[Jim Richards]

Any recommendations on a Dr. or clinic that's good for bulging discs? My L4 and L5 are a mess. Meanwhile, I'm checking with my insurance co. on their list of participating physicians. Thanks.

Maybe I can just get Kurt to do a little welding...

[cmartin]

I have a good guy, but he's in Annapolis. I am sure there are some good folks in NoVa. Whatever you do, get an mri before you submit to a torture chamber, er chiropractor.

2 years after surgery my back is still a mess

[Jim Richards]

I've already had the MRI. The results of that showed my need for repairs. Lu should've gotten a PPI on me.

[rs911t]

Leslie saw a Dr Haas (sp) in Reston. Specializes in backs, sports injuries, the like. Apparently highly respected, yet her back still hurts...

[Jim Richards]

Thanks Greg. Someone else recommended Dr. Hasz to me. Unfortunately my ins. co. isn't accepted at his office.

[Trak Ratt]

PPI & how long have you been married? Even my truck only has a 75K warranty. You’ve got to have exceeded that before your last P car was built You might want to let her drive you to your appointment in “her car”

[Lucky]

Jim,

Sorry to hear your back needs a rebuild. While you're "in there" you may want to do some upgrades!!

Schuler and Hasz are two of the best here in NoVA. Too bad you insurance isn't willing to pay for them. My wife, Susan, had Schuler do an L3-L4-L5 fusion about 8 years ago -- it really improved her life.

BTW, Susan is a rehab PT so she knows better than most who the hacks are and those that have consistently excellent outcomes. If you can send me a list of docs your insurance covers, I can have her look it over and make a recommendation.

[Jim Richards]

John, I'll put together a list and get it to you probably sometime tomorrow or Tuesday. Thanks!

[Steelspine]

This is probably the only subject on this site I am qualified to comment on. Steelspine is actually quite literal. I have two steel rods running from the base of my spine to the middle of my shoulder blades. I have seven discs removed and 12 vertebrae fused (the doctor removed one of my ribs, ground it up and used it as the base for the "putty" they put between the bones to help them fuse.)

Dr. Hasz was my original back doc here in Virginia but when it because painfully obvious, I lost two inches of height and couldn't carry my daughter of walk more than 50 yards without excruciating pain, I needed some major help.

Dr. Hasz actually referred me to another physician, the best back guy on the east coast, maybe even the country.

Dr. William Lauerman, he works out of Georgetown Hospital and I can honestly claim that he saved my life, he is a miracle worker and I owe EVERYTHING to him.

Sorry this was such a long post but I wanted to let people know how amazing he is. I am 1000% better now 3 years after the surgery, I have ZERO pain in my spine, I have some muscle spasms but that is my fault for not keeping up with my stretching regimen. I'm not as flexible as most people (personal anti-sway bars will do that) but I have great posture even when I'm slouching!

Anyway, you should check it out and hopefully Georgetown accepts your insurance.

Good luck.

Pete

BTW, the pic under my name is a side view of my spine. Pretty cool.

[Jim Richards]

Thanks for the recommendation, Pete.