Doctors are Useless

 I had a post planned out for today. And then I went to my doctor's appointment. 

I have severe Degenerative Disc Disorder. Basically, there's no cushion between my vertebrae. Any of my vertebrae. This means that my vertebrae rub together. This means my vertebrae grind against my nerves. 

This means I am in almost constant pain.

It also means I've been dicked around by doctors for years. 

I was diagnosed in 2019, however, my doctor at that time told me that everyone has DDD, it's a non-issue and oh yeah, lose weight. 

What she did not say is that I was diagnosed with moderate DDD, I have bone spurs on my spine, and significant scoliosis. Who knows what things I've done in the past five years that have made it worse. 

A few weeks ago I woke up in more pain than I have ever been in during my entire lifetime. I gave birth to a child who was the size of a 3-month-old. I've been a pedestrian hit by a Ford F-350. This was worse. I was struggling to walk. 

A couple of hours later, in Urgent Care, I sat with a doctor who quite obviously was shocked that I did not seem to know that I had DDD. He wanted me to see a surgeon. I chose to see my PCP first. 

My PCP wanted an MRI but didn't think the insurance company would approve it without first doing an intensive steroid regimen. He was wrong, because my insurance doesn't require a prior approval for MRIs. But we did the steroids. They took me out of crises level pain but that's all. 

The plan, as my doctor stated it two weeks ago, was to do the steroid regimen and, if that did not help enough, to order an MRI. 

But guess what?!? When I saw him today, he acted as though the issue of an MRI has never before come up. His plan of action for my DDD is to do nothing. Drugs and thoughts and prayers, basically. Oh, and lose weight. 

Of course, he also told my husband it was nice to meet him. 

My husband has been his patient for 8 years.