I had the nerve tests on both sides that I think you are talking about in two separate sessions in addition to the MRI and some other things the names of which I really don't remember. What I do remember is that they charged the insurance company a huge amount for every one of those tests but the insurance company paid only a fraction of it, and in some cases none of it, but said I wasn't responsible for the rest of it because of the contract they had with the doctor. How this all works out in the accounting department I have no idea.Mountaineer wrote: ↑Mon May 21, 2018 7:10 pmRe. neck issues. Been there, done that twice. First time about 5 years ago went to doctor, then for MRI and subsequent nerve tests to check for where the problem was (C7). Went to PT for a few weeks. Pain subsided somewhat with the help of heavy duty pain meds for a couple weeks. Was the OK for about 2 years. Second time about 2 1/2 years ago pain came on almost instantly (literally from zero to about a 10 on pain scale) and was so bad I could not drive or lift right arm. Did the doctor, PT, MRI, pain meds thing again. MRI showed a compressed disk pressing on spinal cord and arthritis just as it did before. Not much relief after the PT this time. Finally after about 6 weeks I decided to have a cortisone injection at C7 - I was somewhat concerned about having a needle stuck extremely close to my spinal cord. After a couple days pain diminished, after a couple weeks, no pain - all consistent with what the injection doctor said would happen. I'm not certain if it was the PT, time, or the cortisone injection. Only lingering symptom was and is a somewhat numb right index finger that the doctor said may never go away. I'm hoping the pain does not flare up again but who knows as the disk is still compressed and the arthritis is still present.hardlawjockey wrote: ↑Mon May 21, 2018 5:19 pmAs for the MRI, been there and done that, along with other tests and procedures racking up big $ for the doctors but to no avail for me. In fact I'm still fighting with the doctor about my requirement to pay for a part of the bill the insurance company said I didn't have to. No matter how many times I explain the situation to them they keep sending me the same bill over and over. Presumably they will eventually refer me to a collection agency which doesn't mean a whole lot to me at this point since I know how to dispute charges, not to mention I don't really have any need for a good credit score at this point in my life (it's currently 820, BTW).MangoMan wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 8:32 pm
As someone with chronic work related back and neck issues, I have had excellent success with chiropractors. Stay away from the ones who think they can fix everything or that every ailment is caused by subluxations. In their defense, that's probably what they are taught in school, but I think most of them come to realize that philosophy is over the top.
I think you might want to ask your doctor whether he/she thinks an MRI of your neck might be diagnostic.
Fortunately my kids provided me with some help in the form of something that you can legally get with a prescription now at the cost of $250 per visit every six months. I have what looks like a year supply for only $100 though I could be wrong about that.
Having been through several courses of PT, all with different exercises that I was supposed to follow but seeing no lasting result at all, I have grown very skeptical of PT and think it is mostly a scam with very little scientific evidence behind any of it.
If you continue to have pain I do recommend marijuana. I used it when I was younger for non-pain related purposes but back then it wasn't nearly as strong as what they are cultivating today. Strangely, it isn't really a pain-reliever. Actually, it seems to heighten your sensitivity to pain as well as everything else. What it really does is make it impossible for you focus on the sensation for very long. Something else always gets your attention and you completely forget about it until it comes up in the next cycle through your brain and you become aware again for a brief moment.