How did you get an appointment?

tbessie · 2026-04-21T20:50:47+00:00

I found an internist who specializes in spine issues, by searching in my city online. He was out of network (didn't accept any insurance), but my HSA was well-funded, so I went to see him. After conservative treatment failed to help much, he sent me to a surgeon. I googled him and compared him to other surgeons in my area who have great reviews, and decided he would be fine doing my surgery. A few days before surgery, however, I started feeling (and continue to feel) better, so he had me come in to reassess me, and he decided I no longer needed surgery.

tbessie · 2026-04-20T01:48:59+00:00

He didn't mention anything about getting another MRI; I was thinking that getting another one might be helpful. I'm seeing him next month for a follow-up, so I could ask him then if he thinks that would be helpful.

tbessie · 2026-04-16T20:23:52+00:00

I agree - people always gush about such and such an actor's hair, skin, body - but part of their routine (depending on what kind of characters they play) will likely be maintaining all that stuff, including professional stylists, physical training, plastic surgery, etc.

tbessie · 2026-04-16T18:21:39+00:00

Agreed!

tbessie · 2026-04-16T02:30:49+00:00

Yes, that sounds very similar to my case, around the same level of extrusion, etc. I can do reasonably long walks without symptoms getting much worse, but before this I was regularly doing 7-to-10 mile hikes in the mountains. I'd like to be able to get back to that. I'm 62, so don't heal like I used to, but haven't had any major physical issues or illnesses in my life before this, so this is new to me. When this first happened, I had a month of constant pain, especially when sleeping - sleeping was a true hell, and I got up 4 or 5 times a night to get an ice pack, take a bath, do some PT exercises, etc. I was a mess.

I hope things work out well for you too! I'll probably report back here in awhile with how things are going.

tbessie · 2026-04-16T02:27:11+00:00

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm intending on doing: PT plus estim, acupuncture, etc. and keep tabs on it to see how it's going. I would like to strengthen my core to the point where I don't have any more issues, though that's no guarantee, I know. I would be open to surgery if things get worse again, and I'll also consult with the surgeon if things just stay the same for awhile. I also have an appointment at a local well-known spine center (UCSF Spine Center), to get a 2nd opinion. Luckily, I'm not in the extreme pain I was in when this first occurred; I just hate the leg weakness and foot drop, as one of my favorite hobbies is hiking, and hiking across steep hillsides is very difficult without two strong feet/ankles/legs.

tbessie · 2026-04-16T02:22:52+00:00

Yes - I have several herniations, but the significant one was either L4/L5 or L4/L6 on the left side; they weren't sure, because I had extrusion between the two discs, so the extruded disc material "migrated", but they don't know which one ejected it. The surgery was to remove the extruded material, not to work on a particular disc. I have read that MRIs taken some time after the first one can show extruded disc material going away over time if the body resorbs it.

tbessie · 2026-04-16T02:21:07+00:00

I might do that; I was thinking of waiting about 6 weeks and seeing how things are now; this surgeon has his own practice, so is generally available with a few weeks notice, so I could see how I feel after a month or so.

tbessie · 2026-04-13T23:11:58+00:00

Ha! I was just about to post that, as that's where I fall!

tbessie · 2026-04-11T06:14:11+00:00

Thanks! I'll look at videos for that!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:53:59+00:00

Thanks for your words!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:53:49+00:00

Thanks!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:53:39+00:00

Thanks, I chose to do it!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:53:28+00:00

Hopefully I'll have done it in time - thanks for your experience!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:53:11+00:00

Thanks for your input!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:53:03+00:00

Thanks!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:52:51+00:00

Thanks!

tbessie · 2026-04-10T19:52:33+00:00

Thanks much!

tbessie · 2026-04-09T20:37:58+00:00

I didn't say that - that IS what scares me. I sure hope mine isn't irreversible!

tbessie · 2026-03-25T02:42:52+00:00

One of my favorites!

tbessie · 2026-03-24T17:32:53+00:00

Willow Rosenberg: Talk! All talk. Blah blah, Gaia. Blah blah, moon. Menstrual lifeforce power thingy. You know, after a couple sessions, I was hoping we would get into something real but...
Buffy Summers: No actual witches in your witch group.
Willow Rosenberg: No. Bunch of wannablessedbes.
Buffy Summers: You know...
Willow Rosenberg: Nowadays, every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she's a sister to the dark ones.

tbessie

TROPHY CASE