Went to a doctor today, and he said that the tingling in my fingers was
indicative of upper back-lower neck area. I got a little irritated because
he blew off my lower back and almost sent me out until I repeated the whole
schmeal for him. Then HE repeated "Well, the tingling in your fingers..."
Yeah, thanks, got that part. What about my back? He then does a SECOND exam
(at this point, I'm thinking I need to check out his credentials...He might
be the product of an all-Caribbean education, if you follow me) and states
that I must go to a neurologist, as well as have an MRI done to be sure.
And how much does this cost?
Well, the neurologist will be about $600.00 for the consult, and the MRI
will be around $1,000.000. Then we can discuss the hyper-expensive back surgery.
I told him I'd get back with him just as soon as I had robbed a fucking
bank.
4 comments:
Microdiscectomy surgery runs about 10 grand.
That was with the entire hospitalization, the MRI and all that.
To me, it was well worth it. But then I was where you are at now (similar to your floor episode) for several months prior to surgery.
I had insurance. If I hadn't had insurance, and hadn't been able to fix the pain, I would have committed suicide. Unquestionably, and looking back at it now that mindset still seems completely reasonable, because the pain is that bad.
That bit of bone is grinding into your spinal cord, which, to your brain, is indistinguishable from having your whole lower body being crushed between millstones. It's basically a man-in-the-middle attack on your internal network.
The numbness is probably a pinched nerve due to postural compensation you are making.
You can also try something I call "poor man's traction." That involves hanging onto something like a chinup bar, to take some of the weight off your lower back and cause your spine to try to hang straight. If you do this, don't let your lower body swing around much. This one sometimes gives great results.
Another is to stand bracing yourself in a doorframe and do very gentle swing kicks forward and backward, just a little farther than you would be going if you were walking or running. Do it with one leg and then the other leg.
You're not going to be able to get any lasting relief from any of this, however, and in fact movement may cause the disk to chew into your nerve root more.
My feeling about that whole thing is that it's a problem that can really go south. I don't know much about what happens if it goes untreated but if you think about what the actual problem is, and the softness of the tissues involved...
No health insurance?
Here's a far-fetched idea:
Caren gets a Taiwan passport,
You get an alien resident visa as her spouse, which comes with National Health Insurance benefits,
You come to Taiwan back surgery at a modern, hi-tech hospital.
The Copay is peanuts.
Probably less than $US100, Maybe less than $US50.
Or, if you get Karol (Krauser) to hook you up with a "genuine" BA from his buddies in the Philippines, I could get you a teaching visa, same benefits.
Okay, maybe a little far-fetched.
Just compare the cost of a plane ticket with the cumulative cost of MRI's, surgery, and repeated doctor's consultations, etc. Coming to Taiwan might cost a lot less?
I had cameras shoved all the way in one end and out the other, had my entire digestive tract scanned 3-dimensionally by a computer (the Barium is a lovely shade of pale blue and tastes just like Pepto-Bismol), and several returns for consult, costs me like $US13 each time I go back.
Sounds kind ridiculous to come to Taiwan for back surgery, but I know the cost of medical care in the states is insane, so I'm just trying to think outside the box for you.
Whatever you end up doing, I hope it works out okay.
PS.
Taiwan is just a hop, skip, and a jump from your favorite uncle in Indonesia.
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