I plan to do the botox injection - whenever the frigging scheduler for the Pain Clinic calls me back. I left voicemail Friday, she hasnt returned my call yet.
I'll probably drop by there tomorrow and see if I can get it scheduled. Anxious to see if it does any good. I'm sure if the scheduler was dealing with sciatica symptoms she would expect someone to call her right away, dont ya think?.
Aztec
Wow! Lots and lots of posts. Feel pretty darn good at 3.5 months today. Not 100 percent but not too bad at all.
Julie, yes, he cut the piriformis and took out the middle section. It's the remaining sections that tend to spasm. Don't know when that will go fully away but it's not soon enough.
Yes, I had neuroplasty of the superior gluteal nerve as well. He really cleaned everything up in there.
Margie, so good to hear from you and yes, both sides was not a picnic. My incision is roughly 3 inches on each butt cheek. I also struggled with nausea. Nothing like throwing up your guts when you have two fresh incisions and feel like c**p to begin with. I know exactly your plight.
To all, I found out today that Ever quit. I'm not surprised as he was obviously struggling in my opinion. They just told me I still owe for injections. I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My impression is that Filler's office is in complete disarray. Menzie, I would have a heart to heart with Filler and tell him exactly what you are reading/hearing and let him know that if the care for your daughter is to follow a similar pattern, then you need to know up front so that you can make an informed care decision.
If I had to do this over with what I know now, I would have used Barbaro. Alas, I didn't even know there was a Barbaro at the time of my surgery. Filler did a great job with me apparently but the follow-up care after Sheila left is non-existent.
HG, I don't even know what to say other than you are in our prayers. I think Filler is acting in an almost criminal manner regarding your treatment and I would file a formal complaint with the California medical board and the BBB. I would tell Filler's office that you are filing the complaint. Not as a threat but as a promise. That may get their full and undivided attention.
I hope I've covered everything. If I have not, please let me know.
Your friend,
David(the old old one) :-)
If anyone has anyone else's email in Filler's office, please share it with me. I'm not having much luck with them over the phone.
Thanks. H'Girl, thinking of you. Did you talk to Filler yet or are they making you wait?
I waited a bit longer today between medication and although it's still overall better, I really felt the pain return so it appears much of the pain is being masked. I think today marks 7 weeks since surgery. I will continue to be patient......
Leesa
Be patient Leesa. I think my 7 week point was pretty bad and then it took a step change for the better. Hang in there and keep the "and this too shall pass" attitude. My guess is that it will.
Try Jodean at this e-mail address:
***this post is edited by moderator *** *** posting of private e-mails is not allowed *** *** Please read our Terms of Use
I ALWAYS copy her on any e-mail to Filler's office, regardless of whom I'm trying to contact. She is the one who got back to me on my e-mail to Ever and said he was gone.
Yes, their office has come completely apart and I think she is the only constant. I'll speak only for myself but I'm glad Ever is gone. That guy just did not have his act together, at all. Bad news is that we now get to train another assistant.
And thanks for your 7 week experience. I too believe it will get better.
Aztec, I will be interested to hear how the botox affects you. Remember that at first it can be painful just from the injection and it doesn't give immediate relief. Mainly it made it more possible for me to stretch the piriformis without aggravating it and maybe that is why I was able to do more after an injection. I have been having them for about3 years so don't totally remember what it was like without. However some worked better than others and it certainly didn't give complete relief although I know some who did get complete relief because they were able to stretch it out and then start to exercise more sothat it broke the cycle. Good luck.
When I think of some docs saying Dr. Filer is a quack I think we have to remember that some doctors don't believe in piriformis syndrome and would think anyone who pushed it would be a quack. I think his study has proved them wrong.
Mark, one of the places Dr. Filler checks in his exam is the sitting bone and asks if it is painful. My P.T. said the sciatic nervegoes near there.
I can't find the name of that patch for inflammation. What is it again. I think Nerve Pain mentioned it.
HG, your last post sounded so discouraged. How are you doing? I think about you lots and wish so much you would get an improvement and some hope again. Have you tried the lyrica?
What is radio frequency ablation and how is it supposed to help?
Thanks for your information, Donna. It is always helpful David, where are you? Hope to hear more and more good newsfrom Leesa.
Night Y'all--right Julie?
Shirley
PS Have had a bad day andwonder if the cortisone is wearing off and oh yes , got a call from Kim saying they were resceduling my telephone appointment to Monday and it would be Dr. Filler calling--so much for Cece. So maybe Dr, F. is trying to get back on schedule.
Really have togo now. My butt is on fire.
Shirley
Shirley -
I'm hoping the botox injection will help, even 50% would be great. Went to the pain clinic today and was told my insurance only pays for the injection if its done in the office, ie without emg or fluoroscope. I want it to be guided injection by the doctor and not some nurse in a back room. I'll probably have to pay for that privilege.
Also, RF Ablation. I'll probably have to do that sometime too. They stick an EMG needle into your SI joint using fluoroscope. With the emg they find the 3-4 nerves that they want to kill, sensory nerves that involve the SI joint. A radio frequency tip is inserted into the needle and the target nerves are burnt. Supposedly that blocks pain coming from the SI joint. Just type SI RF ablation in google. Supposedly SI problems go along with and/or even cause piriformis syndrome.
Time for me to get off of my butt too.
Aztec
Haven't posted in a couple of days and just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing well. I overdid on Monday and paid the price a bit yesterday so I am following doctor's orders more carefully from this point on. My burst of energy on Monday resulted in quite a bit of swelling which pulls on those staples more than necessary.
Still no burning except in my foot. It's getting easier to sit and sleeping is better although I'm still having to sleep on my stomach which makes me wake up with a sore back.
I'm so sorry to hear about all the trouble everyone is having with Dr. Filler's office and feel a little guilty that my experience is going so well. I hope he gets his office together so that he can be of more help to you all. Being able to communicate with your doctor and his office should be a very simple thing to do and you are all entitled to prompt, courteous responses. Someone used the word "unprofessional" and that about sums it up. Again, I'm so sorry that you're all having to deal with this on top of pain.
Take care,
Margie
Don't feel guilty. Keep getting well. Yea, that sleep on the stomach thing can be rough on the back. Glad you are doing well. Keep staying in touch.
WE LOVE GOOD NEWS.
Gives people hope.
David
The name of that NSAID patch that just came out on the market is "Flector". My neurologist recommended them to me.
I didn't find that they helped much because my pain is deeper in the buttock. But others may differ.
Mark
When is your phone consult with Dr. Filler?
How are you holding up? I'm sending you a big "cyber hug", Mary
I'm worried about you! Did you find a TENS unit yet? I really think it will help you. It doesn't cure anything but it really helps mask the pain. My first TENS unit was paid for by my health insurance and cost $1200!! However, when I dropped it for the 100th time and it died on me, Blue Shield decided that they were no longer going to cover TENS units so I was on my own to find one. The next one I found cost about $400. It works every bit as well as the $1200 model. THEN I decided I needed a backup unit so I bought one that cost $120 and it works almost as well as the others. It doesn't have as many settings but it still works just fine.
Hang in there and know that we're all rooting for you and praying that you'll get some answers soon!
Margie
In responding to this blog, it is my hope to clarify misconceptions about this practice that have resulted from the comments of a few patients. While I have identified these patients and can contradict untrue statements with factual evidence of the medical records and Oswestry forms, privacy regulations restrict specific identification in my response. While maintaining these patients right to privacy, it is important to record the doctor s right to due diligence and factual reporting.
It is shame that we can not rate patients. Instead we rely on unbiased data collected from Oswestry forms and outcome records to validate our success rate. Each patient that comes to this practice is treated as a highly respected individual and we go to great lengths to try to individualize treatments, listen to concerns and provide ongoing care as needed. Many patients have been in pain for months, if not years and have been to see several different doctors all without success. It is unfortunate that at the end of the long line of unsuccessful treatment the only doctor that there is time to criticize is Dr. Filler, especially as he is one of the few doctors willing to take on these complex, complicated cases.
It stands to reason that if you come to see Dr. Filler that most patients are coming because they have experienced failed surgery and/or have been diagnosed with a complex pain problem that is believed to be peripheral nerve or spine related. If you went to a dermatologist and said that everyone in the room was diagnosed with a skin problem would there be negative commentary about that doctor miss diagnosing patients so they could make money? Of course, most of our patients have piriformis syndrome, pudendal neuralgia, brachial plexus injury or complex spine problems, and that is why they have come to see Dr. Filler and all of the testing and procedures are ordered to confirm diagnosis and successfully treat patients.
Where is the factual support for belligerent statements? What is the proof to support slanderous statements of professional negligence? Instead of a long list of malpractice judgments and medical board complaints, Dr. Filler has a long list of peer supported work and happy patients who send thank you cards and cookies. The fact that both the MR neurography and the open mr guided injections provide radiation fee safety and real time accuracy should be appreciated instead of disparaged. Dr. Filler utilizes MR Neurography and open MR guided injections because these procedures work, period. Neurography is a patented and exclusively licensed technology that has helped thousands of people with proper diagnosis and the only formal outcome study for diagnosis and treatment of piriformis syndrome outlines both neurography and open MRI injections. Not Botox injections by EMG, not epidural injections by fluro, not CT guided blocks but neurography and open MRI guided injections.
It is because of Dr. Filler s willingness to take on complex cases and treat long standing pain problems that he receives many referrals from leading neurosurgeons and neurologists. He currently maintains privileges at four major Southern California hospitals including Cedars Sinai, UCLA, and Saint John s Health Care Center. He has served for five years as an associate director of the UCLA Comprehensive Spine Program and another five years as director of peripheral nerve surgery at Cedars Sinai. He is an invited lecturer involved in training neurosurgeons and neurologists at major national professional meetings on over a hundred occasions over the past ten years including serving as a visiting professor at Harvard University and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in England. And has recently been appointed editor of the peripheral nerve section of Youmans - the major textbook for neurosurgeons. There is simply no basis for defamatory remarks regarding his acumen and skill.
We make it clear to patients that additional care may be required and that treatment including surgery is not always a one shot deal. Unlike large hospitals, we do not have state support, so patients must pay the expense of their care. We disclose costs and risks up front and we believe we provide a very high level of availability. It is important to note that the charges for our medical services have not been increased in over 6 years while every major insurance carrier has increased their premiums along with relative increases in professional charges. The fact there are only two or three complaints posted out of thousands of patients speaks for itself. Even with 85 to 90% success for thousands of patients, some will not have excellent results. Anyone claiming 100% excellent results with no complications is not reporting reliably.
The fact that many hospitals and providers are now using the methods and technology developed by this practice should be noted as following our leading talent. We do not push patients to come here; they come because Dr. Filler is the best at what he does. Even knowing this we recommend that patients seek several opinions and choose their provider with care. Instead of jumping on a bandwagon or deciding care based on an unsubstantiated blog, ask important questions like:
Why your insurance would state that treating your pain is not medically necessary or experimental? Does your in network imaging facility have an authorized license to perform a valid neurography study? What is the accuracy of an ultrasound, CT or Fluro guided block versus an open MR interventional procedure? How much radiation is targeted during your CT or Fluro injection? Are their long term risks of radiation to your brachial plexus, pelvis or pudendal area? Are there are any long term outcome studies substantiating CT or Fluro injections for piriformis diagnosis? Are there peer reviewed articles published by your doctor relevant to your condition? How many piriformis, pudendal, and other relevant surgeries has the surgeon performed? What is his or her specialty training? Are they peripheral nerve and spine fellowship trained? Do they use a minimally invasive technique? How can you achieve better post op care, if you are out of state? Should you plan to stay in town for a longer period of time? Should you have a local neurologist or internist facilitate your pain medications?
There are an endless number of significant questions that you should be asking instead of engaging in unfounded office gossip. I do not want to scold any of you, I simply want to point out the facts and provide balance to what has been a truly one sided discussion. In choosing your care, please take time to go to legitimate resources like the state medical society and research major peer reviewed articles and publications. You all have my sincere best wishes in finding a qualified doctor and attaining successful treatment.
Sincerely, Shirlee B. Jackson, Manager INM