@psearby17 Thanks for asking. Yes, Mayo Clinic helped me... a lot... and right away. When you go to Mayo, they evaluate everything that might be an issue at that time. In addition to my spine problem, I also have thoracic outlet syndrome that causes compression of nerves and blood vessels under the collar bone. They evaluated the TOS and tested what happens to my circulation in my arms when my arms change position with doppler imaging and also tiny blood pressure cuffs on my fingers. I had nerve conduction tests and blood work. I met with a vascular specialist about the thoracic outlet syndrome who examined me, and all of that happened before I met the neurosurgeon. While I was at my appointment with him, the vascular specialist called him with my results that had been completed just an hour before this. Then the neurosurgeon discussed my imaging with me and test results and offered surgery and answered my questions. What is different about this is that all of the testing is so organized and efficient, and it was all done before I meet the surgeon. The neurologist was the first doctor who examined me, and he ordered all the testing based on his exam so everything would be ready for the neurosurgery appointment. When I had surgery, everyone took good care of me and was so kind. I had never experienced medical care like this. Previously when I saw spine specialists at other places, I waited a couple months for the first appointment, then another month for a test, then another month to see the specialist to discuss the test, and then he ask for another test, and it went on with just waiting for tests and appointments and wasted a lot of time... two years of time and I was getting worse. The doctors were suggesting spinal injections and none were willing to fix the problem. I had pain in places that they didn't expect based on my imaging and with the TOS complicating things, they didn't want the risk for something they didn't understand. I came to Mayo after 5 local surgeons refused to help me, and then one very kind gifted surgeon at Mayo gave me my life back. Here is my story.
https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2019/01/09/using-the-art-of-medicine-to-overcome-fear-of-surgery/