Anyone connected to a specialist in Canada re cauda equina surgery?

Posted by kmf @kmf, Mar 9 10:48am

I've recently had emergency cauda Equina surgery and discectomy. It's left me with immediate complications, loss use of entire left leg up to and including saddle area, it's numb and tingly and now atrophy and weakness. Also now hyponatremic, gastro and digestive issues and constant chest pressure, many more symptoms post surgery. This resulted in being transferred from hospital to rehab to learn how to walk and recover. I was placed on alot of drugs. I left rehab within 3 weeks on a walker and thinking I was doing great, then asked to go off some of the drugs I was on. Within 10 days of leaving rehab I was in emerg at the hospital with tremors, pain, hyponatremic, shortness of breath. I asked for an orthopedic doctor to support. I was instead left in general medicine and released soon after once my sodium levels came up. I continue to ask for Ortho or neurosurgeons to come and check my spine and leg, but instead a series of tests ensued and my consistent request for help for body/spine tremors was quite minimized by the medical personnel suggesting it's likely mild issues that will clear up from surgery. It's been 9mths and I've declined, I continue to try to get another Ortho or neurosurgeons to assist. My leg, saddle area and parts of my left arm and neck are numb and in pain. I can't seem to get anyone to step up and discuss cauda Equina and ways to assist, I am being bounced around from one specialist to the next and all I want is an expert to assist with or advocate to help me

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Get your family dr to send you to another neurologist and ask to be referred to TO Western to neurosurgeon. You have to keep at it and force the issue so you get the review you need - it is ridiculous to just fob you off like that to pain clinic.

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@solom174

Get your family dr to send you to another neurologist and ask to be referred to TO Western to neurosurgeon. You have to keep at it and force the issue so you get the review you need - it is ridiculous to just fob you off like that to pain clinic.

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That's great advice, I'm hoping my family doctor will be open to that. I really want support from Toronto Western and grateful Mayo clinic has this forum. I called the Mayo rep and she was really helpful too. I'm just not able to explore support due to my own financial situation at this time. I agree it's been a tough and I'm very tired. I've been advocating strongly and hope I can get a door to open to get a second opinion, especially with the weird tremors I have, hoping a doctor can assist with options.

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