1. < Spine Health

Second Opinion

Posted by 507 @507, Nov 11, 2021

I am just going to be honest here. I would like to post some of my Medical images here. Let people who are more knowledgeable than me look at them and tell me if you think I need a second opinion. I am not looking for a diagnosis here but I want to know if you think I should get a second opinion after you look at them.

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507 | @507 | Nov 11, 2021

OK, I will try to keep emotions out of this post. My orthopedist ordered a nerve test on me. I told him that I was feeling like I have some gloves and socks in the morning. It feels prickly as it tightens and slowly the pain increases. I also to a lesser extent feel sometimes feel a really tight pair of ondies when I don't. I also every once in a while get pin and needles on the left side of my brain. This really scares me. I have a protrusion, mild stenosis and why I was there in the first place. He tells me with a smile on his face, there is no nerve damage and every thing is working fine. I asked him if nerve damaged was the only possible cause to have those feelings. So, I then pulled out my cell phone and showed him the picts attached. I told him that my feet get hot, burning, red and pain for no apparent reason around 1 AM in the morning. The pain is worse on the left and the skin on my toes feel as if it is going to reap. Obviously I can not arrange a visit with him at that time. Hmm, he said, sounds vascular. So, I said, my sister has Deep Vein Thrombosis is this related to vascular. He said no. Thanks everybody.
REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Nov 12, 2021

@507 If you do want to post any medical imaging, please remove all personal information from it first like your name and birth date or even the facility name. I can also say that you would be the best person to decide if you need a second opinion based on what your symptoms are and if you feel satisfied with the opinion you received. As patients (and I am a spine surgery patient) we can often pick out something on an MRI that looks like trouble, but the question is how big of a problem is it? Or what symptoms or damage would it cause down the road? That is where you need an opinion from a surgical specialist. I had 6 opinions before I found a surgeon at Mayo who understood my problem completely. The first 5 surgeons could all see the compression of my spinal cord from a collapsed disc and bone spurs, but they missed the connection of that physical problem to the symptoms that I had. I found medical literature with cases similar to mine that explained the connection to my symptoms, and I sent that to surgeon #6. I actually found the literature because of looking up a term in one of his papers so I knew that I found someone who would understand my case.

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1 reply
vicky9 | @vicky9 | Nov 12, 2021

It never hurts to get a second opinion. I've had 3 spinal fusion surgeries and was lucky enough to get the same doctor for each. My rheumatologist called him "the star" and I've always been pleased with his work. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to get another opinion if I felt in any way that he might have missed something. BTW, this doctor was my second opinion and discovered the problem with an X-ray! Please keep us posted on your decision and results and how you're doing. Good luck.

REPLY
3 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 14, 2021
In reply to @507 "OK, I will try to keep emotions out of this post. My orthopedist ordered a nerve..." + (show)
@507

OK, I will try to keep emotions out of this post. My orthopedist ordered a nerve test on me. I told him that I was feeling like I have some gloves and socks in the morning. It feels prickly as it tightens and slowly the pain increases. I also to a lesser extent feel sometimes feel a really tight pair of ondies when I don't. I also every once in a while get pin and needles on the left side of my brain. This really scares me. I have a protrusion, mild stenosis and why I was there in the first place. He tells me with a smile on his face, there is no nerve damage and every thing is working fine. I asked him if nerve damaged was the only possible cause to have those feelings. So, I then pulled out my cell phone and showed him the picts attached. I told him that my feet get hot, burning, red and pain for no apparent reason around 1 AM in the morning. The pain is worse on the left and the skin on my toes feel as if it is going to reap. Obviously I can not arrange a visit with him at that time. Hmm, he said, sounds vascular. So, I said, my sister has Deep Vein Thrombosis is this related to vascular. He said no. Thanks everybody.

Jump to this post

Hi @507, I moved your two messages together in one discussion in both the Spine Health and Neuropathy groups, so that you only have one place to look for responses and members from both groups can get the full story and see the pictures you uploaded.

Have you requested a second opinion?

REPLY
1 reply
507 | @507 | Nov 21, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @507, I moved your two messages together in one discussion in both the Spine Health..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @507, I moved your two messages together in one discussion in both the Spine Health and Neuropathy groups, so that you only have one place to look for responses and members from both groups can get the full story and see the pictures you uploaded.

Have you requested a second opinion?

Jump to this post

Oh, gosh thank you. I am new and don't really know how it all works

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507 | @507 | Nov 21, 2021
In reply to @vicky9 "It never hurts to get a second opinion. I've had 3 spinal fusion surgeries and was..." + (show)
@vicky9

It never hurts to get a second opinion. I've had 3 spinal fusion surgeries and was lucky enough to get the same doctor for each. My rheumatologist called him "the star" and I've always been pleased with his work. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to get another opinion if I felt in any way that he might have missed something. BTW, this doctor was my second opinion and discovered the problem with an X-ray! Please keep us posted on your decision and results and how you're doing. Good luck.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your reply

REPLY
507 | @507 | Nov 21, 2021
In reply to @vicky9 "It never hurts to get a second opinion. I've had 3 spinal fusion surgeries and was..." + (show)
@vicky9

It never hurts to get a second opinion. I've had 3 spinal fusion surgeries and was lucky enough to get the same doctor for each. My rheumatologist called him "the star" and I've always been pleased with his work. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to get another opinion if I felt in any way that he might have missed something. BTW, this doctor was my second opinion and discovered the problem with an X-ray! Please keep us posted on your decision and results and how you're doing. Good luck.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your suggestion.

REPLY
507 | @507 | Nov 21, 2021
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@507 If you do want to post any medical imaging, please remove all personal information from..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@507 If you do want to post any medical imaging, please remove all personal information from it first like your name and birth date or even the facility name. I can also say that you would be the best person to decide if you need a second opinion based on what your symptoms are and if you feel satisfied with the opinion you received. As patients (and I am a spine surgery patient) we can often pick out something on an MRI that looks like trouble, but the question is how big of a problem is it? Or what symptoms or damage would it cause down the road? That is where you need an opinion from a surgical specialist. I had 6 opinions before I found a surgeon at Mayo who understood my problem completely. The first 5 surgeons could all see the compression of my spinal cord from a collapsed disc and bone spurs, but they missed the connection of that physical problem to the symptoms that I had. I found medical literature with cases similar to mine that explained the connection to my symptoms, and I sent that to surgeon #6. I actually found the literature because of looking up a term in one of his papers so I knew that I found someone who would understand my case.

Jump to this post

Thank for the information.

REPLY
wdubrul | @wdubrul | Nov 23, 2021
In reply to @vicky9 "It never hurts to get a second opinion. I've had 3 spinal fusion surgeries and was..." + (show)
@vicky9

It never hurts to get a second opinion. I've had 3 spinal fusion surgeries and was lucky enough to get the same doctor for each. My rheumatologist called him "the star" and I've always been pleased with his work. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to get another opinion if I felt in any way that he might have missed something. BTW, this doctor was my second opinion and discovered the problem with an X-ray! Please keep us posted on your decision and results and how you're doing. Good luck.

Jump to this post

‘Please’ tell me your Star’s’ name...I’m looking at spinal fusion right now...thanks...Wdubrul

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1 reply
vicky9 | @vicky9 | Nov 23, 2021
In reply to @wdubrul "‘Please’ tell me your Star’s’ name...I’m looking at spinal fusion right now...thanks...Wdubrul" + (show)
@wdubrul

‘Please’ tell me your Star’s’ name...I’m looking at spinal fusion right now...thanks...Wdubrul

Jump to this post

His name is Dr. Andrew Metzger. He is with Southwest Neurosurgical Associates in Albuquerque, NM. I've had 3 surgeries for progressive problems and they've all gone great. I hope you find help and only have to go through it once! Keep us posted.

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