ttb@ihuxn.UUCP (Thomas T. Butler) (01/08/85)
--
I'm sure this question has been asked many times before, but
I hope someone out there can recommend a good doctor for the
treatment of chronic back pain. My wife has suffered for years,
including hospital stays. We have NOT been pleased with the
care received from any of the Orthopedic and Neuro surgeons
we have tried so far. If anyone can make a recommendation for
a doctor in the Chicago area (prefferably the Western suburbs)
it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
--
Tom Butler
..!ihnp4!ihuxn!ttbhash@whuxl.UUCP (HASHIZUME) (01/09/85)
> -- > I hope someone out there can recommend a good doctor for the > treatment of chronic back pain. My wife has suffered for years, > including hospital stays. We have NOT been pleased with the > care received from any of the Orthopedic and Neuro surgeons > we have tried so far. ... > -- > Tom Butler > ..!ihnp4!ihuxn!ttb Tom, I wonder if your wife has tried back excerises? Unless, of course, there is something *physically* wrong, i.e. damaged such as a pinched nerve or slipped disc, I recommed trying the excerise route. I have (minor) back problems and I found that the YMCA/YWCA back excerise course worked wonders. I also got a futon matteress and got mixed results. A waterbed might be better. I have a Balans chair for my office also. This I recommend for the back if your wife has to sit for any length of time. I wish you and your wife luck. There is nothing more crippling than having back pain. Mark Hashizume -- ..!houxm!whuxl!hash (Mark Hashizume @ AT&T Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ)
gino@voder.UUCP (Gino Bloch) (01/11/85)
[sciatic line] > > I hope someone out there can recommend a good doctor for the > > treatment of chronic back pain. My wife has suffered for years, > Tom, I wonder if your wife has tried back excerises? Unless, of > course, there is something *physically* wrong, i.e. damaged such > as a pinched nerve or slipped disc, I recommed trying the excerise > route. I am a sufferer with some physical back damage; for me exercise HAS helped. I'll never be free of trouble (while alive), but I'm able to do such things as vigorous Bulgarian folk dances. I don't lift refrigerators or VAXen anymore, though. The doctor at Kaiser Redwood City was useless except for one thing: he sent me to the physical therapist there. For those in other parts of the country, Kaiser is a large HMO (health maintenance organization) with many hospitals etc. -- Gene E. Bloch (...!nsc!voder!gino) Extend USENET to omicron Ceti.
mef@wucs.UUCP (Mark Frisse) (01/14/85)
> [sciatic line] > > > > I hope someone out there can recommend a good doctor for the > > > treatment of chronic back pain. My wife has suffered for years, > > > Tom, I wonder if your wife has tried back excerises? Unless, of > > course, there is something *physically* wrong, i.e. damaged such > > as a pinched nerve or slipped disc, I recommed trying the excerise > > route. > > I am a sufferer with some physical back damage; for me exercise HAS helped. > I'll never be free of trouble (while alive), but I'm able to do such things > as vigorous Bulgarian folk dances. I don't lift refrigerators or VAXen > anymore, though. > The doctor at Kaiser Redwood City was useless except for one thing: he sent > me to the physical therapist there. > For those in other parts of the country, Kaiser is a large HMO (health > maintenance organization) with many hospitals etc. > > -- > Gene E. Bloch (...!nsc!voder!gino) > Extend USENET to omicron Ceti. >>>>I have to agree with the general inadequacies of M.D.'s when it comes to treating back pain. In one sense, if a physician is able to asses that the cause of the back pain is not a life-threatening disorder (e.g., retroperitoneal tumors eating away at your spinal cord, nerve root compression, fractured vertebrae), the physician is "useless" and one could have consulted a physical therapist in the first place. But the importance of this step has been made clear to those with serious organic problems who chose physical therapy techniques BEFORE consulting a physician. The key to the whole process is to find a physician who will refer you to the therapist without depleting your wallet first! In jest, I recommend 3 helpful hints for back pain victims: 1. If something works, keep it up. 2. If something doesn't work, stop doing it. 3. Avoid the surgeons!!!! Mark Frisse, M.D. *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***