Blood Patch

I had the bloodpatch today two weeks after the botched trial. Tuesday morning is a great time to go to the ER. Out in three hours. Relief is almost instantaneous.

Have started looking at neurosurgeons to start again with the intrathecal pump test. Sadly, the Medtronic site has only one neurosurgeon listed not affiliated with the Mayo Clinic here. Almost every insurance policy bars coverage at the Mayo Clinic. So, until Suzie feels better I will muddle through on my own. It looks like I will have to go to UC San Diego. I am going to do the test. Everyone here is so high on the pump (literally and figuratively) that I have to give it a try.

Wish me luck in finding a neurosurgeon.

Thanks again all,
Bob

I find it amazing with all the pain meds floating around my system that I would feel headache pain or a toothache. I do have to say that the blood patch replicates some of the pain you feel with a discogram.

Bob,

So glad you got the blood patch done, spinal h/a are the very worst of the lot. But, please be kind to yourself and take care and so whatever they say needs to be done afterwards.

Yes, the list of drs at Medtronic is useless, Half of the drs don't either practice any longer or don't do pain mgt. Please use our search here at the forum, type in pain pumps and you may find some names there. Now, I helped someone else here but I will need your location. Not your address, just city and state. Need that ASAP. I will be out of pocket most of the day but will see if I can get a list of drs for you after you give me what I need. I am doing the drs appts thing today. I hate it lol.

Right now I am in so much pain I am considering jumping out the window. But, instead I am drinking a cup of hot coffee to help my meds to kick in quicker. Yes, hot drinks will help your pain meds kick in quicker, helps them dissolve faster. Bet ya didn't know that trick, lol. Learned it from a pharmacist/lawyer friend of mine. Our weather is changing and when it does my body rebels like a 16 yr old would. Its 46 out this morning and my body does not handle cool temps. So, yes even us peeps with pumps have a few rough spots but that's about it. If the cooler weather persists then I will get an increase on my refill the first part of December. My dr is one that waits on the patient to ask for an increase. she says we know our bodies better than anyone. I usually ask for 10% increases now that I am stable usually that's all it takes. My dr says even at the dosage I am at now I am still a very long way from being maxed out on the drug. My old dr remember told me I had already maxed out if you will remember. Ha, Ha. I will run into my old dr before long and when I do believe this, I will thank him for leaving pain mgt and getting me my new dr.

It will take me a few days to come up with some drs if its possible. I will also look into some other resources once I have your location to see what can be found too. Take care.

So sorry suz that you are feeling so poorly. Hope you find some relief or a basement window if you feel like jumping.

I live in Paradise Valley AZ which is right in the Scottsdale Phoenix area. We have a Mayo Clinic here with several great neuro's; however, no insurance plan gets you Mayo treatment. i have AARP Medicare so I probably would be out of network.

Hope you get some relief lovely lady.
Bob

A bloodpatch is the second step in healing leaking spinal fluid.
First is rest/caffeine/fluids.
Second is bloodpatch: an anestesiologist working with an xray machines removes blood from your arm and injects it in the disc space. Your blood clots and thereby closes the hole in the sac containing your spinal fluid.

Mine worked immediately and I got ride of the headaches and muscle pain in the neck.

Having a tear is not uncommon after spinal surgery.

Hope this all helps.

Bob, are you saying because you have ins you cannot get accepted at the Mayo? I have known many people that have gone to the Mayo and they all had ins?

Bob I have put some feelers out to see if I can help find you a dr. Will let you know what I come up with.