Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Back from the doctor---I'm in shock

Ok, I have to take a deep breath.

I went to see this doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation this morning for the continuing back pain I've been having---and it did not go well.

I tell him that the pain is waking me up every night, even after taking 2 muscle relaxants and 4 Advil. I told him he probably thought I was crazy since I'd seen two other doctors (both orthopaedists) and they both told me they didn't see anything wrong with my back.

I brought with me copies of the X-rays the last doctor had taken. He pulls them out of the envelope, takes one look at them, and he gets really serious. This is how the conversation went (with my thoughts in parenthesis.)

Doctor: I'm just going to cut through the bull and tell you like it is because I don't know how else to say this, but I can't believe 2 doctors told you this X-ray is normal. This is not a normal X-ray.

My thoughts--- (What did he just say? I must have arthritis afterall.)

Me to him: What did you just say?

Doctor: This is not a normal X-ray. There is something here this is not right.

My thoughts---(Surely he's kidding, right? This is a joke. I can't believe I'm hearing this.)

Doctor: Look, he tells me as he points to the bottom of the X-ray. There is a mass, something white, in the middle of this disc. There's something wrong ----(I heard the word "degenerative" and "mass" and my mind checked out at this point.)

Doctor: I want you to show me where the pain is.

Me: Right here (as I point to my lower back, above my tailbone.)

Doctor: That's where I see a problem on the X-ray.

Me: (Don't cry! Be strong! I'm not gonnna cry! Is this real---is this really happening?)

He says we need to do an MRI ASAP, a nerve test, and some blood tests. He asks me what I thought were some odd questions (totally unrelated to back pain), and I answer. I can't for the life of me remember what those questions were.

He apologizes for the medical community---saying he can't believe 2 doctors have told me there is nothing wrong. He said back pain that wakes you up from a deep sleep should've been a huge red flag to them! He says he can't believe they've not ordered more tests, especially knowing that I've been sleeping in a recliner since Christmas.

He says he will get to the bottom of this, that once he has the tests results, he wants me back in the office for a Pow-Wow and he would go from there to see what course of action he would take.

I told him I know I've gained a lot of weight in the past year (because I can't exercise), and I know that's probably contributing to my problem. He says, "No, this is not related to your weight."

I then tell him I have problems with my feet, and that my right foot hurts and that maybe this back pain is caused from that. He says, "No, that may be contributing to your problem, but that is not the cause of it."

(I think to myself, He knows what the problem is. He's just not saying!")

I tell him that when the pain wakes me up at night, that I can hardly turn over in bed to get up and into the chair, that my brain tells me to do it, but my body won't. He shakes his head (like he understands what I'm talking about) and looks worried.

He tells me he's very conservative and hardly ever prescribes medicine, but that I need to sleep through the night. He writes me a prescription for Lortab and tells me to take it at bedtime until he gets the test results back.

I had the blood work done and I'm waiting for authorization from my insurance company before the MRI can be scheduled. I see him back in his office on Feb. 18.

Now the waiting game. It's going to be a long 2 weeks. Please add me to your prayer list.

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