Hi everyone. I just wanted to give a quick post to let you know I've not forgotten to keep you updated. I'll take time tomorrow to answer some of the questions about experiences, prices etc.
I've been too busy enjoying LIFE! without pain. Spent 4 days at the beach on a "business" conference. yes, we were required to be there, but we spent lots of time playing. First time in 3 years I've enjoyed the water! Yesterday and today I spent most of the afternoon working hard in shoveling, hoeing and raking in the garden. Feels so good to be living again.
More tomorrow. Keep on hoping and working for the answer.
Donna
I've been too busy enjoying LIFE! without pain. Spent 4 days at the beach on a "business" conference. yes, we were required to be there, but we spent lots of time playing. First time in 3 years I've enjoyed the water! Yesterday and today I spent most of the afternoon working hard in shoveling, hoeing and raking in the garden. Feels so good to be living again.
More tomorrow. Keep on hoping and working for the answer.
Donna
Donna:
I don't know you but I'm smiling for you!
Congrats.
I don't know you but I'm smiling for you!
Congrats.
So you guys can all plan here are the totals that I've gotten:
Cedar Sinai Hospital 23 hour stay- $10,774
C/S Imaging $ 71
C/S Out patient Diagnosis $ 200.45
Pre Op Physical $ 827
Dr Filler (bilateral) $19,599
Dr Filler consultation $ 500
Neurography not billed yet
Total $35,564
Plus airfare, hotel, and food.....
Insurance note: So far they've paid only about half the bill. Claim that "Reasonable and customary" for this surgery should be about $10,000! Wonder where in the world they found that price?
Read your policy carefully before you do anything (my company is trying to pay at 80% what they should be paying 90% and 60% what should be 80%!. And document every contact you have with them. I fought 2 months in advance to have this all preapproved, and now I'm fighting again to make them do what they said. NO fun!
However, no matter what we end up paying out of pocket and how long we have to work to pay it off, getting my life back is worth it.
Cedar Sinai Hospital 23 hour stay- $10,774
C/S Imaging $ 71
C/S Out patient Diagnosis $ 200.45
Pre Op Physical $ 827
Dr Filler (bilateral) $19,599
Dr Filler consultation $ 500
Neurography not billed yet
Total $35,564
Plus airfare, hotel, and food.....
Insurance note: So far they've paid only about half the bill. Claim that "Reasonable and customary" for this surgery should be about $10,000! Wonder where in the world they found that price?
Read your policy carefully before you do anything (my company is trying to pay at 80% what they should be paying 90% and 60% what should be 80%!. And document every contact you have with them. I fought 2 months in advance to have this all preapproved, and now I'm fighting again to make them do what they said. NO fun!
However, no matter what we end up paying out of pocket and how long we have to work to pay it off, getting my life back is worth it.
Before surgery I was treated for anything imaginable in the butt area. An injection into the bursa didn't do much good, but the bursa was inflammed. S/I injections helped one area but not the rest.
Bottom line is, I think, the whole area is a unit and if one part is messed up the rest will have to overcompensate and then that part starts hurting as well.
Dr. Filler didn't actually promise anything before surgery, except to say that he was pretty confident that surgery would help. He felt that fixing the piriformis symptoms would probably take care of a lot of the other pain, but that we would have to wait and see. So far (6 weeks out) so good. All the other painful areas are pretty well taken care of as well.
About the burning nerve pain...I've not felt any of that since the minute I woke up from surgery! On "bad" days now, I feel muscle pain, and a bit of pain at the surgical site. Yesterday I worked pretty hard in the garden and it almost felt like the burning sensation was returning. The difference was that after sitting and resting for a bit, it went away.
The biggest pain I feel now is down the outside of my right thigh, mostly after a lot of walking or such. I assume its muscles learning to compensate and recovering from surgery. It certainly isn't the old burning pain from before.
Hope this helps.
Donna
Before I ever went to Dr. Filler, my PM specialist had given me CT and floroscopic guided injections. These always gave fairly good but short term relief. At my appointment with Dr. Filler, he said these were diagnostic enough for him and so he didn't require me to have more injections. Having this out of the way saved a bunch of time and an extra trip. So if at all possible, try to find someone close to home who can do these injections to confirm the diagnosis.
I agree with the taking someone with you if at all possible. You need the support and these decisions are not necessarily easy to make.
I'm back home for a while now and I'll keep better in touch.
Hope this is a low pain day for all
Donna
I agree with the taking someone with you if at all possible. You need the support and these decisions are not necessarily easy to make.
I'm back home for a while now and I'll keep better in touch.
Hope this is a low pain day for all
Donna
Hello Elliott,
My name is Annie and I am 25 years old and have been dealing with "debilitating nerve pain" for two years. I have had about 30 injections and already 1 major surgery to fix my pain. Nothing has helped and I am struggling to figure out the next step.
I came across this blog today and your post. Today, which is Aug 31st, I have a appointment and diagnostic procedure with Dr. Filler! What a gift to see your post since I'm about to see him. I have multiple doctors wanting me to wait and do more injections and everyone seems to be unsure about where my pain is coming from.
Dr. Filler wants to perform the piriformis surgery on the 8th of September, which is about a week away. I would love to talk to you and see if you could help me with your experience. I am very unsure and do not want to make a major mistake and live in pain for the rest of my life.
thank you so much and I hope I will be able to talk to you very soon!
-Annie
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Hi Everybody, another PS sufferer here. Going on 20 years now, last year has been a steep spiral down to essentially, immobilization. Here's a warning: lying in bed for even a few months can destroy your body. Utterly devastating and in my case, who knows if I can pull it out.
How many other people felt a "tug" in their lower buttocks, followed by pain? What is this tug? Some nerve or scar tissue getting rubbed suddenly. That's how my most recent flare up (now constant) manifested itself
How did you all find this thread?
How many other people felt a "tug" in their lower buttocks, followed by pain? What is this tug? Some nerve or scar tissue getting rubbed suddenly. That's how my most recent flare up (now constant) manifested itself
How did you all find this thread?
We talked with our insurance today and it appears they've received more hospital bills than I've been aware of up til today.
How about $107,747! for less than 24 hour.
Insurance is playing the "beyond reasonable and customary game", and it looks like we're going to be stuck for a whole lot more than what we were originally quoted. No clue at this point where it will come from.
Hope this isn't too discouraging, but I guess it would be better to know up front than afterwards what the costs are likely to be
Donna
How about $107,747! for less than 24 hour.
Insurance is playing the "beyond reasonable and customary game", and it looks like we're going to be stuck for a whole lot more than what we were originally quoted. No clue at this point where it will come from.
Hope this isn't too discouraging, but I guess it would be better to know up front than afterwards what the costs are likely to be
Donna
Hey all, just found this forum researching Dr Filler. I don't know if he could help at this point...maybe
I've been out of work (pilot) for a year this month. Started with a hip labral tear. I had arthroscopic hip surgery to fix it and have been in pain ever since. Doc thinks the sciatic was stretched when they put me in traction and pulled the hip joint out of the socket for a few hours during surgery. I also got the complication of intractible trochanteric bursitis even after 4 cortisone shots. at 6 months had another mri arthrogram which they said the appearance of the labrum was a result of the first surgery. in other words no more tears, I guess.. Anyway the sciatic pain was/is bad and the bursitis was very painful also so we did another surgery in Sep (9 months after first surgery) that removed the trochanteric bursa and surgicaly released the IT band and the piriformis, hoping to improve the sciatic. No luck..sciatic still hurts and still recovering from the 2nd surgery. Maybe the neurography would help us see the problem but I dont need surgery to release the piriformis, its done. If it was the nerve streching then I guess I am screwed. Oh I now take Lyrica 450mg/day on top of pain meds. doesn't help. any ideas?? I have Blue Cross in texas dont know if they will pay??
I've been out of work (pilot) for a year this month. Started with a hip labral tear. I had arthroscopic hip surgery to fix it and have been in pain ever since. Doc thinks the sciatic was stretched when they put me in traction and pulled the hip joint out of the socket for a few hours during surgery. I also got the complication of intractible trochanteric bursitis even after 4 cortisone shots. at 6 months had another mri arthrogram which they said the appearance of the labrum was a result of the first surgery. in other words no more tears, I guess.. Anyway the sciatic pain was/is bad and the bursitis was very painful also so we did another surgery in Sep (9 months after first surgery) that removed the trochanteric bursa and surgicaly released the IT band and the piriformis, hoping to improve the sciatic. No luck..sciatic still hurts and still recovering from the 2nd surgery. Maybe the neurography would help us see the problem but I dont need surgery to release the piriformis, its done. If it was the nerve streching then I guess I am screwed. Oh I now take Lyrica 450mg/day on top of pain meds. doesn't help. any ideas?? I have Blue Cross in texas dont know if they will pay??
Hi Donna, How on earth did the bill amount to so much? I hope that includes lfights, car hire, motel etc. Need to go and rob a bank!! :D
Sorry to say that the $107,000 was not all inclusive! That evidently is just the Cedars-Sinai bill. I haven't seen the bill itself, that's what our insurance told me it is and I simply can not imagine what all it covers! Especially when we were quoted around $30,000 for the hospital. We will be checking on it and challenging whatever doesn't seem right.
Donna:
I'm so glad you are willing to share all of this info with us (insurance/surgery procedure, etc). For those of us who may end up having the surgery it will be real nice to know going in that - the expenses quoted may not be what they end up being. In the end, the expense won't make or break my decision because I just want to be out of agony but at least we won't be blind-sided. Just wanted to thank you for keepig us up to date.
I'm so glad you are willing to share all of this info with us (insurance/surgery procedure, etc). For those of us who may end up having the surgery it will be real nice to know going in that - the expenses quoted may not be what they end up being. In the end, the expense won't make or break my decision because I just want to be out of agony but at least we won't be blind-sided. Just wanted to thank you for keepig us up to date.
Donna - There must be a mistake somewhere - if it helps to reinforce your case, I was quoted last August between $45,000 - 50,000 to cover Cedars Sinai expenses if hospitalization was necessary. Jo
Hey everyone,
Well, as I promised, I will keep everyone up to date on my Dr. Filler surgery which I had just last Tuesday.
Mine was bilateral and I was under for nearly 7 hours. The nerve pain in my right leg is nearly gone and the nerve pain in the left leg has been reduced by about 70 percent. Dr. Filler said the left, as expected, needed a great deal of attention and there was a great deal of nerve compression and tissue clean-up was required. That was why th surgery lasted so long. The remaining nerve pain will take time to go away but I feel a little improvement since waking up in the recovery room.
I've got a lot to write but I'm not a week out of surgery yet so I can't sit for a long time. The incision sites are sore but not horrible by any measure. I went to long without my pain meds last night as I slept for nearly 9 hours. LOL, I'm a little uncomfortable this morning but it is due to a deep ache at the incisions and not the nerve pain.
I promise to give a more detailed update and providing a progress report. Please be patient with me because I just can't sit for very long but the surgery appears to have been a SUCCESS!!!! Now, I've just got to go against my nature and take it easy this week and be patient as the nerves continue to heal in the left leg. The right leg issue feels like it is over. YEA!
I'll worry about bills later but, again, Dr. Filler's group is flexible. Don't count this out without trying to work with them.
Gotta run. Sorry. Check in later.
Well, as I promised, I will keep everyone up to date on my Dr. Filler surgery which I had just last Tuesday.
Mine was bilateral and I was under for nearly 7 hours. The nerve pain in my right leg is nearly gone and the nerve pain in the left leg has been reduced by about 70 percent. Dr. Filler said the left, as expected, needed a great deal of attention and there was a great deal of nerve compression and tissue clean-up was required. That was why th surgery lasted so long. The remaining nerve pain will take time to go away but I feel a little improvement since waking up in the recovery room.
I've got a lot to write but I'm not a week out of surgery yet so I can't sit for a long time. The incision sites are sore but not horrible by any measure. I went to long without my pain meds last night as I slept for nearly 9 hours. LOL, I'm a little uncomfortable this morning but it is due to a deep ache at the incisions and not the nerve pain.
I promise to give a more detailed update and providing a progress report. Please be patient with me because I just can't sit for very long but the surgery appears to have been a SUCCESS!!!! Now, I've just got to go against my nature and take it easy this week and be patient as the nerves continue to heal in the left leg. The right leg issue feels like it is over. YEA!
I'll worry about bills later but, again, Dr. Filler's group is flexible. Don't count this out without trying to work with them.
Gotta run. Sorry. Check in later.
Donna,
Questions about initially surgery recovery.
My surgery was Dec 4th. Took nearly 7 hours. Was walking, not gracefully by that evening and, LOL, when I woke up at 2:30 am in the middle of the night. They gave me the self medicating button to use for pain and were shocked at how little I had used over the night. I find that humorous because I thought I was over-using the meds.
Went back to the hotel on the 5th. Very sore.
Rested on the the 6th at the hotel, had follow-up appts. on the 7th and flew home(12 hour journey of planes and auto) so that was not a pleasant day. I've truly rested on Sunday and yesterday.
This morning, my incisions are sore and I had some nerve pain at my right knee. I'm very tired. My butt pain is a deep ache and the nerve pain is pretty minor in the left leg and hardly noticeable in the right leg.
My question is: Does this sound about par for the course with your experience I don't think you posted until you were two weeks post surgery and I am not yet a week and have only had 3 true rest days.
Dr. Filler said the let leg was pretty bad with nerve compression and he had quite a bit of tissue to remove off the nerve. This surprised me because I only had the syndrome for about 5 months prior to surgery. Thank goodness I didn't wait longer before having surgery.
Sheila said it might take 3-4 months for that nerve to heal to any noticeable extent. Also, I'm guessing some of my butt pain is coming from the piriformis being cut on both sides and the muscle is throwing a temper tantrum. I can feel it spasm at times and this makes the ache even deeper.
Any of this sound familiar to you? Bottom line: Tired and sore and location of aches and pains is fairly random right now.
One final humorous issue to anyone who decides to have this surgery. Make darn sure that they slip a little stool softener/laxative into your med doses. I didn't even think about it but I wish I would have. I won't bore or gross anyone out but let's just say that being irregular for several days was a bit of an adventure on the trip home and the first night back at my house. No fun at all and I'm still recovering from the trips to the bathroom. I'll take the surgery over that issue any day.
Oh well, time is up. Been sitting for 23 minutes and I've got to get up and move.
I will keep everyone up to date as this plays out.
Questions about initially surgery recovery.
My surgery was Dec 4th. Took nearly 7 hours. Was walking, not gracefully by that evening and, LOL, when I woke up at 2:30 am in the middle of the night. They gave me the self medicating button to use for pain and were shocked at how little I had used over the night. I find that humorous because I thought I was over-using the meds.
Went back to the hotel on the 5th. Very sore.
Rested on the the 6th at the hotel, had follow-up appts. on the 7th and flew home(12 hour journey of planes and auto) so that was not a pleasant day. I've truly rested on Sunday and yesterday.
This morning, my incisions are sore and I had some nerve pain at my right knee. I'm very tired. My butt pain is a deep ache and the nerve pain is pretty minor in the left leg and hardly noticeable in the right leg.
My question is: Does this sound about par for the course with your experience I don't think you posted until you were two weeks post surgery and I am not yet a week and have only had 3 true rest days.
Dr. Filler said the let leg was pretty bad with nerve compression and he had quite a bit of tissue to remove off the nerve. This surprised me because I only had the syndrome for about 5 months prior to surgery. Thank goodness I didn't wait longer before having surgery.
Sheila said it might take 3-4 months for that nerve to heal to any noticeable extent. Also, I'm guessing some of my butt pain is coming from the piriformis being cut on both sides and the muscle is throwing a temper tantrum. I can feel it spasm at times and this makes the ache even deeper.
Any of this sound familiar to you? Bottom line: Tired and sore and location of aches and pains is fairly random right now.
One final humorous issue to anyone who decides to have this surgery. Make darn sure that they slip a little stool softener/laxative into your med doses. I didn't even think about it but I wish I would have. I won't bore or gross anyone out but let's just say that being irregular for several days was a bit of an adventure on the trip home and the first night back at my house. No fun at all and I'm still recovering from the trips to the bathroom. I'll take the surgery over that issue any day.
Oh well, time is up. Been sitting for 23 minutes and I've got to get up and move.
I will keep everyone up to date as this plays out.