And it went amazingly well.
I've been waiting for a couple of months for an appt with a neuro at a nearby research hospital, after my first neuro basically told me she couldn't do anything else, because my c-spine MRI was only slightly abnormal (no lesions--some stenosis and "not clinically significant" cord compression) and my brain MRI was normal.
The appointment today could not have been more different! Of course, the neuro's office didn't send the MRI discs. My first neuro never bothered to look at them, so I guess she figured the guy doing the second opinion also wouldn't bother.
Of course, the first thing he said was he needs to see the MRIs. He also said that bc my particular issues really strongly point to a spinal issue, he's sending me for thoracic and lumbar MRIs. And an EMG.
He also was not comfortable relying on the initial radiologist's assessment that my c-spine stenosis is "not clinically significant." As much as neck surgery sounds like a pretty awful time, if that's the problem, surgery would arrest the damage, and it's even possible that some lost function might return.
In any case, I think if it doesn't get worse, I could overcome my gait/running form problems with some PT and such.
He's also sending me to Physical Medicine & Rehab, which is AWESOME. My other docs have been totally indifferent to my gait problems and leg pain and lost of athleticism because my other two big symptoms are neurogenic bladder and bowel issues, along with the tingling and electrical sensations and other such common MS symptoms.
The other docs were totally focused on that stuff, and pretty much ignored that not being able to run well, and slowness and difficulty walking, has been even harder.
Not many people wrap their personally identity about being a person who can urinate easily. But lots of people look in the mirror and are proud and happy to see a runner looking back at them.
I'm really glad that this doc is taking those issues seriously and will send me to someone who can sort out that piece of the puzzle, and maybe even suggest how to begin improving it.
He couldn't really hazard a guess at diagnosis without seeing the MRIs, but, he seems competent, he's working on making sure the best-qualified person evaluates each possibility, and he even gave me hope that it might be mild stenosis after all, which is probably the most curable thing it could possibly be.
So, thanks for all the support leading up to it. I'm feeling very hopeful that there could be not-so-terrible dx; if there is MS, he'll find it; and if no dx is to be found, I feel like he'll still take monitoring/symptom management seriously.
Incremental good news is good...
I've been waiting for a couple of months for an appt with a neuro at a nearby research hospital, after my first neuro basically told me she couldn't do anything else, because my c-spine MRI was only slightly abnormal (no lesions--some stenosis and "not clinically significant" cord compression) and my brain MRI was normal.
The appointment today could not have been more different! Of course, the neuro's office didn't send the MRI discs. My first neuro never bothered to look at them, so I guess she figured the guy doing the second opinion also wouldn't bother.
Of course, the first thing he said was he needs to see the MRIs. He also said that bc my particular issues really strongly point to a spinal issue, he's sending me for thoracic and lumbar MRIs. And an EMG.
He also was not comfortable relying on the initial radiologist's assessment that my c-spine stenosis is "not clinically significant." As much as neck surgery sounds like a pretty awful time, if that's the problem, surgery would arrest the damage, and it's even possible that some lost function might return.
In any case, I think if it doesn't get worse, I could overcome my gait/running form problems with some PT and such.
He's also sending me to Physical Medicine & Rehab, which is AWESOME. My other docs have been totally indifferent to my gait problems and leg pain and lost of athleticism because my other two big symptoms are neurogenic bladder and bowel issues, along with the tingling and electrical sensations and other such common MS symptoms.
The other docs were totally focused on that stuff, and pretty much ignored that not being able to run well, and slowness and difficulty walking, has been even harder.
Not many people wrap their personally identity about being a person who can urinate easily. But lots of people look in the mirror and are proud and happy to see a runner looking back at them.
I'm really glad that this doc is taking those issues seriously and will send me to someone who can sort out that piece of the puzzle, and maybe even suggest how to begin improving it.
He couldn't really hazard a guess at diagnosis without seeing the MRIs, but, he seems competent, he's working on making sure the best-qualified person evaluates each possibility, and he even gave me hope that it might be mild stenosis after all, which is probably the most curable thing it could possibly be.
So, thanks for all the support leading up to it. I'm feeling very hopeful that there could be not-so-terrible dx; if there is MS, he'll find it; and if no dx is to be found, I feel like he'll still take monitoring/symptom management seriously.
Incremental good news is good...
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