The neurologist that I went to today said I could get a permanent disabled tag or plackard if I brought him the forms. I was a little shocked, but LOML said GET THEM!
My problem is that I have never felt like I have had any disability great enough to deserve the front row parking. The back hurts like the dickens at times but I just bull my way through it, and pay for it later and hide the grimmacing.
I do and have had back problems for about 20 years and the neurologist said the MRI showed moderately degenerative disks in my lower back. He gave me three meds and said if that doesn't help in a couple of weeks to go to "pain theraply", to be followed by shots and or surgery.
I guess I am just airing out my indecision. Am I taking advantage of a situation or am I legitimately entitled to a "disabled" plackard. A moral decision for me. There are times that I feel great and fine and would feel guilty for taking a space that someone would need; and then there are the times with a back ache (or foot ache) that I strongly wished I had a tag to let me park close.
Any experiences and similar decisions as to using disable tags/plackards out there?
As an aside, the neurologist visit came as a result of a foot problem last November. About every 3 months, my foot would swell at one spot and hurt to the point that I needed a walking stick for a week. A med that the local doctor knocked out the inflamation. This happened in early March and again in June. Went to a podiatrist at a recommendation by a friend. The Podiatrist noted some nerve problems in one foot. From there to the neurologist. The tests were strange to the neurologist. He kept shocking me and turning the machine up higher and higher, but nerve response was neglible. The other foot's nerve responded fine. Then the doctor started testing me up my leg to my back. Ah, some disk problems; then to an MRI and back to the neurologist. Moderate disk degenration and inflamation.
The podiatrist said I had neuropathy, which I knew I did not. The podiatrist gave me a prescription that cost about $120 above insurance per month for the neuropathy. But, thank goodness, the neurologist said I did NOT need the neuropathy medicine because I did NOT have neuropathy, just degenerative disks in the back and pinched nerves.
By the way, I have been to 4 doctors over the last 20 years, 2 in Japan and 2 here in the US and each one didn't spend more than a few minutes checking me out. I guess I just didn't "grimmace" enough to show the seriousness of the pain there. I never had problems with leg numbness as most people do with pinched nerves and sciatic nerve problems, just hurting bone on bone feeling. As a result they just dismissed my pain as "normal".
Thanks for letting me rant after the question!
My problem is that I have never felt like I have had any disability great enough to deserve the front row parking. The back hurts like the dickens at times but I just bull my way through it, and pay for it later and hide the grimmacing.
I do and have had back problems for about 20 years and the neurologist said the MRI showed moderately degenerative disks in my lower back. He gave me three meds and said if that doesn't help in a couple of weeks to go to "pain theraply", to be followed by shots and or surgery.
I guess I am just airing out my indecision. Am I taking advantage of a situation or am I legitimately entitled to a "disabled" plackard. A moral decision for me. There are times that I feel great and fine and would feel guilty for taking a space that someone would need; and then there are the times with a back ache (or foot ache) that I strongly wished I had a tag to let me park close.
Any experiences and similar decisions as to using disable tags/plackards out there?
As an aside, the neurologist visit came as a result of a foot problem last November. About every 3 months, my foot would swell at one spot and hurt to the point that I needed a walking stick for a week. A med that the local doctor knocked out the inflamation. This happened in early March and again in June. Went to a podiatrist at a recommendation by a friend. The Podiatrist noted some nerve problems in one foot. From there to the neurologist. The tests were strange to the neurologist. He kept shocking me and turning the machine up higher and higher, but nerve response was neglible. The other foot's nerve responded fine. Then the doctor started testing me up my leg to my back. Ah, some disk problems; then to an MRI and back to the neurologist. Moderate disk degenration and inflamation.
The podiatrist said I had neuropathy, which I knew I did not. The podiatrist gave me a prescription that cost about $120 above insurance per month for the neuropathy. But, thank goodness, the neurologist said I did NOT need the neuropathy medicine because I did NOT have neuropathy, just degenerative disks in the back and pinched nerves.
By the way, I have been to 4 doctors over the last 20 years, 2 in Japan and 2 here in the US and each one didn't spend more than a few minutes checking me out. I guess I just didn't "grimmace" enough to show the seriousness of the pain there. I never had problems with leg numbness as most people do with pinched nerves and sciatic nerve problems, just hurting bone on bone feeling. As a result they just dismissed my pain as "normal".
Thanks for letting me rant after the question!
Comment