Looking for a specialist...

He's over on Kaufman Street. It’s that little stretch connecting Petrov and Vlaška. It’s the first street you hit after the quad, basically right at the first light. He’s in the building right on the corner of Kaufman and Vlaška, but you gotta use the Kaufman entrance.😕 🙂
I went to see him and honestly, he's pretty decent. Prices aren't even that bad. I paid about $117 for the ultrasound. Just go check it out.👍

crimsonorca49 said:Professor Robert Miller 🙂 , at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.

He's an absolute legend. 🙂

But does he treat anyone besides kids and adults? Does he do ultrasound scaling?😍

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone dealing with similar issues. My doctors can't seem to agree on a treatment plan—and frankly, the current approach is making things worse—so I'm at a total loss as to what my next move should be.😕

Miller and Thompson 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

I’m not saying a word to anyone else.

How much does a gastroscopy typically cost? And do they perform the bacteria test during the procedure?😕

Maria Gomez6 said:Hi everyone!
For anyone who’s dealt with neck issues—tingling, arm pain, or herniated discs—how did you actually fix it?

Also, I'm looking for recommendations for a solid physiatrist in Chicago I could see about this...
Thanks.

You’ve got options—surgery is one route, but regular exercise and physical therapy can work wonders too... maybe try a clinic like Mayo Clinic.

What kind of treatments have you tried so far?

What symptoms are you dealing with—is there anything else besides the tingling and pain? Also, what do you do for work, and do you stay physically active at all?

I spent ten days undergoing physical therapy—magnet therapy, electrical stimulation (which actually made my pain worse), and exercises where they placed me in the wrong group—over at Mayo Clinic. In the meantime, my doctor prescribed another ten sessions at random, but I finally had a thorough consultation with a neurologist. She explicitly forbade any more physical therapy until we have complete results, and she referred me for an MRI, which confirmed a disc protrusion.
The issue is that this neurologist will be out for the next ten days or so, and without her input, it's difficult to make any meaningful moves. I’m hoping for the right kind of physical therapy this time—something tailored specifically to me—so I’m looking for recommendations for a physiatrist that anyone has had success with regarding this specific issue.

My doctor is pushing for an urgent consultation with a neurosurgeon, but I am doing everything in my power to avoid surgery at my age.

All of this is taking a massive toll on my mental state. If anyone has dealt with something similar, please share your experiences. I'm honestly terrified that continuing with these tests and potentially starting new treatments might lead to a setback.

I have a sedentary job, and lately, I haven't been very active or playing much sports, but now the big question is what I'm actually allowed to do.

So, you didn't find much relief from therapy over at Mayo Clinic... honestly, I can't say I'm surprised. When they use that whole "assembly line" approach to treatment, it's a miracle anyone actually gets better at all.

It’s hard to give medical advice off the top of my head, but I’m guessing the muscles along your spine are incredibly tight. You probably need to focus on relaxing that tension—just bringing the muscle tone down a bit—before you even attempt any specific exercises.

👎 Good grief, what is wrong with you people? Have you all completely forgotten the concept of PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?!
If you actually put in even a modicum of effort to exercise and carve out time for sports, these kinds of issues would be far less frequent.
I bet most of you just head straight home after work instead of dedicating any time to yourselves!
I’ll wager the majority of you haven't worked out for more than seven days straight, yet you still blame doctors and physical therapists for everything. Honestly, why must you listen to their every word? SHAME ON YOU ALL!!!!

In this situation, just jumping straight into physical activity might be a bit too late to fix things on its own; you really need to build up the underlying muscle strength first to create the right foundation for exercising properly.

Regarding Skockicu—you can't judge someone without walking a mile in their shoes, and making comments like that is particularly out of line.
I’d love to see how you’d handle my routine: waking up at 5:00 AM just to make it to work by 7:30, grinding through the workday, dealing with the rush afterward, and then heading out to help on the family farm. Repeat that every single day. By the evening, I’m absolutely exhausted and just counting the minutes until I can hit the pillow.
Unfortunately, part of this was tied to genetic predispositions, something I learned far too late in life.
It’s perfectly clear to me now that more could have been done to prevent this, but at this stage, I'm simply focused on mitigating the damage.
If you can't offer actual help or even a bit of empathy, then don't bother chiming in with that kind of tone. We certainly don't need any more negativity in this situation.
I have no intention of getting into an argument here, but spare us these "well-meaning" remarks.
Thanks.

Look, I didn't mean any offense by it, but that’s just the reality of my life and there's no other way to slice it. For instance, I'm up at 5:45 AM, working a standard 8-to-4 shift, picking up my kid, and I don't even step foot back inside the house until 5:30 PM at the absolute earliest. In between, I'm squeezing in grocery runs with a toddler in tow, then heading home to get dinner on the table. By 8:00 PM, I squeeze in a quick 30-minute workout right at home with some weights, and honestly, I feel like a total powerhouse. Despite this hectic schedule, I still manage to end the night feeling happy and ready for some quality time with my husband. So, go ahead and decide for yourself who has it better...

Well, I'm glad you feel that way.

Maria Gomez6 said:Hi everyone!
For those who have dealt with neck issues, numbness, arm pain, or herniated discs: how did you manage it?

I'm also looking for recommendations for a solid physiatrist in Chicago whom I could consult regarding these issues.
Thanks.

Personally, I’ve dealt with the exact same thing (and I still deal with it, though it's currently "dormant"). I was diagnosed with an L3/L4 disc protrusion and an L4/L5 disc prolapse—essentially a herniated disc.
Since I was very active in sports for years—running, swimming, basketball—this hit me pretty hard. Running, in particular, really took a toll on my condition. Because of that, I had to step away from all of it... 🤣 I struggled with sciatica and endured some intense pain.
From my own experience, I can tell you that a chiropractor and a consistent core and back routine really helped me. I was lucky enough to have a friend who is a personal trainer here in the States, and he gave me specific guidance on which exercises to perform. Most of them involve using a large stability ball. People call it a fit ball or a Pilates ball, but the movements we do aren't actually related to Pilates. That ball was a total game-changer for me. It's widely recognized that the most effective core work happens on one...
In short, there are no shortcuts without exercise. When it comes to a herniated disc, there is no magic pill; you either go under the knife or you put in the work. I chose the latter, even though my neurosurgeon told me straight out that surgery was necessary... 👎 (mostly because he needs to make a living, too). I didn't have neck issues, but there are exercises for that as well. I tried physical therapy once, but it felt like a complete waste of time since the routines they use there seem more suited for ninety-year-olds...

Just go see a chiropractor with an X-ray in hand and they'll pop everything back into place for you...

Look, I actually went because I was dealing with the exact same thing. Turns out, it’s just how I was born—structural stuff—so there isn't really a "fix" for it. My buddy suggested hitting up a chiropractor to get my spine aligned. Sure, the pain vanished for a second, but it was just a temporary fix... though my situation is a bit different than yours.

http://www.kiropraktika.com/

I’ve been there myself. It's a little pricey just to have someone press on you for five minutes, but everyone in town swears by them—it's not some random guy working out of his garage, either. Dude studied for five years in the States and all that... legit professional stuff.

If the mods nuked the link, just shoot me a PM...

Appreciate the advice. 😘 Maybe things aren't quite as bleak as they seemed.

I understand that consistent exercise is the priority here—it’ll take roughly three to four months to see real progress—so I’m looking for someone to design a customized training regimen based on my specific medical reports. I have zero interest in being tossed into a generic group class for ten minutes of mindless repetition.
Can anyone recommend a specialist like that in Chicago? 🙏

On another note, I hear people raving about chiropractors all the time. However, I had an encounter with a NEUROLOGIST who essentially wrenched my neck left and right, and ever since then, everything has gone downhill. It seems this entire situation stems from that one moment. To be honest, the very thought of manual manipulation makes me uneasy. They told me I was lucky to walk away unscathed 👎 (and please, don't mock me; I already live with enough regret regarding that encounter).

Does anyone have experience with the Cybex center in downtown Chicago? Or perhaps Dr. Miller's clinic over on Michigan Avenue?

P.S. If you know any reliable physiotherapists, chiropractors, or similar specialists, please send me a DM.

It seems to me, Maria Gomez6, that this post has wandered off course; its rightful place is in the mental health forum. Judging by your responses, you don't trust anyone—least of all yourself.
You have issues!!!!!
Trust in yourself, go see a chiropractor to get some exercise recommendations, and then exercise, exercise, exercise...
And don't you dare blame him, either, for any failure, because a person carves out their own destiny!!!

Unfortunately, none of us can claim your level of perfection. Thanks for your "contribution" to this thread; I think you've said quite enough. I’m sure the rest of the group is just as eager to hear your expert opinions and suggestions, so enjoy your exit.

skockica said:I honestly think this post wandered into the wrong neighborhood; it belongs over in the psychology forum. Based on your replies, it’s clear you don't trust anyone... least of all yourself.
You have issues!!!!!
Just believe in yourself. Go see a chiropractor, get some exercises recommended, and then exercise, exercise, exercise.....
And don't go blaming the chiropractor for any failures either, because people make their own destiny!!!

And what are you supposed to be, some kind of genius?

No, you aren't. If you were, you'd actually show some tolerance.

I pity your kids, being raised with that "it's always someone else's fault" attitude...👎 👎