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Air travel to see a Mayo Clinic physician?

Neuropathy | Last Active: Oct 10, 2023 | Replies (46)

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@jenatsky

If you’re in pretty good shape and need the procedure to improve your quality of life why not do it? The new hardware they have is far superior to the old stainless steel and some can be done through a scope. I fell in an earthquake in 1988 in Ca. and eventually had a SS fusion L4-S1 and L5 laminectomy in 1990 and now have PN but no major back issues that would require a re-fusion. But if I did I doubt I’d do it because having to remove old SS hardware and put in new at 71 y.o. is just too painful. My first surgery worked and I never have needed back injections.

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Replies to "If you’re in pretty good shape and need the procedure to improve your quality of life..."

I requested an appointment at Mayo in MN online. They promised they’d call within 3 days, and lo and behold, they did (it seems impossible nowadays to actually get someone do do what they say they’re going to do).
At any rate, it seems I won’t even be able to get an appointment until Dec, but I’ll be looking forward to that.
I’m not sure what procedure you’re you’re referring to. Actually, I never even considered that the hardware might be a problem. If doctors could do scope surgery, that would be an answer to a dream, IF the hardware is indeed the source of pain. I pray Mayo will be able to diagnose the source and offer treatment options. At my age (73), I really don’t think I KNOW I just couldn’t take one more major surgery. Doctors might not even want to do it anyway with my age and high blood pressure.
All I know at this point is I’m in pain. Since the last injection, I cannot walk or stand more than a few minutes, much less exercise, and that itself has thrown me into a deep depression.
I reread my last message just to make sure I wasn’t repeating myself, so if I do I apologize. The new pain management doc (who did the injection) abruptly took me totally off the Percocet I’d been on 15 years. Needless to say, I’ve been struggling with withdrawal symptoms and worse pain than ever before. I know Percocet wasn’t the most desirable way to go, but it did allow me to exercise and sure gave me a better quality of life than I have now, for sure, plus all my bloodwork has been normal.
Here in FL, I suppose the opiate problem is pretty bad., so when you ask for it, doctors look at you like you’re a drug addict. I believe this is referred to as “mass punishment” when patients who need it cannot get it because of the behavior of others!