Do I believe the doctor, or get another?!
Question: I went to the neurosurgeon yesterday for back pain. After looking at my MRI and X-rays, he noted that I have a degenerative disc and transverse vertebre. I then gave him a list of methods we have already tried for relief, he looked at them and took several options out of possibilities. So, when I asked him what we are going to do. He said nothing. He said that there was no solution. Do I accept this, or do I try and see another doctor? Keep in mind I am 17 and cannot stand for more than an hour, walk long distances, or sit/lay down for a certain period of time without pain for more than a day. So, do I continue on to a specialist, or do I believe that there is simply no answer as he told me?? Thanks.
Answers: I went to the neurosurgeon yesterday for back pain. After looking at my MRI and X-rays, he noted that I have a degenerative disc and transverse vertebre. I then gave him a list of methods we have already tried for relief, he looked at them and took several options out of possibilities. So, when I asked him what we are going to do. He said nothing. He said that there was no solution. Do I accept this, or do I try and see another doctor? Keep in mind I am 17 and cannot stand for more than an hour, walk long distances, or sit/lay down for a certain period of time without pain for more than a day. So, do I continue on to a specialist, or do I believe that there is simply no answer as he told me?? Thanks.
Every health problem has a solution.
Seems your Dr. has had a bad day.
The best Dr. to see is another family Dr.; and let him guide you.
Specialists (orthopedics-neurosurgery) often are too quick to perform surgery.
Any Dr. that responds the way yours did with"nothing"is a disgrace to their profession.
You can always seek a second and/or third opinion from other doctors. It's your body and you don't have to accept his diagnosis.
It never hurts to get a 2nd opinion. If you aren't happy with his suggestions go see someone else. But do everything you can to avoid back surgery. It does NOT seem to work. I have never seen anyone happy with it yet. You seem awfully young for a degenerative disk btw. GL
It is always good to get a second opinion if you are unsure of your diagnosis/treatment.
When it comes to health problems, it never hurts to get a second opinion. However, beware. When it comes to back pain there is rarely a quick fix. You better be sure that you have something that will be fixed by surgery before you go under the knife. Sometimes doing nothing and waiting is the right thing to do (i.e. "less is more").
What did your MRI show, by the way?
No solution for a degenerative disc? Thats an odd thing for a Doctor to say. There are a number of solutions to that problem ranging from injections to vertebral fusions. Unless your case is an odd one I dont see why he didnt consider those. Maybe you should get a second opinion after all. Also sorry to hear that you're having these problems at such a young age.