My Pain Doctor Visit!

Today I went to see a pain specialist. Wait let me back up a bit as I haven't posted about this situation before.

I have been suffering from extreme back pain since September last year. I'm not exactly sure what caused it but in September it got to the point that I couldn't walk, sleep or work. My wife set me up with an appointment with her Rheumatologist. It took two weeks to finally see him. My Primary Care Physician wasn't sure of what was going on and had prescribed Percocet for the pain and sent me for x rays. Meanwhile I saw the specialist. He sent me for an MRI but I wasn't able to fit in the machine, so I had to settle for a CT Scan. After reviewing the films and the report he said I needed to see a pain specialist. His diagnosis was that I had a herniated disk and Spinal Stenosis, and that I needed an epidural steroid.

I made an appointment with the specialist that he recommended. I was thinking that I would finally be able too get some relief from this horrendous pain. Yeah right!
Cassie and I went together that day. When I explained my situation to him he looked me right in the eye and said that he wouldn't give me the epidural I needed because he was afraid I would break his table. You can probably imagine how I felt after that statement. He then sent me to physical therapy to lose ten pounds and then, come back to see him. He also prescribed some meds and a Tens unit. This took place in October. I went to P.T. and after three visits the pain got worse and I also tore my rotator cuff again getting out of the pool at the YMCA where the P.T. was taking place. I went back to see my Rheumatologist and he suggested I try to find a pain Doctor that could help me. There aren't very many around. I was happy to tell him that I wasn't going back to that pain quack.

I finally found a Doctor that could help me. Now it is January 2008 almost four months after the problem became so bad I had to seek help and I saw the Doc. He actually examined me, (The other guy didn't) and discovered that in addition to the severe pain there was also weakness in my leg. He explained that the nerve that was affected was being compressed thus causing the pain. But the weakness was caused by damage to the nerve which may be unable to heal. He also said I should have had the epidural a lot sooner before the nerve became damaged. He scheduled me for three injections a month apart for each. After that we'll re-evaluate the situation.

I wish I had seen this doctor the first time. I am so freaking mad. Because the first pain doctor didn't want to treat me (I guess he discriminates against fat people) I may have permanent nerve damage. I always tell my kids not to be mean to people and to treat everyone with respect because what goes around comes around. Casie and I found out that the first pain doctor's practice broke up and he is no longer practicing medicine.