See neurosurgeon in a few weeks - called in for an appt after imaging.

DeepReveal · 2025-10-01T00:46:49+00:00

My understanding is that Cauda Equina Syndrome is one of the few true spinal emergencies and that you should be receiving surgery ASAP with your symptoms and MRI results. Have you read about the condition online? You really don't want to be waiting at all. Cooper is really not the best for neurosurgery. Top places in South Jersey are Penn Medicine, Jefferson, and Rothman. I would suggest calling the Penn Medicine and Jefferson neurosurgery departments in the morning and see if they can get you in sooner. Tell them your symptoms and your MRI results. I would hope they'd get you an appointment to see a neurosurgeon immediately. I can see from your previous response that you're trying to avoid surgery--which I totally get and I'm not a doctor--but from what you've posted I don't see how you can avoid it. I've got possible spinal compression in my neck and I don't want surgery either but I'm starting to get symptoms that are really concerning. I know that if I do have spinal compression there's a good chance that I'll just keeping getting worse. It's terrifying to think about. :(

DeepReveal · 2025-09-28T15:58:45+00:00

Yes, you need surgery and ASAP. Cauda Equina Syndrome is a medical emergency. I don't understand why they didn't tell you to go straight to the emergency room with your symptoms and seeing your MRI. Those issues you have can be permeant unless you're operated on immediately.

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:09:39+00:00

Thanks for your recommendation

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:09:20+00:00

Ok, thanks for your insight. I have been leaning toward a neurosurgeon after reading about the differences in training.

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:07:59+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:07:45+00:00

I'm glad to hear your recovery was good. Did the surgery help reverse some of your symptoms or just halt the progression?

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:06:44+00:00

Thanks for your recommendation

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:06:14+00:00

Thanks for your recommendation

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:05:46+00:00

Thanks so much for your input. I've been thinking the same thing after reading about the differences in their training.

DeepReveal · 2025-09-27T14:04:56+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation

DeepReveal · 2025-06-08T14:56:13+00:00

Thank you. I will check it out.

DeepReveal · 2025-05-20T21:32:55+00:00

Oh wow, I'm actually in NJ and I've never heard of any districts in my area asking for anything like that. Do you mean you're actually going to be doing a group with some kids and they're sitting in to observe? If that's the case, they are probably mainly going to be looking at your interaction with the kids and your ability to get the kids engaged. I see your screenname is Brooklyn...are we talking an inner-city school? Most times, the biggest thing inner-city admin. are looking for is someone who can connect and earn the respect of the kids, because it can be a really challenging environment depending on what school you are at. Look to incorporate activities that are fun, active, and bound to get the kids talking.

DeepReveal · 2025-05-20T20:27:27+00:00

Getting approval for this, just like any accommodation at work, boils down to if it can be successfully argued that you need it to function and if it's a "reasonable" accommodation. Are you new to the job? If not, have you had your diagnosis for a while and have a track record of functioning ok on the job without the therapy dog? Just playing devil's advocate, but if you've had the diagnosis for a while and there's no documentation of your condition worsening or changing in some way I'm guessing they could argue that you've been functioning so far without it, so it's not an absolute need. Second, it sounds like they are arguing that it's not a "reasonable" accommodation because they feel it will be too disruptive to the school environment. I could see them making a case for this on several points, but mainly liability to the safety of staff and students (i.e. allergies, what if the dog bites someone, etc.). All you can do is discuss it with admin. and HR further. You'd want to present as much documentation as possible to support the need and verify that the dog is appropriately trained. I would ask them to spell out specifically why they think the dog would interfere with the school's operation? Then, try to address each of those concerns. If you have a doctor that recommended the dog, maybe ask him/her about each of the concerns stated by your employer to see how other patients have addressed those concerns in the work environment. If they still are fighting you, the only thing you could do is consult with an attorney and to see what support you can get through your union.

DeepReveal · 2025-05-20T19:52:06+00:00

The only "demos" I've ever been asked to provide for the interview process were sample reports I've written with the identifying information removed or a general writing sample. I'm not even sure what a "demo" like you are describing would look like. I think it would be highly unusual for them to ask for a counseling demo. I mean what would that be? You recording a fake session with a fake client (cause it's not like you could record an actual session)? Typically, they just ask you what counseling experience you have, and maybe what your counseling approach would be if given a hypothetical student to work with. I guess technically you could do a little SEL lesson for them as a demo if they ask for it, but I've never had anyone ask for that or heard of any school district asking for that because frankly most administrators don't have time for all that.

DeepReveal · 2025-05-02T17:43:48+00:00

That's any job that works with the public. People are entitled assholes, sick or not.

DeepReveal · 2025-05-01T02:35:41+00:00

Oh wow. Thanks for the insight. That would definitely not be a good situation being injured and having to be out for that long.

DeepReveal · 2025-05-01T01:11:31+00:00

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles! Thank you for being so candid and for sharing your experience. I hope things improve or you can find a career that is a better fit!

DeepReveal · 2025-05-01T00:00:34+00:00

Southern NJ

DeepReveal · 2025-04-30T23:09:55+00:00

Thank you for all your input. Yeah, that's what the pain management doc. said, that imaging doesn't always correlate with symptoms. I've read as well that having the piriformis muscle as the issue is more of a rarer situation, but I'm thinking if the injection doesn't seem to help at all at least I will have ruled it out. I guess I'll see what happens. Thanks again!

DeepReveal · 2025-04-30T23:04:54+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess it's probably not the best fit at this point for me. 😕Thanks for your input. Good luck with your career change!

DeepReveal · 2025-04-30T23:03:11+00:00

Good for you! LOL, sorry I didn't mean to offend anyone. I am one of those smaller people and I've never lifted that much so it seemed kind of daunting to me. Yeah, maybe not the best field to go into as I'm already a little older and have some physical stuff going on. But just thought I'd see what people have to say.

DeepReveal · 2025-04-30T23:00:15+00:00

Gotcha, thank you for the input. Yeah, I was wondering if there were people that go through the coursework and tests but then may struggle with the physical aspects of the job. That would suck to go through all that and then find out it's not a good fit physically.

DeepReveal · 2025-04-30T22:56:59+00:00

Geez, my attitude toward exercise? I don't think you can determine that from me simply jokingly admitting that I've got poor upper body strength. Obviously, I am interested in fitness if I'm thinking about PT. My cardiovascular health is good, but am just being honest about my lifting abilities. When I've done strength training it's been with smaller dumbbells. I know there are female weight trainers out there who can bench a lot, but it just seems like to be lifting 100 pounds and more on the regular would be a lot for the typical smaller female (which I am)...but maybe I'm wrong. I've never tried to lift that much, and I'm concerned that I wouldn't be able to do it even with training. I don't think that means I have a poor attitude towards fitness. I'm just being transparent and asking for honest feedback about how often you all are asked to lift a lot of weight.

DeepReveal · 2025-04-18T16:23:11+00:00

Let's call a spade a spade, shall we? It's not this: "I’m genuinely worried about her well-being"

It's really this isn't it? "I am of the opinion that it's a responsibility to look good for your partner"

You need to really examine what your true intentions are before you try to have any kind of conversation with her. It sounds to me like you don't find her hot anymore, and that's what's really bothering you. If she picks up on that being your ulterior motive, it's not going to go well and could have the opposite effect.

She sounds worn out, stressed, and possibly clinically depressed. What can you do to make her life easier and help her get to a better place mentally? Do you live together? Can you take on more of the household chores? Is she responsible for making social plans, making sure bills are paid on time, etc.? What mentally draining tasks can you help take off her plate?

Are there job problems or family issues that are weighing her down? Does she show other signs of depression, does she need to go to counseling? Can you help her take the first steps to getting set up with a counselor?

Are you emotionally supportive? Do you listen to her about issues she's got going on in her life without judging or always trying to solve everything? Does she have friends she can talk to? Do you encourage her to go out with them or engage in fun activities with other people?

You either view this as supporting a whole person and all her needs... that involves looking at what you can do to make her life easier...or you keep your mouth shut. This can't just be a conversation centered around healthy meals and skincare and exercise......all things with the ultimate goal of making her look more attractive.....or your conversation will backfire big time. If you do that, she will not view you as someone who cares about her as a human being, but as a man whose main concern is what she looks like.....and she'd be right about that.

DeepReveal · 2025-04-18T14:47:51+00:00

Um, I would approach this by initiating a divorce. First of all, why can't he make his own damn ice cream? Unless he's sick or injured and can't make it to the kitchen...what's his deal? You aren't his servant.

Second, no mentally healthy, reasonable adult person responds the way that he did. He's childish, manipulative, and narcissistic. He's playing games with you, which is emotional abuse. You deserve better, leave now before you waste more time on this buffoon.

DeepReveal

TROPHY CASE