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I'm going to try and condense this as much as possible.
This all stems from a slip on the ice when we had the ice storms early last year, from the best I can remember. That is the only trauma type accident that might have caused this. As these issues started not too long after that. I started seeking medical help in April of 2011 IIRC. I started with my family physician, thinking I had an issue with my hip. After a round of X-Rays and a crappy MRI, it was determined I had a bulging/herniated disc. I was referred to Spine Team Texas. I have been treated by their Rockwall facility ever since, Dr. McPherson specifically. I spent 6 or 8 weeks (I can't remember) in Physical Therapy, which included traction. It got me some what active and able to perform my normal duties at work. I went the rest of 2011 without any follow ups, feeling generally well and able to cope with minor medication. I was VERY active in December, as it is our busiest month (retail sales). In January I started seeing a Chiropractor. This kept me pretty mobile and active, though I didn't do any spinal decompression. About 2 months ago, I did something to cause me a lot of pain. It was somewhat constant so I returned to STT, after a new MRI for better images and to make sure there wasn't any further "damage". After the MRI I got a steroid shot. This lasted about a week, and then I was worse off than I was before I got the injection. Another follow up appointment, and we decided I should see their neurosurgeon. Dr. Jaun Bartolomei, He used to be an instructor of neuroscience at Yale, so I feel he is well versed in his field. Dr. Bartolomei feels that surgery is my best option, given my response to the steroid injection. The procedure he is recommending is a minimally invasive laminotomy and discectomy.
I definitely want to seek a second opinion, any recommendations on who I should seek an appointment with?
Also, has anyone had this procedure, or know anyone who has? They are going to "open up" the opening in my vertebra where the nerve roots exit and remove the offending portion of disc.
This all stems from a slip on the ice when we had the ice storms early last year, from the best I can remember. That is the only trauma type accident that might have caused this. As these issues started not too long after that. I started seeking medical help in April of 2011 IIRC. I started with my family physician, thinking I had an issue with my hip. After a round of X-Rays and a crappy MRI, it was determined I had a bulging/herniated disc. I was referred to Spine Team Texas. I have been treated by their Rockwall facility ever since, Dr. McPherson specifically. I spent 6 or 8 weeks (I can't remember) in Physical Therapy, which included traction. It got me some what active and able to perform my normal duties at work. I went the rest of 2011 without any follow ups, feeling generally well and able to cope with minor medication. I was VERY active in December, as it is our busiest month (retail sales). In January I started seeing a Chiropractor. This kept me pretty mobile and active, though I didn't do any spinal decompression. About 2 months ago, I did something to cause me a lot of pain. It was somewhat constant so I returned to STT, after a new MRI for better images and to make sure there wasn't any further "damage". After the MRI I got a steroid shot. This lasted about a week, and then I was worse off than I was before I got the injection. Another follow up appointment, and we decided I should see their neurosurgeon. Dr. Jaun Bartolomei, He used to be an instructor of neuroscience at Yale, so I feel he is well versed in his field. Dr. Bartolomei feels that surgery is my best option, given my response to the steroid injection. The procedure he is recommending is a minimally invasive laminotomy and discectomy.
I definitely want to seek a second opinion, any recommendations on who I should seek an appointment with?
Also, has anyone had this procedure, or know anyone who has? They are going to "open up" the opening in my vertebra where the nerve roots exit and remove the offending portion of disc.
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