I met with Dr. Stark yesterday, thanks to Mark

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

CindyLou:

I sure hope this is the answer for you and the end of your pain. If not the end, at least lessened so that you can have your quality of life back. I also am wondering about the down time and other aspects of this surgery. My pain has lessened considerably but I also have the same pain generator in my SI joint. I am hoping that I won't have to have another surgery but will be looking at yours with an expectancy that this may help me at some point in the future if the injections start to fail.

Good luck with the insurance coverage.

Terry Newton

[Justin]

Congrats CL! Keep us posted.

[Cindylou]

In regards to this surgery, it is a 1 hour, 1 + hour, at most. It is 6 weeks on crutches, before slight toe stepping weight bearing. It is approx. 3-5 days in the hospital, but his staff says it is typically 2-4 days. I would be in the hospital close to a week for a total hip replacement with a much longer recovery. Again, I might still need it (THR) down the road, but first things first, and in the proper order. I did manage to get up the nerve to call Betty this afternoon about the status of the insurance coverage, and she said she would not know until Monday. She detected the anxiety in my voice and said she felt really good about my case and not to worry. That did give me some comfort. After that, I drove to my dear friend's house, the one whose husband is in stage 4 lung cancer (never smoked a day), as he is declining rapidly all of a sudden. I stayed over there for about 6 hours, just trying to be a comfort to her, while we waited on the hospice nurse to assess his current condition. He came home from the hospital yesterday, too weak for them to aspirate the fluid off his lungs, and he now needs an oxygen tank constantly, and has moved to their first floor guest bedroom, as he cannot do the stairs anymore. I believe she is finally seeing the writing on the wall. He has been fighting this insidious disease for 4 1/2 years. I think he's tired and ready to give up the fight. It's time. He's been able to walk 2 of his 3 daughters down the aisle since his diagnosis, will hopefully live to see his first grandchild born (she is due the same day as my daughter-in-law and son, meaning any day now), if God wills it to be so. It is, after all, the cycle of life. A life given, a life taken. So, I'm thinking right about now I can have 1 glass of wine. What a day. I will keep you all informed as to whether I get this covered, and then, if I do, how this surgery plays out. Terry, I will definitely keep you abreast of this too, as you face the same pain generators as me, minus the hip, of course. Boy, I am so grateful for Mark, and for all of you here on this forum. Thanks for lifting me up.

Cindylou

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

Again; You hang in there CindyLou. You are a good person and deserve to have a pain free life. I hope this is the answer to your prayers and that God works through the surgeon to repair your spinal disorder.

Have a great weekend though i am sorry for your friend and his wife. It's such a horrible disease that takes people slowly and painfully. I will pray for his peace as well.
\
Terry Newton

[Maria]

CindyLou,
You've probably written about them already but I was wondering what they are? It's great that Mark hooked you up with Dr.Stark and there may be such a viable solution for the SI joint pain. I hope if it's fusing of these joints you need that the surgery will be covered.

Please keep us posted and good luck of course!

[Cindylou]

I'm sorry Maria. I'm not following your question. You're wondering what what is?

[twisted]

Cindy I think Maria wants to know what the SIJ symptoms you have are.

Dr Stark sounds like a knight in shining armour! It's funny how things fell into place with your appt and CT....it must be a higher power at work!

Like Terry Im also having what I think are SIJ issues and have booked bilateral injections next month so Im following your story closely. If it were up to me Id just have my whole scoliotic spine fused and be done with it but my surgeon will not even entertain the thought!

BTW, very sorry to hear of you friend(s)and their suffering.
Cathy

[Cindylou]

Oh, thank-you Cathy, for that clarification. My symptoms are a throbbing, crushing, stabbing (when I slightly adjust my sitting) pain across low back. You know, ladies, recall back in the day when we proudly wore our two piece swimsuits? And then remember the cute little dimples (bilateral) that were just above the panty line of our two piece bottom? Those dimples are our SI joints. Thank God I'm not a doctor, huh?! My point is, it's right in that area. And when Dr. Stark examined me physically, he REALLY examined me. More thorough than any doctor I have ever had. When he had me laying down on the table, face up, he would stretch his arm way under my back, and press very firm (saying sorry, sorry) to test pain generators. And when he pushed on those SI joints to attempt to recreate the pain, I about flew off the table. I think it is definitely Heaven sent, this encounter, and pray my insurance covers this procedure. I believe I should know tomorrow, so I'll keep you all abreast of that. If it's not covered, beware, I will plummet into deep depression, so please feel free to PM, call me, under those circumstances.

Cindylou