Help?

[pcmbmtn]

My quick story....
I am 38 year old BOY. I was a very active person five years ago.
Thoracic spine and flank pain for four+ years. No more activities. Debilitating! Finally received an MRI from insurance co. Normal they said. Returned to Chicago area over a year later, went into ER with unfamiliar back pain after eating. Chest x-ray revealed a 3.5 cm mass at T3. Returned to California, went to my doctor and had another MRI. SAME radiologist NOW sees it AND mentions it was in previous MRI from over a year ago. Thoracic surgeon and neurosurgeon cut me open not knowing what it is. Seven days in hospital, collapsed lung, and surgeons are done talking. I have ins through local health clinic and my physicians assistant (PA) has no idea whats going on. The follow up is to check on my scar. No follow up procedure mentioned by my surgeon. Numbness, tremors, pain, and dried up shriveled left arm and hand and hypersensitive to heat, are some of my symptoms five months post op. Pathology says AVM. Surgeons say it's not the cause of my pain. But there is some permanent nerve damage from the tumor being attached to nerves. Nice of them to tell me that after I had to ask months later.
Obviously not happy, I go to Stanford to consult with an AVM specialist. Paid out of pocket, well I will try once I get the bill. Specialist says it was a TYPE III AVM. He asked if I had an angiogram post op to confirm it was removed and that there are no more.. I said no. "What about before?" Nope! " You need to have an angiogram asap" It was all he could say, repeatedly. He has sent my PA at the health clinic his opinion. I hope she listens.
My back pain comes on from movement or slight strain, same as before. Now I have permanent damage from this AVM. Waiting to hear about my angiogram.
It is all I can do to hope my pain will subside and that I will have a reason to live. I used exercise for relief of stress, as many people do. One good thing that has come from this, is how I have learned to go inside my mind, see myself and the world around me in a different light. But sometimes I forget.
Thank you for listening....

[Steve]

Originally Posted by pcmbmtn

My quick story....
I am 38 year old BOY. I was a very active person five years ago.
Thoracic spine and flank pain for four+ years. No more activities. Debilitating! Finally received an MRI from insurance co. Normal they said. Returned to Chicago area over a year later, went into ER with unfamiliar back pain after eating. Chest x-ray revealed a 3.5 cm mass at T3. Returned to California, went to my doctor and had another MRI. SAME radiologist NOW sees it AND mentions it was in previous MRI from over a year ago. Thoracic surgeon and neurosurgeon cut me open not knowing what it is. Seven days in hospital, collapsed lung, and surgeons are done talking. I have ins through local health clinic and my physicians assistant (PA) has no idea whats going on. The follow up is to check on my scar. No follow up procedure mentioned by my surgeon. Numbness, tremors, pain, and dried up shriveled left arm and hand and hypersensitive to heat, are some of my symptoms five months post op. Pathology says AVM. Surgeons say it's not the cause of my pain. But there is some permanent nerve damage from the tumor being attached to nerves. Nice of them to tell me that after I had to ask months later.
Obviously not happy, I go to Stanford to consult with an AVM specialist. Paid out of pocket, well I will try once I get the bill. Specialist says it was a TYPE III AVM. He asked if I had an angiogram post op to confirm it was removed and that there are no more.. I said no. "What about before?" Nope! " You need to have an angiogram asap" It was all he could say, repeatedly. He has sent my PA at the health clinic his opinion. I hope she listens.
My back pain comes on from movement or slight strain, same as before. Now I have permanent damage from this AVM. Waiting to hear about my angiogram.
It is all I can do to hope my pain will subside and that I will have a reason to live. I used exercise for relief of stress, as many people do. One good thing that has come from this, is how I have learned to go inside my mind, see myself and the world around me in a different light. But sometimes I forget.
Thank you for listening....

I would highly recommend getting an attorney. I would in your situation. Sorry for your complications.

I wish you the best of luck.

[pcmbmtn]

Thank you!