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Recommendations for Neurologists and Pain Management Doctors
Does anyone in the Pennsylvania area (could be surrounding states) have a neurologist and/or pain management practice that they could highly recommend? I have been suffering from severe burning neuropathy pain in my feet, legs, hands, and arms for over 2 years and I haven't been able to find anyone that can help, or at least work with me. My neuropathy was brought on by upper spinal chord damage due to a cervical spinal steroid shot. I live in central Pennsylvania away from any big cities. I have seen neurologists at Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Penn State Hershey, but they did not seem to want to be bothered with me. I know many people have had to go from doctor to doctor until they found someone to help them. I am hoping that I can benefit from someone else's experiences.
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I have neuropathic pain and numbness down my legs and into my feet, more on the left side. I had neuropathy testing done along with scans on my lower back, and the test came back saying there is little neuropathic damage. The neurosurgeon says the numbness and pain should be relieved by my back fusion, there are nerves being pinched and that is the likely cause. I am very happy there's not lasting damage being done!
I suffered for years from SEVERE neuropathy in the groin area, pelvic area and left leg. After years of narcotics (that don’t help that much) and numerous surgeries, the only way I got some relief was from an implanted medication infusion system made by Medtronic. I’m concerned your issue may originate too high on your spinal cord ( the catheter, which is completely implanted, must be attached to your spinal cord above where your pain is and from your post I don’t know there is enough space). Medtronic has a website you can read about it. It haven’t completely removed my pain but without it, my pain was bad enough to cause me to consider some extreme measures. The pump last six years. It is managed by my doctor office that placed it. I have to get refills about every 75 days but that depends on the dosage. Refills are a simple needle into a port in the device under your skin. Not painful or time consuming. I just had my third one put in so I have had mine for about thirteen years. If you are interested, find a good, reputable interventional pain clinic to go to for an evaluation. I go to the one at the University of Kentucky. If you live near a large university with a good hospital system you might try that. For me personally, I am not comfortable with those free standing pain clinics. I’m sure there are some good ones. That’s just my personal preference and I can be sure of the level of care. Questions? You are welcome to email me at palmorejs@aol.com.
Thanks for recommendations. I have heard about implanted pain pumps, but no doctor has recommended it. I think they just don't have experience with them.