Referred this morning to Cleveland Clinic for Occipital Nerve Block

[Mei Mei]

I am just home from the OD where I got manipulation at 1:00
The big news is the pain center at Washington Hospital Center this morning said they couldn't help me.   He sat there and wrote an email to a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic and wants me to go there.   I'm waiting for a call from the office for scheduling my next appointment.   He said he would make my neurologist angry but my headache is just too unusual and he doesn't want to waste my time.   He said I had two injections on New Mexico Ave. with Dr. D and one series with the accupuncturist and they didn't work because it wasn't done properly in a chair in the office without equipment to target the exact place to inject.   He said I have to go to a doctor that does these every day and this doctor is famous for this.   He also said they have twenty of these pain doctors in this clinic and they all do them every day with special equipment.   He appologized for not being able to help me but he said he wanted me to be with specialists that have the capability to handle this kind of headache. 

Now on to the next stage of my life:  a visit to Cleveland.   My daughter went to Oberlin near there but I haven't been there since 2000 and even then didn't know it well.  If it were Boston or NY, I'd be OK, but not Cleveland.

Another thing, I was leaving the ODs office in Silver Spring and a man tried to get in my car and said he wanted money and I luckily got the door shut and pressed the lock button.   On the way out of the Parking building I saw a police officer and reported it.   Don't think I'll be visiting the OD again.   Whew!

Talk to you later!
Mei Mei

[cin605]

Geeez Mei Mei.....There has to be a place closer thatt specializes in nerve blocks....where are you?Baltimore?


Reza Ghorbani
5530 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1550
Chevy Chase, Maryland, 20815
Phone: (301) 345- 8835
Official Website:
http://www.drghorbani.com

[Mei Mei]

I'm near Baltimore and one half mine from Washington, DC.   The Washington Hospital Center was supposed to be the best in Neurology said my father's friend's wife who is a doctor from John's Hopkins.   They said this morning that my headaches were very unusual and that they couldn't help me.   They wanted me to be seen by people that do occipital nerve blocks every day.   Now my appointment is on Dec. 9th and my sleep study is on Dec 8 the night before so I don't have to find a place to sleep.  I might have to sleep at the hotel on campus to follow up after the nerve block.   He said they have more than 20 doctors that only do this and this is the place to go for nerve blocks.   I wish there were some place closer.   He said Cleveland will be more accurate about using equipment to target my nerves exactly instead of guessing and fooling around in the office.

Not too happy but glad he said he didn't want to waste my time and take my money.   I appreciate that.   Now I have to pay for hotel and air fare.
Mei Mei

[sunfish]

I'm really excited that you are going to Cleveland Clinic - they have the reputation for having some of the brightest and best doctors in many fields.  Their standard of care is excellent.  I had a client many years ago who went into heart failure and was airlifted to Cleveland Clinic from Pennsylvania.  The doctors at my facility said the client could not be saved, and we started coordinating the services the family would need after his death.  Two weeks later, that client stood before us looking happier and healthier than he had in two years, and the last I heard he was doing well years after.  We were in Pennsylvania.  We could have sent him  east to Philly or Baltimore, but we sent him to Cleveland Clinic, and they saved his life.  I would feel confident in going there, if I were you.

[cin605]

Hope all works out for you MeiMei...Pm me w/ your phone # on facebook...it deleted from my cell some how.

[Mei Mei]

This is the doctor that I am going to see on Dec. 9th.

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff_directory/staff_display.aspx?doctorid=1157

He also besides headaches does non invasive cervical procedures, and torn rotator cuff which I also have.

Sounds like he's the one to go to for me.   My C-1 and C-2 are bulging out to the side and really hurt.

Looking forward to some relief.
Mei Mei

[kraynok2]

Good luck with this visit.  I have heard very good things about the Cleveland Clinic.  It was one of my considerations for my AN surgery, but since I found a doctor in Pittsburgh (a little closer) who was trained at the House Clinic, I went with him.  Hang in there.  We'll be thinking of you.  Sandy

[Mei Mei]

Thanks, Sandy for the words of support.
How are you doing.   Pittsburgh is supposed to be great.  I almost went there of Cyber Knife and decided to do surgery here.  Will always wonder if it was the right choice now with all the headaches I am having.
Sounds like you were in good hands there.   

My plane reservations are set for Dec. 8 and return on Dec. 10.   I will write to him and let him know how long I'll be there and maybe he can schedule me for the OR during that time.

Take care,
Mei Mei

[Captain Deb]

Hey, Mei mei!  I grew up in Cleveland and my High School BFF works with the Cleveland Clinic as a yoga therapist.   As far as nerve blocks--without a fluororscope to identify the bony strucures and hence exactly where the nerves are, a nerve block is essentially hit or miss.  This is why so many people give up on them.  I've had. 6 of them in my occipital nerves by a doc who just kind of felt around back ther and a few of them worked and a few didn't. You are going to a great place and that is where I will be going if what I'm doing now doesn't work.  I have many childhood friends in Cleveland so housing would not be a problem.  You are so doing the right thing--wish I would have gone that route 7 years ago, but we kept hoping the next thing would work,....  You will be in great hands!

Hugs,

Capt Deb

[Mei Mei]

Hi Deb,
I Love Cleveland.   I went there a lot because my daughter, Mariam went to Oberlin in Lorain County.   Went there also after she graduated to see an ENT about my vocal cord paralysis.   Am now busy writing to the doctor to update him on my issues.   I also forgot to tell the neurologist that I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which causes pain and tinnitus.   I also have a form of fibromyalgia called myofacial pain.

I wish you were there when I am.  We could be room mates in the hospital and share ORs.   The pain doctor I saw on Monday said my nerve blocks were useless because they were done without a fluroscope.   How would I know.   He was an honest guy that didn't want to waste my time without the proper equipment.

Would love to meet your friends.   They said I could stay the 9th at the Intercontinental on campus and it has patient rates so I'm not too worried since I'm only staying one night unless after receiving my letter, he changes his mind.

No more crossing my fingers.  I'm leaving nothing to chance.
Hugs,
Mei Mei