← Return to Can't get an appointment: Any tips on what to do?

Discussion

Can't get an appointment: Any tips on what to do?

Visiting Mayo Clinic | Last Active: Feb 15 6:52am | Replies (164)

Comment receiving replies
@jenniferhunter

@radiocity Have you actually been diagnosed with lumbar spine issues through imaging and an evaluation with a spine specialist? There are some conditions that mimic spine problems that are actually caused by a misaligned pelvis and overly tight hip flexors. If that is the case, a physical therapist can help, preferably one who does manual work, and not just putting you through a bunch of exercises. My PT does myofascial release which helps me a lot.

If you do find there actually is a spine condition, you could pursue being seen at Mayo for this if you arranged to send in your imaging that diagnoses it when requesting an appointment. I am a spine surgery patient and that is how I was accepted. They have to review imaging first to know if a surgeon can help. It also helped that 5 other local surgeons rejected my case and refused to operate on obvious spinal cord compression because they didn't recognized some unusual symptoms and couldn't connect it to the problem.

Here are the links. One is written for physical therapists, but you can take that to your doctor and get a referral for a PT evaluation. There is a provider search for MFR therapists on the MFR website which you will find in the first pages of the discussion.

Myofascial Release
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://mskneurology.com/identify-treat-lumbar-plexus-compression-syndrome-lpcs/

Jump to this post


Replies to "@radiocity Have you actually been diagnosed with lumbar spine issues through imaging and an evaluation with..."

I have been diagnosed, via imaging and eval, with numerous herniated disks and bone spurs. Foot numbness for almost two years, left leg starting to weaken. Also have abdominal numbness and tightness/pressure. 2 CT scans, 3 MRIs, endless XRays. Three spinal injections, no relief. I've seen a neurologist and orthopedic surgeon, neither of whom could move forward with a comfortable degree of confidence. Had colonoscopy, all clear. Nobody even guesses at the cause of the abdominal issue so I'm hoping Mayo would 'start over'. Anyone I see at this point will want new images so not sure how far the old ones will get me. Thanks for the links, I'll look into these.