Almost speechless...

[Crankin]

On a positive note, it sounds like you have found doctors who really know what they are doing.

[Pax]

On a positive note, it sounds like you have found doctors who really know what they are doing.

Excellent point, and worth it's weight in gold.

[ny biker]

On a positive note, it sounds like you have found doctors who really know what they are doing.

+1 on this -- I think the fact that the shoulder guys says to address the neck problems first, even though a different doctor handles the neck, is a good indicator.

I hope thinks go well with the PT and the spine surgeon.

[Catrin]

That's it, which is a good sign but it has the c*ap scared out of me as I wait to hear what they recommend. You see, I KNOW how bad my neck was a mere 14 months ago (and all of the details about what was wrong with it then) after the LAST MRI and the new x-ray of my lower cervical spine that the shoulder Ortho showed me now looks like something from the movie Alien - it looks very bad.

Of course, just because it LOOKS so horrible doesn't mean it's any worse than it was - which is little comfort as it was pretty bad then. The MRI was this morning...I'm crossing my fingers that the fact my bones looked so bad in the x-ray meant that it's my body protecting my spine and things are actually better underneath all of that terrible looking stuff. Yeah, that's it, protection while my body heals itself Appointment is 8:45 Monday morning and thankfully I don't know enough, yet, about what they have in mind to consult Dr Google...

Neck traction sounds both scary and a bit interesting at the same time. Hopefully it will relieve some pressure on those nerves and grant a modicum of relief. Wayyy past the possibility of injections for neck or shoulder - and as I've learned more of the effects of steroid injections on rotator cuff tears I am glad they won't allow any more.

[Crankin]

I am not starting a separate thread for the results of my MRI, since I didn't really talk about it here, too much. So, it was kind of what I expected.It shows some age related degenerative disc issues, which are worse than 10 years ago. There is some disc bulging, but no nerve involvement. The message from my doctor, via the nurse was continue with PT, I will authorizemore sessions. If that doesn't make a difference, here is the name of a spine doc... DR. Spinelli (which I thought was hysterical), who is qute well known around here.
Riding has been fine. My tabata class today exacerbated the symptoms a bit, but I am learning what exactly sets it off. I brought my travel foam roller to work and used it 3X today! Icing and stretching now.

[Catrin]

So glad you can ride! I hear you about it being too much. It is interesting that he passed along the reference to a spine doc via a third party - well -not in person. May you never need that reference! I've been putting this off myself since the mtb crash in 2011. So glad your figuring out what works, and doesn't for you.

[Crankin]

That's the way my practice works. It's a very large group, they do almost everything in house (lab, x ray). In the past, I think there was somewhat of a negative reputation, but there are a lot of new, younger doctors there and I have not had anything but professional interaction. You do need to advocate for yourself and know how it all works. I really like my PCP; she is conservative in her approach to everything. It was not necessary for me to go back and see her for the referral. I have a PT appt. for Tuesday morning, before work, and before I go to CA Thursday, for my son's graduation.
Today I also went to see my endocrinologist, since somehow, I didn't go back to her after my last Prolia treatment for ossteoporosis, in 2014. It worked well, but latest scan shows bad regression. I will be restarting the Prolia and now the protocol has changed... it had just been approved when I took it before and they didn't really know what happened when you stayed on it indefinitely. Apparently it's OK. My doc has 300 people on it and only 5 have had to stop.
Too much medical stuff today. And one of my friends, who is really well meaning was trying to talk to me like i have some terrible thing wrong with me, concerning my back. She is appalled with the stuff I do at the gym, although she does ride. I love her, but all she talks about is who has what disease!She wanted me to call her tonight, but I did not, and opted to enjoy my quinoa bowl and glass of white wine.

[Catrin]

So I've a better idea now regarding the extent of the neck surgery. I need an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion - but only 1 disc is involved. There ARE others that could be included but he thought there was a lot of tread left on those discs and they may never present a problem. Only a week or so off work...which means the shoulder will be fixed in mid-fall. I really liked the spine surgeon, his manner may not be the most polished but he was very kind and careful that I understood everything - down to what was in those expensive pictures they took last week! Apparently I won't notice the fusion since he said my cervical spine is effectively fused already from all of the large osteophytes, etc.

Both scary and a relief at the same time. I guess that last part means it's time to get it fixed!