Physiatrist
 

Anyone been referred to a Physiatrist? (spell-checker doesn't even recognize it...) Been out of work since June with a bad back. If I'm on my feet for even a short amount of time, the pain, numbness, muscle twitching, etc. goes left, to my hip, and all the way down my leg to the foot. Had to wait a month (insurance company...:realmad:) to get x-rays and MRI and they showed nothing. Referred to a Physiatrist, and earliest appointment I could get is September 8th.

If anyone has seen one, did they help?

just what the doctor ordered
 

Scotty, I know this chick from Belarus. Her name is Zelda. She is a specialist in these things. She is 6'5" and weighs 240 at least. Not an ounce of fat. She can straighten anything out.


On the serious side, is that a therapist (PT) who has a doctorate?

PM Numbskull.

So what is a physiatrist Scott?

PHYSIATRIST : a rehabilitation physician, who are nerve, muscle and bone experts that treat injuries or illnesses that affect how you move.

Thanks Tim. Zelda is bumming.

I had a herniated disc that I tried to deal with it for about 4-5 yrs until I just couldn't take it anymore. I had it removed in '95. The pain was how you describe yours. It felt like a huge fork was stuck in my calf, my foot felt dead, and I couldn't take a full step with my left leg. The day I could walk down the hospital hallway with out that feeling was awesome. I tried PT, chiropractors, acupuncture etc.. I found out that an injured, swollen muscle in your back, that presses on your sciatic nerve, will give you the same pain. So most MD's treat you conservitively for muscle injury's first. Surgery is the last option. MD finally told me," Once the disc is out, it's out, it's not going back in. You can't put the tooth paste back in the tube. We go in, get whatever's on the nerve out of there, and then pay attention to it the rest of your life." I've seen and heard horror stories of surgery gone bad, or not getting the desired results. That being said, I don't regret getting it done for one second. Good luck with it either way. Advice- Stretch your back, hamstrings, neck as often/regular as possible. Hammy's get ignored a lot and hugely impact your posture. Tight ones make it hard to improve your posture no matter what else you do.

Thanks. I figured someone else on here had been through this. I hope to not need surgery, but if I do, I hope we determine that asap. I just wan't to get back to work.

Glad to hear your surgery went well. That first walk down the hall sounds like a far off dream right now...

Frank, maybe you should give me Zeldas number, just in case! :jump1:

Going to miss you on the island Scotty

Going to miss the island (and all the great memories and experiences, like bumping into internet friends at Stop-n-Shop) like you would not believe...