I just realized I never reported back on my new doc and ensuing activities. New doc is kind of intense. I didn't get through my laundry list, in large part because he lectured me for several years on all the bad things I had done to myself by taking so much Advil. He launched into that lecture BECAUSE I asked what I could take that would be less bad for me, which I feel is an unfair reason to get lectured. Obviously I realized it was unwise.
Anyway.
He also yelled at me for not having been in to see my ob/gyn recently enough. When I called the ob/gyn afterward for an appointment, they couldn't get me in for NINE WEEKS. There is a problem with this system. I started surfing the web looking for other doctors, especially as my ob/gyn had also shut down their local office so I'd have to drive a good long way for my appointment. The closest I found was actually around the corner from me, which was great! And they had fantastic customer reviews. But when I investigated further, I found that they had moved out of actual gynecology and into liposuction and vaginal cosmetic surgery. If I want my thighs smoothed and my coochie tightened, they're the ones to go to. For my annual pap smear, however, I have to look farther afield. I still haven't found another alternative to the folks who moved and can't see me for months.
I brought up the whole "I feel sick if I eat gluten, but I tested negative for everything so the gastroenterologist told me NOT to avoid it" thing, and new doc agreed that the gastroenterologist was an idiot and told me to stay off gluten. Which I was already doing. I don't so much miss the crusty bread and the noodles, but it does make it a lot harder to go out to eat. Or to buy foods without research. I bought JD some bacon salt for Christmas, and not only does it not have bacon in it, but wheat is one of the first ingredients. WTF, man?
Fortunately we have a variety of organic groceries in the area where it's reasonably easy to buy gluten free goods, and we have several nice restaurants with gluten free options. But it's still kind of annoying.
New doc gave me a referral for a local neurosurgeon because of my increasing back pain. The old guys seemed fine but were a long drive, and wanted to refer me to other folks who were also a long drive and also not in my insurance plan. So new neurosurgeon. Although of course not so much neurosurgery is done there. They really try to avoid cutting into people, because it's hazardous. Both for the patient and for the doctor, when you consider lawsuits and etc. They focus more on pain management. If your pain can't be managed through braces and medications and physical therapy and who knows what else, THEN they consider surgery. Which explains why they're changing the name of the office from having neurosurgery in it to having pain in it.
New neurosurgeon told me that he *does* think I can ride. And I don't need a joint replacement. He thinks the sacroiliac damage I took coming off of Pluto a few years ago is causing the pain in my lower back - although I feel it right in my spine, when he pokes and prods he finds pain only on the right side, not surrounding the whole joint. And I don't have shooting pains or those awful electric nerve pains. He also thinks that I have a short leg. (Or a long one, if you prefer.) Which explains why I can hike in the woods all day but two hours in a store kills me. The uneven surfaces in the woods result in a different stride every time, so I'm not repeatedly torquing my pelvis the same way. I'm having a scan to check my leg lengths, and also a visit to a physical therapist to do the same thing. Fixing that problem might be as simple as putting a shim in one shoe. To which I say "Hurrah!" but also "Why didn't we figure this out years ago?"
So we might have an easy fix for that, and I *might* be getting an injection into my sacroiliac to fix or at least bandaid my worst pain. And he put me on Celebrex rather than Advil, which should be better for my insides. So far it's been more effective at making me comfortable.
Neurosurgeon says I won't be able to ride completely without pain, but I don't expect that. I just don't want to have to worry about crippling myself by riding. Some pain is acceptable.
I think that about covers it. Now my GP and my dentist are in the same office park close to work and home, which is nice. Neurosurgeon is in Bowie, which is close-ish. All three are youngish black men which I find somewhat soothing. Having grown up in PG County, as a white minority, I am not super comfortable with old male white doctors. Technically my dentist isn't young anymore, but he was young when I started seeing him. You just can't be intimidated by a kid in jeans and a tshirt. (He dresses nicer now.)
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