MRI Results
@nanette64 (20363)
Fairfield, Texas
February 22, 2016 10:59am CST
Well, they ain't good. The report states: "There is considerable anterolisthesis (the drum-shaped area in front of each vertebrae slips forward onto the vertebrae below) at the L4 and L5 with 10 mm of anterior displacement. There is critical spinal stenosis with the canal narrowed to 6 mm. There is significant bilateral foraminal stenosis (spinal root compression). And considerable facet joint arthrosis (bone spurs)."
No wonder I can't dance the boogie-woogie any more. Major surgery would be involved and that doesn't count the Thoracic and Cervical surgeries that I need as well. I can just imagine my 20% copay on this can't you? I don't know what to do.
17 people like this
16 responses
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
22 Feb 16
@nanette64 Can't you get on Medicad to help with the bills, you might check into that.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
22 Feb 16
@Marcyaz I do have Medicare that pays 80%. I guess I could try Medicaid too and see what they say.
4 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
22 Feb 16
Yeah, there's no way I can afford them @jaboUK . The medical bills would be around longer than I would. And a lot of times, these places want a certain amount before they will even touch you. I live on Social Security for crying out loud. At the end of the month, I barely have enough for food; let alone a medical bill. If I don't have the surgery, the spinal canal will get even smaller and sever the spinal cord.
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Feb 16
Wow I don't know what that all means, but as you said it doesn't sound good. You have some heavy decisions to make. Much good luck on whatever you decide.
4 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
22 Feb 16
The words 'critical', 'considerable' and 'significant', are pretty scary @fishtiger58 . I'm only 64, so I can imagine the mess I'll be in at even 70. A wheelchair in my future is rather disconcerting.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
@nanette64 Nothing I would look forward to. I hope you get a 2nd opinion just for peace of mind if nothing else.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
23 Feb 16
We do but you'd be surprised how sometimes they don't want to pay @vandana7 . It's not like I'm asking for a face lift or something.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
22 Feb 16
I'm thinking that surgery isn't the answer or won't really help either. My last visit to a surgeon, he said, "First we'll cut you from your belly button to your pelvis and push your lumbar region backwards; then we'll flip you over and cut you and push your thoracic forward; then we'll attach a cage to your skull and you'll have to wear a steel girdle for a full year." That was in 2009. What is scary is that the spinal canal has narrowed to 6mm. If that continues, it will snap the spinal cord.
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 16
@nanette64 Cripes Nanette - horrendous!
3 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
22 Feb 16
@nanette64 Holy cow! Can't they do just that one thing to keep your spine from snapping? Those surgeries sound just awful! My heart bleeds for you.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
23 Feb 16
It makes me mad too @Dena91 that I have always been a healthy person; outside of my ruptured appendix at age 59. This wouldn't have happened if I wouldn't have married the abusive jerk that I did.
2 people like this
@Blondie2222 (28610)
• United States
24 Feb 16
Wow that is horrible. I hope if you can't have the surgery they can do some type of therapy to help your back or even medicine to help cope with the pain. Or you can just do one surgery at a time if they let you do that. Good luck with everything
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28610)
• United States
24 Feb 16
@nanette64 You're welcome, best of luck
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 Feb 16
Thank you @Blondie2222 . There are definitely a lot of things to consider.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
23 Feb 16
All this sounds so unreal and I only hope it is unreal. Some support belts and physical therapy sometimes help doing away with surgery.
2 people like this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
25 Feb 16
@nanette64 I do not what to say.Have you any close relatives who will be willing to give you that 20%?
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
26 Feb 16
@nanette64 So a miracle is what is needed!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
25 Feb 16
They are as broke as I am @silvermist .
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
26 Feb 16
@silvermist Yup, that's pretty much it. Unless I hit the lottery of course. LOL Oh wait, you have to 'spend' a dollar to buy a ticket.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
24 Feb 16
I am so sorry to hear this. My brother has had several back surgeries.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
22 Feb 16
Whew, all those body parts you mentioned are new to me! Hope, you can still dance the cha-cha!
2 people like this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
24 Feb 16
oh no! do you know what has led to this condition?
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
25 Feb 16
@nanette64 I'm so sorry. I hope you are recovering and safe and happy now
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
26 Feb 16
@jillybean1222 I had to kill him during an attack. So safe, yes I am; the rest of my life will be trying to recover from the physical damage done.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
25 Feb 16
17 1/2 years with an abusive husband @jillybean1222 . Both rotator cuffs torn at the same time, severed nerves in the head and face, fractured orbit of the eye, 3 fractured ribs, thrown from a car at 35 mph, slammed into door jams, thrown down a flight of stairs, etc.
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
23 Feb 16
You don't worry about the med bills!! You do what you have to and get better--that is your priority now!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
23 Feb 16
I don't think I have much of a choice @GreatMartin as the other outcome would be a much worse scenario.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
23 Feb 16
I am sorry you have this condition. The only thing I know is, we here in Dallas County have access to a 3rd group of insurance coverage through Parkland County Hospital known as PHP aka Parkland Health plus. If Medicare and Medicaid isn't enough PHP kicks in with a little extra assistance. Maybe your local county hospital has a similar program like Parkland in Dallas has.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 Feb 16
The surgery would take place up in Dallas @lookatdesktop ; I'm just not sure what hospital it would be.
