Confused...again.

[My Monster]

I will attempt to not get long-winded. I have been going to PT for my neck and shoulder. PT won't touch my shoulder until I go to Ortho, well I did that today. He says he wants to do surgery but won't do surgery on my rotator cuff until I get some more ROM in it first. He did give me a Cortizone shot and a note to PT to start on my shoulder. With me so far? Ortho says, yes there is arthritis, yes there is separation and yes RC is a fricken mess that will require surgery. He looked at my neck x-rays, (they were on the same CD) and stated that I need to get to a Neurosurgeon, that it looks "real bad". Great. He spent a lot of time looking and talking about my neck. He said that I am looking at surgery on my neck based off the x-rays and wanted to know why I was going to a Neurologist before a Neurosurgeon. I told him that my Primary wanted an EMG done first to figure out where my nerves were getting pinched off. So it ended with him telling me I needed to prioritize my surgeries.

1. Epidural for my lumbar spine. (Kinda want to hold off on that until I get my "new" C&P exam, SC for 10% DDD.)

2. Knee surgery to clean out some of my meniscus (10% SC for arthritis, didn't know you could claim meniscus separately but will put in for it.)

3. Shoulder surgery (VA denied and diagnosed shoulder strain, well I am going to fight that one with them as it is now diagnosed as arthritis, separation and R/C.)

4. Cervical neck surgery ( based off of the Ortho doc's opinion, and my Primary's.)

Which to do first...? I put in a claim for my neck, received the Notice to Assist, will send it back asking for more time to gather my "evidence" ( doc write-ups, MRI's and Radiologist's Report ). My VSO is waiting for my EMG results to fight my CTS denial, the Ortho and PT report to fight the shoulder denial. I am so fricken' confused on what to do...I am coming up on my 1-year post retirement date. I don't want to take the damn "shot-gun approach, but several of my doc's have said that I have a multitude of problems that I should of had addressed while I was on Active Duty and are amazed that I made it this far before bitching about the pain.

HELP!!!

Monster

[SLEDGE]

Those neck problems sound almost exactly like mine were.

Most of my hard structures have been replaced with titanium cages.

Most of the range of motion is in the top joint.

You can get along rather well if they fuse all of the rest.

Depending on you and your symptoms, traction might help to give you

a little wiggle room on deciding the direction that you want to go.

"I would get second opinions on all that surgery especially your neck.

VA hospitals are teaching hospitals. They need bodies."

I would shy away from the VA doing any cutting.

They save the parts that they want to study and burn the rest.

sledge

[Commander Bob]

I've got Tricare and they sent me out in town to see the specialists. I have a particular Neurosurgeon in mind if it comes to surgery. He takes a very conservative approach to surgery, won't cut unless it is necessary.

I total agree with John999, and I am glad to hear that you have insurance. My most positive thoughts are with you and all of us that have experienced some of what you are going through, right now..

You are not alone.

[My Monster]

I had another visit with my Primary doc today. I asked if i am premature in considering filing for SSDI considering my ailments ( neck, back, shoulder, hands, arms, knees ). Her opinion was no, to go ahead and file as she doesn't think I would be able to work any time soon. She confirmed that my neck is causing enough problems on its own. Good news is she put a consult in for the Neurosurgeon I want. I have decided to start taking some pain meds ( Percocet ). I haven't had any bad tremors in a week but the numbness, shooting pain in my hands and arms, pain between the shoulder blades and waking up 6 times a night with numb-claw hands have gotten a lot worse. How do you cope with sneezing and feeling like you are going to black out from the shock and pain?

My EMG, NCV study report is finally ready for me to pick up! Who do I send it, my PT report and MRI report to for my open VA claim? How do I address the envelope to the VARO?

Finally got an appointment with MH through the VA, my family will be grateful for that. LOL I have an appeal in for depression, which was denied last month due to "nothing in SMR".

Finally thank you all for the encouragement and allowing me to vent.

Monster

I will post up my EMG/NCV report tomorrow ( sorry later today, I guess ).

[My Monster]

UPDATE:

I had my consult with the neurosurgeon I wanted. Looks like I am going to have my C5-6-7 fused. Radiculopathy issues at the C-5 level and at the L4-5 level. I have a claim in with the VA for my neck, hopefully I'll hear something soon on that. I sent the VA all of my PT, Neuro, and radiologist reports, for my neck, you would think that would be enough for them but I am still waiting for them to schedule a C7P exam...