I wasn't quite sure where to drop this question, so I figured I'd just post it here. Does anyone know how long you can stay on medical leave with a specific diagnosis before they officially refer you to a review board?
I’m looking into getting surgery for hemorrhoids using the HAL-RAR method. My anesthesiologist mentioned they would likely use a spinal block. However, because I’ve been dealing with some lingering back pain, I went in for a CT scan of my lumbar spine a few days ago. It turns out I have disc protrusions at L4-L5 and L5-S1. My Neurologist told me straight up that nobody is going to perform surgery on me using that kind of anesthesia given my current condition. She said addressing the disc protrusion is actually much more urgent and important right now, so she referred me to a neurosurgeon. I’d love to get some input from any anesthesiologists out there regarding this type of anesthesia. Thanks in advance!
Timothy Brown5 said:Yeah, just be careful who you end up trusting.
What I mean is, don't just wander into any random massage parlor. You want to find a legitimate medical clinic specializing in physical medicine and therapeutic massage where the staff actually has proper training. Or, honestly, just stick to a highly recommended physical therapist.
The diagnosis ended up being Sciatica. After going through some initial therapy, a CT scan confirmed I had some disc protrusions. Besides doing electrical stimulation on my lower back and hitting the water aerobics classes at the local YMCA, I’ve been working through group exercises focused mostly on my back and some core work. I honestly have no clue what half of these moves are actually called, so I’ll just try to describe them as best I can. For the back exercises: lifting my arms while inhaling and lowering them while exhaling; lifting my head and neck while pulling my feet toward me and reaching my arms toward my legs; pressing my hands against the floor beside my body while simultaneously pushing my feet down and flexing my toes; pressing my spine against the floor; bending my elbows at shoulder height and pressing my palms together; doing that same thing but with interlaced fingers, trying to pull my hands apart; touching my opposite knee with my palm; pulling my knee toward my head using my hands while lifting my head; lifting my upper back with bent knees and reaching my arms out; stretching my arms vertically while lifting my shoulder blades; and finally, lifting my lower back, glutes, and thighs off the ground. For the core stuff: stretching out my arms and legs; stretching the opposite arm and leg; crossing my arms over my head and resisting while lifting my head, then lifting my head followed by my elbows with crossed arms, and then lifting my neck and elbows at the same time. I think I managed to cover most of it, even with my totally amateur terminology.
While I wait for my next appointment with the physiatrist and get back on the schedule for physical therapy, I’m planning to start working on some exercises specifically designed for disc protrusions. Does anyone know of a good book that focuses on exercises for this exact issue? To any doctors or physical therapists out there—I would love to hear your advice!
Richard King7 said:Can someone point me toward the best place to get allergy testing done in NYC? Thanks! =))
There are actually a few different types of allergy tests out there. If you're looking for skin prick testing, the Hilltop clinic is your best bet. For testing inhaled allergens, I'd recommend either the hospital over in Jordan or the one on Rockefeller.
wanderingcobra76 said:Spinal degeneration can start as early as your 20s😁, so seeing something like this on a scan when you're thirty isn't actually all that unusual.
Genetics play a massive role here, and so does your lifestyle. For instance, hitting the gym with bad form or lifting heavy stuff with poor posture can definitely make those spinal issues worse.
Well, everything makes sense now. Especially the genetics part. I guess I inherited everything from my parents.🙂 I'm going to go grab that back brace I mentioned the other day; maybe it'll actually help take the edge off this pain. Thanks for clearing that up for me!😉
wanderingcobra76 said:Based on those two CT scans, there’s a disc bulge that could be causing your trouble. Usually, the standard advice for something like this is to start with plenty of rest, move into physical therapy, and eventually transition to doing some exercises at home. Surgery is really only on the table if you start showing neurological deficits or if the pain becomes absolutely unbearable. The tricky part is that people often rush into surgery, only to find they aren't feeling any better because scar tissue forms at the site and ends up pinching the nerve all over again.
Since you're young, I’d personally suggest trying to manage this through rest and exercise first. It wouldn't hurt to grab a second opinion from a neurosurgeon just to get a hands-on physical exam—they'll have a much clearer picture of what's actually going on—but based strictly on the CT results, it's probably best to hold off on surgery unless it truly becomes necessary down the road.
I actually went through the exact same thing when I was 30, with a very similar scan. I did physical therapy, and I've been totally fine ever since, as long as I stay "consistent" with my workouts (honestly, anything works). If I get lazy and stop moving, the pain tends to creep back in.😁
Thank you so, so, so much! I'm already feeling a little better than I did on Sunday. I'm curious though—what actually causes a disc bulge in younger people? I don't have a physically demanding job, I exercise occasionally, I ride my bike, and I'm not overweight.
On the native slices through the lumbosacral spine, the vertebral body heights look normal, and the posterior intercorporeal line remains intact. At the L4-L5 level, there's a dorsal disc protrusion that’s filling up the anterior epidural space and pressing against the dural sac. Down at the L5-S1 segment, there is a broad-based disc protrusion—it's a bit more pronounced on the right side—which also fills the anterior epidural space and reaches the ventral contours of the S1 nerve roots. In those specific segments mentioned, you can also see some early degenerative changes in the facet joints. If clinical symptoms suggest it's necessary to get a closer look at how that protruding disc is interacting with the spinal roots, I'd recommend further neuroradiological imaging.
I'm 30 years old, and I ended up in the ER this past Sunday because the pain was just getting unbearable. Right now, I'm managing with painkillers and trying to take it easy. This CT scan was actually done last week, and I just got the results back today. I'd love some advice—do you think physical therapy could help, or is this something where I should be seeing a neurosurgeon about potential surgery?
I remember this situation with my cousin from a few years back involving some serious spinal issues. The pain was so intense he completely locked up and couldn't even walk. He called 911, but they told him it wasn't an emergency worth sending an ambulance out for. In the end, his brother and a neighbor had to physically help him up and drive him over to the local urgent care, where he ended up being treated by a doctor who happened to be starting the opposite shift.
Thanks for the reply, Mods. I called the main line at my local community clinic, and they basically told me they couldn't see me. Apparently, since they don't have my full medical history on file, they said my best bet is to just head straight to the ER. Now, I’d love to believe that they actually take in walk-ins for everything, but let's be real—they usually only step in if someone isn't officially their patient during an absolute crisis, like if someone has a heart attack right outside the clinic doors or inside the waiting room. I'm staying put today, though. I'll just tough it out; the pain is manageable enough for now. As for the answer to my last post, I think that's something the doctors themselves should be able to weigh in on. So, should I try calling the actual hospital instead?
I’m dealing with some pretty intense back pain right now. I’ve got all my specialist reports and test results handy, and I'm actually waiting on a few more follow-up tests to come back. Today, my back just completely gave out on me while I was bending over—you know, that classic "throwing your back out" feeling. To make matters worse, my doctor happened to be finishing up her shift right when it hit. I really don't want to drag myself to the ER if I can help it; I'd rather not spend half my day sitting in a waiting room. Is it okay if I take all my medical records to a different doctor at a clinic closer to my house just to see if they can give me a pain-relief injection?
The result came back at 148, while the normal range is listed as 60-142. This is for a 28-year-old male. Everything else on the blood work looks totally fine. About 5 or 6 years ago, we saw this exact same thing. We did two separate blood tests over a few months, and after that, everything stayed within the normal limits for quite a long time. He doesn't drink alcohol, he's a non-smoker, and he's never touched drugs in his life. I've heard that a small percentage of perfectly healthy people just have elevated ALP levels, though nobody really knows why. Doctors, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
I’m on the hunt for a great general practitioner. I'm looking for someone who does more than just hand out referrals—someone who actually knows their stuff, stays on top of medical trends, and is genuinely kind and easy to talk to. Ideally, they'd be located near the Yankee Stadium area. Thanks buddy!
Has anyone here actually gone through the HAL RAR procedure over at Mercury Hospital in the States? I'm curious, how long does the recovery really take after such a modern surgery?
The doctor wrote down John Doe on my chart. She suggested physical therapy using electrical stimulation, some custom exercises just for me, and water aerobics. I also need to get a CT scan of my lower spine and run some blood work.