Medical Terminology

[Guest guest]

Because of advancing arthritis in my neck I recently had more x-rays of my neck

taken. I picked up the x-rays (I always do) and the report then made an

appointment with my family doctor to explain the report to me.

I needed him because not only did I not understand many of the terms,

many were not in any dictionary I could find on line medical or

otherwise. Terms like: bridging syndesmophytic spur, hypertrophic

osteophyte, DISH, and listhesis.

When I could find the terms I didn't understand them in context. So I

asked my doctor. I was amazed to find out that he didn't know most of

them either. Although he didn't come right out and say so it was

obvious. I tried to get access to the doctor who wrote out the report

so he could explain it to me but seems that 'aint' going to happen.

Fortunately, I hope, I am headed to see another specialist.

It seems like trying to stay proactive and involved in my own medical

care is getting harder as it gets more involved. It took years to get

them to aggressively treat my pain issues and now all they want to do is throw

more and stronger drugs at me.

I am already using a 100MCG/H FENTANYL patch replaced every two days, up to 20MG

a day OXYCODONE IR if needed, up to 15MG a day VALIUM if needed, 30MG a day

RITALIN because we can't get my sleep apnea under control and 120MG a day

CYMBALTA because it seems I'm depressed.

If I take more or stronger drugs I won't even be active forget proactive.

Enough for now I guess.

Doug

[Guest guest]

Doug wrote:

> Because of advancing arthritis in my neck I recently had more x-rays of my

neck taken.

I am so tired of having a wrecked neck! When my lower back went, I

thought that was about as bad as it could get, but this having a totally

messed up neck is even worse. (grumble, grumble)

I get up in the night and switch from heat to cold, then later I switch

back. The headaches is causes are enough to drive 'round the twist.

Thankfully radio frequency neurotomies cut back on some of the pain,

other wise it would be completely unbearable.

I hope you find out what all the medical terms mean :-) Do you think

that X-rays do a better job with showing the problems, than MRIs? The

reason I ask is that the last MRI had done, missed about half of the

problems that are there. It's not like I spontaneously healed or

something. :-)

Lyndi