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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 1 hour ago | Replies (7074)Comment receiving replies
I am new, my name is Tom Rice from Uniontown, Ohio. I have chronic pain since February, 2023. On September 10, I will have a Nerve Ablation procedure done by a Pain Management doctor. This will be at sensory nerves on both sides of Lumbar at L3-L5. The low back pain radiates down both legs and feet. I can't have surgeries because my scoliosis rotates the spine in a S curve to the right like a snake which blocks my my vertebrates where they need to operate. This procedure is my last resort I would have prefer to have this procedure done at three months. The surgeons had me go through extra pain, then this procedure. Pain Management should be over the spine surgeons. I think the hospitals and surgeons want to make more money with expensive surgeries. Delays, delays and more delays to see at least 20 surgeons for different specialties. This could be done by one review. During this time I could not walk at all and went to Emergency 5 times at 4 different hospitals. I also went to rehab at 3 different skilled nursing fascitlities. This was just under 100 days, which is Medicare limit. Good thing I have supplemental insurance. According to
Spine Surgery books this is classified as a emergency. I think all management should have Chronic Pain certiification This is a mental issue too,which could lead to suicide and depression.
Replies to "I am new, my name is Tom Rice from Uniontown, Ohio. I have chronic pain since..."
Delay, delays, dealys! I'm sure that many of us have experienced that at some time. I went to a new pain doc here in Delaware in June who recommended a trial of a new SCS since my old one had given me decent pain relif until it died. Then the delays started...
July followup: more talking about SCS trial. request for trial sent in to insurance company.
August 23: Insurance approval for trial.
September 18: pain doc's office called to inform me that the doc had reshuffled his scheduled, and I could not have the trial until after the new year. Aargh! You have to be kidding me!
The office gal said that she had another pain doc in the practice who could meet with me next week and schedule my trial. Thank you, Andrea!
I agree that all the stress caused by all these delays can lead to all kinds of mental problems.
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I meant to say, I stopped walking and getting up 5 different times. after Rehab for a week I learn how to walk and gain my strength, but I had little help in chronic pain. All the time waiting for answers. I went to the main campus at Cleveland Clinic, where the top surgeon said. "Cleveland Clinic does not have the equipment nor the sills to operate. That I will eventually be bed ridden and to get used to it. Not to use the internet, you tube and medical spine books."
Then I went back to my Pain Management doctor where I passed the trials for Nerve Ablation. I was originally scheduled to have it done on August 19. Now Medicare denied me 4 days before procedure.
This caused me more pain, became more depressed, and felt like committing suicide or would kill someone if pushed without intentions to do so. I went to Emergency, where I got a morphine shot. This helped my pain and depression for a few days.
I was very afraid that I would start to not walk again, but did not happen this time. Then this Friday,
I got a call from Pain Management that Medicare approved procedure on September 10. My doctor was able to expedite appeal, because of Medicare incompetence. I ask for your prayers and it will reduce most of my pain so I can have a life.
Thank you for listening and hope everyone can get better.