I have had SA (spinal arachnoiditis) for 6 years due to a Medtronic intrathecal pain/baclofen pump. I haven’t had relief or even been able to find a doctor well versed in this condition. I have certainly been turned off to procedures. The only real treatment is a new calcium type channel blocker placed directly into the spinal column. This requires a intrathecal catheter, the very same instrumentation that caused all my problems to start with!!

Mayo refused my request for an appointment, saying “I’d had all the requisite testing “, completely blowing off the importance of a good doctor’s evaluation of the tests. Since most of the reimbursement comes from testing I have already had, it makes me wonder if mayo is refusing me on the basis of poor reimbursement.