an art than a science" b/c everyone is different and responds different.

With that said I would recommend going to a specialist for the degenerative disc disease. Im not sure, but I think that falls under rheumatology. Good luck. If all else fails just freeze yourself until year 2100, then there will be a pill for everything. Or start eating dead fetuses. (South park)

 

You really scared me there Mike. For a second I thought you might have gotten in a wreck in the stang or something. I'm going through the same thing with my back and shoulder man and it' really disheartening and it sucks having to take pills all the time trust me. I just try to stay positive and not let anyone know that it is bothering me and move on through the day. I'm waiting on surgery as well but cant afford it because its so frappen expensive. Keep your head up Mike ain't no thing just a little set back.

 

Well I'm on this medicine for nerve pain and damage and it's got a lot of the pain to go away. It's called Lyrica. What I want to know is that if this is for nerve dmg and nerve pain than doesn't that mean one of my nerves is damaged or pinch causing me pain. I don't understand how he can say I don't have any nerve damage and than give me that prescription.

Another thing that really kills me. I've got a $1000 insurance deductible which I hadn't meant this year. I needed the MRI. So I called around to get prices on it. A lot of places were like $1000-$3000. I went with one that was $1300. I paid half of it on the visit and told them I'd pay the rest afterwards and to just bill me. Well they billed the insurance company as much as my insurance company allowed for an MRI which was $3600. WTF !!

Jwool. I know man, this **** blows.

I never fixed my post, sorry about that. After I posted, I looked at the link. The first sentence threw me off and I thought it was about a chiropractor and didn't even bother checking it out.

 

Don't sweat it. Some medications are very helpful but I am a firm believer that pain meds just mask the problem. Something is causing the pain. That's the part that needs fixed. Maybe they can read the MRI and toss out some suggestions. You might as well put that $3600 to good use.

 

What a bummer Thump. Doctors are in plenty and new treatments and surgery's come out all the time so keep your head up. Keep changing doctors until you find the one that gives you a more promising prognosis. I take for granted my situation, the worst pain is my arm I threw out in baseball but I don't plan on throwing much anymore except with my kids. So until then... It's just a bummer a sport you were playing for fun had such an impact on your future. Keep thinking about the day you wake up and don't have a single pill to take nor pain to fear, it will happen...technology is only getting better.

 

thump give me a ring I have a solution for you man

 

Thump, you and I don't normally see eye to eye on alot of things. But take this from me, I'm 43 years old and have been through 3 major neck surgery's. First i had 3 disc either ruptured and hernieated (c-4 thru C-7). I had them removed back in 1995 and the Hip bone graft done then. The hip hurt more than the damn neck surgery. 1 year later i had the plate and screws removed because of the pain i was having. It took time for all of that to disapate. I went through alot of physical therophy, and it helped. FIND SOMEONE THAT SPECIALIZES IN MYOFASCIAL RELEASE. (Massage theraphy), with ultrasound and electric stim, and heat packs. 2 Years ago this July, the 27th... I had a spinal cord tumor removed at (c-7 thru T-2). They fused those level's too, and now i have a plate with several screws at that level now. So now i have 5 LEVELS in my neck that don't bend now, and i don't let that me stop me. I live on Vicodin regularly, sometimes 5 aday, sometimes less, If i overdue it, it's more. My moto is now, "Work smarter, Not Harder".
Get used to it Now, and learn not to do stupid stuff. Make each day count, as you CANT CHANGE TIME. I cannot ride roller coaster's anymore, or throw a ball with my 14 year old Son. (That Hurt's more than anything). Enough of me. Find a specialist outside of FL. There are several Excellent doctors up north, Cleveland clinic, Mayo clinic, U of M has some of the best too. Do not MESS around and get the best, and get it fixed. YOU cannot live on pain meds, IT WILL KILL YOU IN TIME. I buried my brother in law who depended on pain meds to live. I try daily, and i am learning to live with out meds. It is very hard to do it, but i am making progress. Give Mr Troyer a call, he is another one that has been through alot. My kids are what i live for, And the hope of getting My 2008 Dodge Challenger's!!! (JK).

 

Everyone thanks again, especially FXME2. I've got another appointment on Thursday so we'll see what happens. I think something is causing nerve damage or pain because if this medication is making it go away for the most part than it has something to do with nerves. Either the disks or the hardware is damaging the nerves. So we'll see ...

I agree completely. The Lyrica isn't a narcotic though. It is just supposed to relieve the pain and help with nerve damage.

 

My mom had a mild stroke of the brain a few years back. My dad took her to the Mayo Clinic. Those guys know their stuff. No local doctors could do much for her. She's been ok now for a long while. Just my one up for the Mayo Clinic. Check into it. - Og

 

Sorry to hear about your back dude. I ended up having to sell my Cobra because getting in and out of those things was so hard on my back. I guess the new Mustangs are easier to get in and out of, but the old ones were a pain to get out of...literally.

 

Ya, it was one of the main reasons that influenced me to get out of my truck.