Failure to Fuse - What Does It Mean?

[jackieg412]

Great videos. There is also a video on a spinal cord stimulator by my physician, Dr. Adam Young. He isn't at Rush location now but is practicing in Morton Grove, Illinois.
So Tina, if you can get there, he will listen well to you and do his best to help.

[Tina_R]

Thanks for all the recommendations for doctors. The ones you have mentioned would require long-distance travel for me. I live in an area that other people usually travel to when it comes to medical care, it has that reputation. So I should be able to find highly competent people. But keep those recommendations coming, I will file them away just in case.

Right now I'm trying to get my radiology and other tests together and get them to the right doctors. I have had radiology done all over the place. It's cumbersome, but the only way to share it between hospitals and practices is to get it on disc and mail it or bring it with you to the appointment. You would think there would be electronic transfer, but that's not an option.

[Tina_R]

Another difficulty. The spine surgeon I'm going to see received my disc with the myelogram images from another hospital and he should also have received a report.

That's not enough, he wants something else (his office called me). I take it there is also data associated with a myelogram. Maybe in the form of graphs, charts, whatever. Does anyone know about this? What would this be called?

His office was no help in communicating to me exactly what he wants, only that the images aren't enough; they seem to be medically challenged in knowledge when it comes to discussing this. The part of the hospital radiology department that mails discs out has no idea what I want; they are only used to sending images and reports.

I can only conclude that this myelogram data is either part of my medical records, a separate department from radiology, or is possessed by the neurologist who ordered it. The best option seems to be to get the spine surgeon to call the neurologist. One doctor would easily be able to get through to another doctor. But it seems a bit ridiculous to have to do this.

These kinds of snags keep holding up my appointments.

[jackieg412]

Any time I have had any type of test like a myelogram, the only records are the disc and report. Since the test results are yours , you can request your own copy.
I have learned to ask for a copy as soon is the test is done.
You can also call the location and ask how to obtain your copy of you didn't do that.
This way your copy travels with you where ever you choose to seek treatment and can go with you to a different appointment.
You can obtain the office notes also. Sometimes there is a change. It just depends but it is so worth it.

[jackieg412]

Tina the only graphs I know of is the degree measurements the orthopaedic of neurosurgeon uses in assessing scoliosis.
A lot of surgeons like to do there own.

[Tina_R]

Jackie, according to his office person, the new surgeon I'm going to see had been sent "fluoroscopic images from the myelogram" but he hasn't got "the CT myelogram itself" and he wants it. She wrote this down verbatim but doesn't understand it and I don't know why the patient is expected to figure it out.

The fluoroscopic images are the images on the disc. The report would have been on the disc, too, or on a separate sheet of paper that he would have received with the disc.

I think there's more to it. It isn't always just pictures (disc) and words (report from radiologist) that come out of these tests. There's probably some kind of data that the test produced that the surgeon wants to see. Charts, graphs, lists of numbers that tell him something.

[jackieg412]

The reports I get are on paper not on the disc. They may be on the disc after a disc is requested later but not when you get a disc at the time the test was done. The radiologist hasn't read it yet.
Just call or go back to get your copy of both.
Where I have been it is easy. But call first, since it takes a little time to burn the disc.
Then go to medical records because you need to sign. I think it can be done by mail for a small fee but this way it is yours and then the other doctor can down load the images but you have your copy and your copy of the radiologist report that you can read.

[jackieg412]

I continue to do well. It is still a balance struggle and the right hand is also still an issue..
I did manage to change part of my signature. It wouldn't let me post everything. It was too long.
Ed you are a wealth of information. You are so important on helping people through their decisions.
Maybe you have a suggestion on how to include my long journey with surgery an injury.

[titaniumed]

Maybe you have a suggestion on how to include my long journey with surgery an injury.

On your signature, you could detail it and throw it on a new thread. Link that thread in your signature like the way I have the bending and twisting photos in my signature.

You could e-mail your proposed new signature to me....I don't know what is missing? Type in everything.

I will e-mail it back to you after my edits.

Ed

[jackieg412]

Hi Ed, I will try to write all of it in a post but remember for some reason I can't email you direct. Yours seems to be working and mine is working but I guess the email accounts don't like each other.

[titaniumed]

Sounds good....I don't know why you cannot e-mail me. I do get my e-mails so you must have my address spelled wrong.

I would use Rod Strewart as an e-mail address, but Rod is probably using it. (smiley face)

Ed