Guest guest Posted December 21, 2001 Report Share Posted December 21, 2001 Hello to Everyone, I really don't post much....hardly ever, actually, but I read the posts every day. I was diagnosed with ACM in December of last year and just recently found out that I have an 8mm herniation. Still unsure about syrinx, but I go for an MRI on Monday to hopefully rule that out. I'm a workers comp patient, therefore got " lucky " enough to have to follow certain WC rules....one of which is THEY get to pick who does the surgery. At first I thought the nsg was a real NUT CASE....BUT, after the proof found on the MRI, he really changed his entire demeanor. He became VERY informative, sympathetic and a very likeable guy. I questioned him endlessly about how many surgeries he has performed, how he does the dura patch, pain control, etc.... and he had all the right answers as far as I was concerned. My problem is this: My heart was VERY SET on having Dr. Oro preform my surgery. I actually would STILL rather he do it, however Comp will not pay for a doctor out-of-state if there is an nsg here in Florida who can do it. My private insurance will NOT cover it because I am Comp and if they did Comp would cut me off completely.....as they did not authorize the doctor or treatment. My nsg's name is Dr. Mayer and he is in Sarasota, Florida. I trust him, but still have a nagging doubt because he is not one of the experts we discuss in the group. Am I worrying needlessly????? This doctor has only had 1 patient that developed a leak and required a shunt. He has done about 30-32 surgeries. I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place!! Do I stop worrying because he is not an expert, or do I back out of the surgery??? I feel that surgery is my last hope and I like my nsg.....just that he is not Dr. Oro!!! My surgery date is set for January 8,2001. Any opinions and help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in Advance, Teri S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2001 Report Share Posted December 21, 2001 Teri, I think I feel alot about how you feel. I have this concern that when it comes time for my surgery I won't be able to get my ins to pay for Dr. Oro or Dr. Milhort. As I said in a post yesterday, I just got my appointments to see a NSG. I feel that I am a long way away from getting this resolved so I can move on with my life. The only advice I feel I can forward and suggest to you is that you spend between now and your surgery praying about this. Just out of curiosity how many surgeries has your NSG performed? Also can you send me your list of questions that you asked? Which hospital are you having the surgery performed at? I know that you are not far from me. If you need anything please let me know. Good Luck, may God grant you peace and comfort, Amber in Tampa, FL ACM I 10mm Surgery in Florida > Hello to Everyone, > I really don't post much....hardly ever, actually, but I read the posts every day. > > I was diagnosed with ACM in December of last year and just recently found out that I have an 8mm herniation. > > Still unsure about syrinx, but I go for an MRI on Monday to hopefully rule that out. > > I'm a workers comp patient, therefore got " lucky " enough to have to follow certain WC rules....one of which is THEY get to pick who does the surgery. > > At first I thought the nsg was a real NUT CASE....BUT, after the proof found on the MRI, he really changed his entire demeanor. > > He became VERY informative, sympathetic and a very likeable guy. I questioned him endlessly about how many surgeries he has performed, how he does the dura patch, pain control, etc.... and he had all the right answers as far as I was concerned. > > My problem is this: > My heart was VERY SET on having Dr. Oro preform my surgery. I actually would STILL rather he do it, however Comp will not pay for a doctor out-of-state if there is an nsg here in Florida who can do it. > > My private insurance will NOT cover it because I am Comp and if they did Comp would cut me off completely.....as they did not authorize the doctor or treatment. > > My nsg's name is Dr. Mayer and he is in Sarasota, Florida. > I trust him, but still have a nagging doubt because he is not one of the experts we discuss in the group. > > Am I worrying needlessly????? > This doctor has only had 1 patient that developed a leak and required a shunt. He has done about 30-32 surgeries. > > I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place!! Do I stop worrying because he is not an expert, or do I back out of the surgery??? > > I feel that surgery is my last hope and I like my nsg.....just that he is not Dr. Oro!!! > > My surgery date is set for January 8,2001. > > Any opinions and help would be greatly appreciated! > > Thanks in Advance, > Teri S. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2001 Report Share Posted December 23, 2001 Dear Teri: Regarding your choice of surgeon - With workman's comp it will be hard to get them to change surgeons - you would have to prove he is incompetent which is hard. My surgeon is not known to this group - but he was very knowledgable about Chiari - did his neurosurgery residency papers on Chiari - teaches at Univ of Chicago as Asst. Prof. etc. etc. etc. and was only 35 years old. He did an fantastic job - and I would trust him with further surgeries. Good luck. Lorene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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