u/Candid_Procedure349

Hey there fellow community, just wanted to make a post of my experience and healing journey.

I'm a 60 yr old male and had my XLIF 8 months ago and am glad I got it down, but the recovery is definitely an on going up and down process to be honest.

My surgeon told me it would be a realistic 18 months to truly feel "better", but that is so subjective right? What is better just depends for each individual.

What recently frustrated me is that my right leg has become super weak, and I developed 24/7 pins and needles in my right foot. It was so bad that I ended up in the ER due to having falling twice at home. (I live alone fyi).

So, I went in for an MRI with contrast and the Radiologist's report shows distal nerve clumping and the indication of Arachnoiditis.

When I met with my spine surgeon his view of the report was a complete 180 from the findings of the radiologist. And he told me it's just part of the healing process and there's nothing he could do.

My question is this: because there is no structural issue and the surgery did go ok, should I get a 2nd opinion with a Neurologist of Pain Management doctor? Because this is now more of a nerve issue.

Tomorrow I meet with my PCP for an appt. and I'll ask what he suggests.

Happy Sunday and thanks for reading.

Patrick in Seattle ;-)

Yesterday, I finally found a provider who gets my panic disorder/agoraphobia.

You know, it takes a lot of trial & error and research to find someone who may be able to help. Yes, it is frustrating at times, but when you find that person, things can bring about hope.

Surprisingly, my therapist is a psychiatrist (MD) who specializes in my condition and is also an attending physician here in Seattle at the well known Harborview Medical Center.

It took a long time to get an appointment with him, but gosh the wait was so worth it. What was comforting to me was when he told me he himself has suffered with what I have: so he totally gets how I feel.

And then, to pursue a career in the field that you're able to help others become well is remarkable.

After all my years of spinning in circles, I feel more at east with what lies ahead.

There is a lot of work to be done, and I am committed to have this new journey with my doctor.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and always remember that there is Hope.

Love and hugs from Seattle. :-)

Yesterday, I finally found a provider who gets my panic disorder/agoraphobia.

You know, it takes a lot of trial & error and research to find someone who may be able to help. Yes, it is frustrating at times, but when you find that person, things can bring about hope.

Surprisingly, my therapist is a psychiatrist (MD) who specializes in my condition and is also an attending physician here in Seattle at the well known Harborview Medical Center.

It took a long time to get an appointment with him, but gosh the wait was so worth it. What was comforting to me was when he told me he himself has suffered with what I have: so he totally gets how I feel.

And then, to pursue a career in the field that you're able to help others become well is remarkable.

After all my years of spinning in circles, I feel more at east with what lies ahead.

There is a lot of work to be done, and I am committed to have this new journey with my doctor.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and always remember that there is Hope.

Love and hugs from Seattle. :-)

Yesterday, I finally found a provider who gets my panic disorder/agoraphobia.

You know, it takes a lot of trial & error and research to find someone who may be able to help. Yes, it is frustrating at times, but when you find that person, things can bring about hope.

Surprisingly, my therapist is a psychiatrist (MD) who specializes in my condition and is also an attending physician here in Seattle at the well known Harborview Medical Center.

It took a long time to get an appointment with him, but gosh the wait was so worth it. What was comforting to me was when he told me he himself has suffered with what I have: so he totally gets how I feel.

And then, to pursue a career in the field that you're able to help others become well is remarkable.

After all my years of spinning in circles, I feel more at east with what lies ahead.

There is a lot of work to be done, and I am committed to have this new journey with my doctor.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and always remember that there is Hope.

Love and hugs from Seattle. :-)

I just came across a closed thread here about how challenging it is to find a therapist.

Currently, I am in that process of finding one who is available etc. The struggle I find too that it's starting from scratch all over again, re-telling the whole entire story and then seeing if the new therapist is a match.

It's definitely exhausting but has to be done.

Also, maybe I am old school or lazy, but I prefer the therapist to be both prescriber and talk therapist.

Thanks for listening. :-)

I just came across a closed thread here about how challenging it is to find a therapist.

Currently, I am in that process of finding one who is available etc. The struggle I find too that it's starting from scratch all over again, re-telling the whole entire story and then seeing if the new therapist is a match.

It's definitely exhausting but has to be done.

Also, maybe I am old school or lazy, but I prefer the therapist to be both prescriber and talk therapist.

Thanks for listening. :-)

I just came across a closed thread here about how challenging it is to find a therapist.

Currently, I am in that process of finding one who is available etc. The struggle I find too that it's starting from scratch all over again, re-telling the whole entire story and then seeing if the new therapist is a match.

It's definitely exhausting but has to be done.

Also, maybe I am old school or lazy, but I prefer the therapist to be both prescriber and talk therapist.

Thanks for listening. :-)

Sadly, I have been a flight attendant for going on 13 years now, and my advancing panic disorder is taking a massive toll of me quitting and doing a non-flying job.

What is always hard as we all know here is the people who just cannot understand the enormity of what it is to have a true panic attack.

And being a flight attendant, my #1 priority is passenger safety in an emergency. Go figure.

I just wanted to share that for now since I am unable to sleep.

Happy Sunday from Seattle, xoxo

Hi there loving group ~

I am new here and sadly one of the people who also suffer from Panic Disorder (PD).

It's so exhausting as it has been discussed endlessly here how this illness can be so halting and somewhat crippling.

Living here in Seattle, you would think that it's so fast, easy and abundant to find a good, committed Therapist who is able and wants to be involved in both Talk Therapy and Medication Management.

Either:

1. The ones who are willing (far & few) are not taking on new patients or if they are, they are booked months out. This is tough especially when you're in the middle of having daily episodes.

2. I have been finding many want to do the split-treatment type of therapy. And that, at least for me does not work. I want it all with one provider. The thought of having to see 2 different people and trying to coordinate that in and of itself also causes me to have an attack.

Recently, I had to sever ties with my one therapist (who did both, he is a DNP). I've seen him for about 2-3 yrs, but I just did not feel in my gut that he was really understanding the depth of my situation & was giving me bad advice about certain issues. Hence, I am in this conundrum now of the ongoing search.

Thanks for listening and hearing me out.

Love from Seattle, 😄. xoxo