Really freaking out.

[Running11]

Well… I have a cervical compression. A couple weeks ago I started to really lose my balance and feel dizzy. I was sick at the time when it started with bronchitis so I fgured it was because I was sick. Well, now I'm not sick. I asked my doctor if my lack of balance and dizziness was because of my compression. He said it could be….. well … My bad. I googled it and i found Cervical Veritigo. Anyone every have it? its says you could lose your vision.
I had such high hopes htat I was going to do a second appeal with Blue Crap /Blue **** .. well it looks like they won…I don't want to go blind fighting them.
Sorry I am in a bad place. They just want me to die and go away...

[Boxer78]

So what does doc say? I don't understand insurance is refusing to treat you?

[Running11]

Boxer,

BC/BS says on my surgeon pre-authorization that a bi-level ADR was not medically necessary and the surgery is experimerimental/investigational.


1st level of appeal was denied to investigational/experimental says Blue Crap/Blue ****. Now what?

[newleaseonlife]

Running,

I used to suffer from dizziness/vertigo and nausea before my adr. It was insult to injury in my book. Not only did I have a lot of pain when I try to walk, but the little walking that I could do made me ill. I too had BC/BS. They refused to cover my adr as well. I ended going overseas to have my surgery done.

I know that in some instances BC/BS will cover an overseas surgery. I have no clue why insurance works the way it does.

Is there anyway you can afford to go overseas to have your procedure done?

[jss]

Running,

I had a very similar occurrence that culminated in my double ADR in 2009.

After two fusions almost a decade prior I began having issues again in Jan 2008. After a months of chiropractic, my symptoms resolved. On Sept 21, 2009 they returned with a VENGENCE, leaving me incapacitated in pain. Another month of chiropractic made little more than a dent in my symptoms (I could then ride in a car, but I still couldn't open a door). An MRI suggested that I was developing myelomalacia, which would leave me somewhere between quadriplegic and dead. My only chance was to have spinal decompression surgery ASAP.

I knew in Jan'08 that I'd be having surgery (a third time) soon. I spent a year researching options and knew that when the time finally did come exactly what I planned to do. I knew that my carrier wouldn't pay and fortunately I had the resources to pay out of pocket for a double ADR. When I was told that I'd my only chance to avoid quadriplegia or death was immediate surgery, I already had a plan.

I say all of that to say ... you're not alone and that many (myself included) have been there before. Will immediate intervention mitigate your chances of blindness? Has a doctor told you this? Is this your own diagnosis?

BTW: since surgery I've not died or become quadriplegic; and have completed four more marathons. I would encourage you to complete your research ASAP and pursue treatment (whatever it is). Fusion, distasteful as it it, is not as bad as blindness.

Good luck, Jeff

[Lillyth]

For the record, I have had my cervical vertigo since 2007, so six years. I remember now because it was the year my dad died.

Even if you could go blind, the chances of that happening right away are not likely. I know you told me you wanted to wait until summer when the kids are out of school. I'm not a doctor, but as someone with the same condition who has had it for six years (almost to the year) I would say you can probably safely wait a few months, though do check with your doctor.

I cannot stress this enough: after you spend 10% of your income on medical bills, the rest are right-offs at 100%, so if you have to take out a loan, DO IT! It's only for a year. In the end, I think my husband and I will shell out a grand total of 8 or 9k, which is not bad at all, considering.

[Running11]

Lilly and Jeff,

Thanks for your replies. I am having the cervical vertigo and I did tell my surgeon that I was having these symptoms. He said I very well could be since he says my cervical compression is moderate-severe. I looked it up in Google and it said blindness and I had an anxiety attack over the symptoms. The internet can be a scary place! Lol… My surgeons next question is when your going to have your fusion surgery? This particular doc thinks ADR is tricky and my neck is curved 6 degrees and dosen't feel ADR would be stable enough. However, the other surgeon I went to believes he can help me with a bi-level ADR. That being said BCBS has denied ADR surgery for me.
I don't want a multi-level fusion, I want an ADR. I put in my second-level appeal today. Ok, I just felt like a toddler with those statements. I want to run and feel alive. My husband said he is fearful of me having surgery oversees. I would prefer Dr. Clavel. I have no idea where I would get the funds….

[jss]

Running,

A two level cervical fusion is not a contraindication against running. I've completed eight marathons with two cervical fusions. While a single fusion results in a 25% chance of requiring a second fusion within 10 years, a double fusion carries with it a "significantly" less chance of requiring a third fusion; all of that per Dr Alan Hilibrand's 1999 study.

While a multilevel cervical fusion will bring a noticeable reduction in mobility (looking up, riding a road bike on the drops, backing a car, etc...), it's not going to keep you from doing what you want do do.

Good luck, Jeff

[Lillyth]

She has lumbar issues too, Jeff.

[Lillyth]

You can do postural exercises to remedy that curve. I've done it. It works. My spine is a totally different shape than it was six months ago.