I sometimes wonder.............

[JANENE]

HELLO!!!

Ok, yesterday I was driving to pick up the kids from school. I have mentioned in previous posts about the problems I have been having with my right leg, and the fact that I can't seem to get my doctor to understand how much this is affecting my everyday routine.

Now, when I was driving yesterday ( I have a hard time driving long distances, as I am sure you have all been there), and then I was pressing the brakes to stop the car, all of a sudden my leg felt like it had no power to press them, and my foot was fluttering ( like twitching, I can't think of the word to use to try to explain it). It scared the **** out of me.

So, the thing is, I remember waking up yesterday and having this crazy feeling of pressure in the middle of my low back (like as if someone was pushing their fist (all their weight) on it) When my back pain increases it seems that my right leg pain increases (spasms etc.), but NEVER have I experienced what I did yesterday.

I mean, if I sit for too long the pressure in my back is unbearable and I need to lay down. As well as the fact that my right leg starts to go all weird on me.(foot tingly, spasms)

This is what I wonder..........................When I go and see my GP and explain the things that are going on or changing, I have this STRANGE feeling like he doesn't believe what i am telling him. He always makes the comment, "so what symptoms are we dealing with today?"

I am just at the point where I am starting to almost "doubt myself". I don't know where to go or what to do. He doesn't feel that I need to see a surgeon, and thinks that I need pain management, but I try to explain to him, it is the functional part of this whole scenerio more than pain.

CAN SOMEONE PLEEEEEEEEEEASE TRY TO HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT?

For instance, lets get serious, if when I am driving I start to have all these symptoms, really should I be driving? Or maybe do you think I am over reacting? I don't know anymore......

Sorry for the novel, and I hope no one is upset that I just keep talking about the same thing....

Sincerely, Janene

[Maria]

Janene,
Back about 7 years ago before I stopped working and started pain meds and ESIs to lumbar spine I frequently felt that my foot couldn't feel the brake or gas that well (pedals) and that I would lose power in my right leg when driving for about 20 mins or so and I'd actually grip my leg to hold it and rub it above the knee to make sure it was OK. I would stop the car and walk around as well to get it to feel "normal".

This went on for sometime and my OSS said it was compression on the L5S1 nerve root while sitting and flexing my foot on the pedals.

The odd thing is that I rarely feel it now, altho every once in a while and yet I drive greater distances and more often. It's low back pain that also limits where I drive and how much I drive mostly now and I certainly wouldn't say those symptoms are actually gone, perhaps muted./masked by pain meds now..

I stopped driving only for a short period of time or limited myself to short distances and places I knew very well and wouldn't get lost driving around for any length of time.

One very major change was that I stopped driving on the freeway altogether. Didn't want that to occur while stuck in traffic somewhere or during any distance of drive. Over the years tho I've just become afraid to drive on the freeway so ?? not sure if that was the best course of action tho it certainly seemed so for the time all that was going on.

I've had various opinions and some docs say stop driving while one Physical Therapist told me that he thought with pain meds and ESIs I probably would feel better and be able to drive and he was actually right.

Do what you feel most safe doing though and make sure you are evaluated by a top notch Spine doc~

[rob_zzz]

Janene if possible you should be trying to see another GP about this because it doesn't sound like this one is listening to you.

I've had a similar experience with one GP and the best thing I did was to change GP's to someone that was willing to help with the situation. It is a ridiculous situation to be in to have a serious problem and have it ignored in that way. Don't doubt yourself - persist in trying to see a specialist - either via this GP but if possible try to see if you can find another GP that is more helpful.

[rob_zzz]

Another thing - make sure you explicitly ask to see a specialist and get them to verbally refuse - i.e. don't wait until they volunteer it or circumnavigate the topic - be very clear: "I am extremely worried about the symptoms I am having and want to see a specialist, please refer me to a specialist spine surgeon." (or even "I insist that you refer me to a specialist spine surgeon").

I have found they are actually unlikely to refuse a strong direct request even if they don't really want to do it.

I suspect the reason they are unlikely to refuse a direct request is because if later on you end up with a serious problem/incident you could point back and say that they refused a direct request by yourself to see a specialist which would not make them look very clever.

[dshobbies]

Janene,

Some doctors feel they are always right and should not be questioned but it is out duty to ourselves that directs us otherwise.

If you are stuck with this doctor for some insurance reasons you need to be direct and question why he doesn't believe you. Ask him why he thinks you'd be making up pain and that if he continues to refuse to take you and your symptoms seriously, that you want to be transferred to another gp who will direct you to proper care. You deserve better and should not have to settle for less.

If you get tongue tied when this doctor tries to minimize you and your pain, write down what you'd like to say and read it!

Good luck, Dale

[sahuaro]

Ditto to all that's been said above. A further thought: have you made it clear to this doc that your symptoms are occurring while driving? If you have and if you get into an accident because of those symptoms, he may have some liability. Obviously, I hope that doesn't happen, but that should be a concern of his, if nothing else.

[rob_zzz]

sahuaro thats true - the only risk there is that instead of helping, the Dr just orders that Janene shouldn't be driving - in which case any liability in an accident suddenly becomes a big problem for Janene.

I think its a really awful situation you are in Janene, I hope you manage to get through to someone that starts acknowledging the problem and making some sense.