@radiocity My advice would be to get your most recent imaging and ask for it to be reviewed by a spine surgeon specifically for spine issues. If you get into Mayo for that, they will refer you to other departments as they see fit. I had surgery at Rochester and asked for a specific neurosurgeon there because his area of interest fit my needs. I had been turned down by several surgeons (not at Mayo) before contacting the Mayo surgeon, and he took me as a patient. It does not cost anything for a review of records as you probably already know. Because this is more specific and addresses if you would be a surgical candidate, you would be bypassing all the general requests for primary care. Do you want to consider other Mayo campuses? Initially, I didn't want to travel for spine surgery, but no local surgeon would help. Rochester is a 5 and a half hour drive for me, and worth it.

We are trying to get in as well for very similar situation to yours. Started with a cough in Dec. 2020 went to pain upper left abdomen. Have done MRIs of all spine, which showed some wear and tear and neck has spurs..I’m 51 so pretty typical for my age. I also would have tingling over my upper left shoulder and chest. Ive always had a knot in between my left shoulder blade and my spine. Went to OMM she worked on it and now I can’t get a deep breath for over a month. I also. Or have two left toes that go numb and right ankle throbs with pain. Where she worked on knot throbs with pain as well. Have some pins and needles in limbs. Seeking appt with Rheumatologist because blood work came back with double dna and elevated ana tired of 6.0. They thought Lupus but I have no other signs of that. Rheumatologist appt is in November. Neurologist is in Dec. I barely get through each day and lay down. A lot. It hit like a wall I’ve never even really been sick before in life accept a short bought with ulcers in colon. I eat extremely healthy and used to exercise. The Mayo said that get 250 requests a day for new appts. So we just have to hang in there. I feel like I am losing function of my legs like you as well. Breathing is my worst problem. Praying you get in soon. Your story is very similar to mine. They just put me on 5 day course of Prednisone. Will let you know how that goes. Hang I there. Praying we get in soon.

I have been a patient of Mayo for 30 years now (thorough multiple treatments and conditions) and believe it is worth every effort to get into the Mayo system. I also work with an organization called Angel Flight East that matches patients with volunteer pilots. They limit the flights to 1.000 miles but all flight costs are paid by the pilots and there is no limit on the number of times a patient can fly. I don't know if that opens up the possibility of travelling to another Mayo location (and therefore acceptance as a Mayo patient) for you, but if so, you may want to consider reaching out to them. Good luck.