Doctor appointment today

[cjsmith]

He gave up on the idea of physical therapy.
He doesn't have any new theories yet.
He is very confident of his ability to remove that new neuroma and excess scar tissue but is not at all confident that those are my problem.
He says that surgically realigning the metatarsals to make a good transverse arch is "playing with fire" and probably wouldn't address my problem anyway.
He gave me my copies of my 2005 MRIs back.
He got all my records from his office copied for me to have, because...

He's referring me to the Stanford Pain Clinic. I guess I'll see the inside of this fabled place after all. (It was recommended to me for my abdominal pain, too, though I never wound up going.)

I don't know whether to be happy or grumpy. This does get people from multiple disciplines involved, but a pain clinic is usually the end of the line and can often involve only ways to cope. I am hoping that if it's that bad, one of the "ways to cope" involves nerve blocks. :-)

Comments

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I don't know whether to be happy or grumpy.

Embrace the power of And. I can see feeling both. *hugs & crossed fingers*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's about it. Thanks.

[perfect-autumn.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking of you lately. I've developed nerve pain in my right foot that hasn't gone away.

Good luck!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh yuck. I hope it improves! Foot pain is so tiny in physical size and yet its effects aren't tiny.

[perfect-autumn.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I see the PA tomorrow and the GP next week. The normal meds aren't touching it. It sucks.

You have more of my sympathy now. :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Post if you find out what yours is. I'll post if I find out what mine is!

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Do take advantage of all they have to offer. Including alternative therapies. Some times the Chinese or Reiki people have a better idea for some of these odd ball things than the regular doctors.
And Accept Lots of Hugs. They help too.
*hugs*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

some days I think just about anybody might have a better idea than regular doctors! ;-) And thanks.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

oh man. i think i'd be happy ANY grumpy. *hugs*
and i'd give the doc points for honesty - he could go hacking away at your feet, but admits it probably wouldn't help.

good luck!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

DEFINITE points for honesty. Points also for not pushing for PT without a concrete goal for it. I'm glad he wants the pain clinic people to talk to him throughout. I feel better knowing he's on my case.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

I'm happy for the referral and grumpy you have to go through it. I've heard pain clinic referrals are tough to get, so I'd be thankful for that.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Huh. I wonder if I should be grateful that in my life so far, I've garnered two of 'em. Now, fingers crossed for it being useful!

[airporter.livejournal.com]

Twenty years ago, the wonderful doctors at our pain clinic were of no effing help at all - but one of the technicians was. Get in there, use every resource they'll permit, and see what happens.

Best of good things, hon.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Huh. Too bad the docs weren't useful. But you never know where help will come from!

Thanks.

[kimatha.livejournal.com]

I hope the pain clinic can help reduce your pain. What I mean is that I hope they focus on reducing your pain. I bet you'd be able to cope better if it didn;t actually hurt so much.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

In fact, since the pain really is the only problem -- no one can find any evidence of degeneration of anything in my foot -- then it almost doesn't matter what else they do as long as they reduce the pain. They don't have to diagnose it or explain it. If they can fix it, that works for me!

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Well, I can't say I'm thrilled about this. I didn't expect this doctor to find the silver bullet, but I thought he might have a few more ideas of his own.

Here's hoping the pain clinic can do something good for you, and soon. You have got to be tired of waiting in offices.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I can't say I'm thrilled either, although I admit I'm glad it took this doctor a lot less time (and money!!) to figure out he needed to refer me onward than any other doc has taken. (OK, that's not fair... to this doc. The other docs NEVER DID figure it out. I gave up first.)

Anyhow, he did say that frankly everything had been done right already and it "should have" worked, so it's time for a new approach. Fingers crossed that this is the right way to get that started.

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

he did say that frankly everything had been done right already and it "should have" worked

Yeah, well, feet are complicated. I don't know if there's any "should have" about it.

Anyway, my fingers are crossed for you -- I hope the pain clinic does a lot of good for you.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Well, true, but these guys are pros and have studied the dang things for years. Maybe he's entitled to a "should have". I appreciated that he made it clear he didn't want me to feel somehow at fault for my feet not responding to treatment normally. :-)

Thanks!

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

I was just telling someone last night that "There are times where mixed feelings are a completely reasonable response.", and ...yeah.

*hugs* if'n you want 'em. And hopes too.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ayep, that's about the truth of it. Thanks.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad, at least, he's pointing you in a possible good direction, rather than waving his hands futiley.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I am, too. Could be worse. I like this guy.