I finally get my MRI tomorrow.

[Ladyhawk]

Well, actually it's today. I'm full of adrenaline, so I can't sleep.

My neck has really been hurting lately, causing some horrific headaches. I can hardly think, let alone function. The psychiatrist I saw told me that herniated discs sometimes heal on their own. Gack! It's been three years. I can't take it anymore, but I'm afraid of surgery.

I think I'll have to do the surgery or go crazy. I can't take this pain much longer. I hurt all the time. I can't function and my poor parrots don't get any attention. :(

Wish me luck. I want an end to this pain, but also a good ending.

[Sannum]

1. Good Luck!

:hi:

[psychopomp]

2. I had one of those

I spent over 20 min in that darn machine...it was so noisy, it was like torture!

Mine came back clear...after I got the results the headaches disappeared. Weird how the body can do that sometimes.

[Sgent]

3. Although a psychiatrist

knows a LOT more about herniated disks than say...

An internal medicine doc...

Have you seen an orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, or neuro-surgeon (the last would be best, but usually a referral is required for them)?

[Ladyhawk]

6. A neurosurgeon ordered the MRI, so yes. :)

I've had one previous MRI that showed disc herniations at C4-5 and C5-6.

I've seen two neurosurgeons and an orthopedist over the course of this "bout." The orthopedist scheduled surgery without my consent. :wtf:

The first neurosurgeon quit the UC Davis clinic during the course of my trying to get better, so I had to be re-referred. He wanted to try physical therapy and traction first. We tried that. Traction caused the situation to get worse. Physical therapy doesn't last.

So now that I've tried everything, the psychiatrist tells me the discs can get better on their own. :( I had decided upon surgery, but I can't afford to ignore medical advice of any kind. I really don't want to go through the surgery, but the discs are not healing on their own.

LH

[Sgent]

8. Sometimes

surgery is neccissary.

Psychiatrists do have training in this stuff as part of the residency (they have broad neurology training), but I would definately take the advice of the Neuro-surgeon.

Traction and PT is the preferred option if it works, but sometimes it doesn't. The fact that your neurosurgeon referred you to that first is a good thing, and I would tend to look favorably on his advice.

[Dr.Phool]

5. The same thing happened to my wife.

She was having headaches all the time, and was getting worried (her mother died of a brain tumor). She had a CT scan and it came back negative, so the doctor ordered an MRI. When this came back negative, the headaches stopped.

[Ladyhawk]

7. Thanks for the reminder.

I will bring earplugs.

[Blue_Roses]

4. thoughts and prayers

for you :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. *big hugs and prayers*