Different Doctors or Different Attitudes

<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/12/04/news/local/20-back.txt" >Montanans work hard, play hard; area leads nation for back surgeries</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Bill Renney blames most of his back trouble on a rock.<br />n<br />nRenney's wife spied the lichen-covered stone last summer while the couple was hiking near Cooke City.<br />n<br />n"She found a real nice rock," Renney said. "She encouraged me in ways wives can to get said rock."<br />n<br />nSo he did. The next day, his right leg went numb and pain began arcing out of his lower back.<br />n"I couldn't sit," said Renney, a claims director for BNSF Railway in Billings. "I raised up my computer and stood for three weeks of agony.</blockquote><br />n<br />nI know exactly how this feels. Numb leg, excruciating pain, that's familiar. Add for me leg weakness, extreme pain when sitting, standing, walking, coughing, urinating, just about anything including sleeping. I went to the doctor in Billings for it and while the subject of surgery was brought up, it never happened.<br />n<br />nSo where do I stand? I still have a herniated disc that causes problems for me on occasion, my left foot is permanently numb on one side and I am on a schedule of back strengthen exercises to keep the problem from getting bad again. I will proudly say though, I have had no back surgery.<br />n<br />nSo what made the difference? Different doctors or different attitudes? I do know that when I first went and seen the back specialist after being referred to him, the first words out of my mouth were, "I want to explore all avenues of treatment other than surgery, do you understand me." The doctor was a little taken back by this attitude but complied with my wishes and went about a course of treatment. <br />n<br />nLater in my course of treatment the doctor told me that most people just want the surgery as a quick and easy answer to their problems. He had never seen anybody with the determination I showed to push through the pain and get better without surgery. I told him I didn't have the time for surgery. It would put me out of commission too long and I needed to be home taking care of the place.<br />n<br />nIn the long run I am glad of the decision I made. It flares up occasionally but by now I know exactly what to do for it and I am able to get it under control without going to see a doctor. The best thing that happened though is the sessions with the physical therapist that taught me how to properly lift things. I can lift over 150 lbs from the ground and not hurt my back if I slow down and pay attention to the proper lifting techniques. That has been invaluable and saved me much pain and grief.<br />n<br />nAttitudes make a lot of difference in how things are done. An attitude of a quick solution leads to a lot of expense. An attitude of work and prevention stops the quick solution and leads to an attitude of living with the situation and dealing appropriately with it at a much lower price. I've tried to live by this credo in all things I do and it seems top work pretty good. The quick solution always isn't the right one. Think about it.<br />n<br />n<strong>Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill</strong>